Agency permanently

Prospects asked Paul Witts, Manager of G4R at The Graduate Recruitment Bureau what it takes to make it in recruitment.

What opportunities are available for graduates in recruitment?

The first thing to realise is that there are different types of recruitment agencies out there, ranging from high street agencies to top city executive search firms. All of those agencies will employ graduates although the package they will offer to graduates may vary.

The one thing all agencies have in common is that all entry level positions are candidate focused. When a graduate first goes into an agency they will be carrying out candidate focused tasks. This involves finding candidates for roles, handling advertising response, qualifying candidates and marketing roles to them. As a graduate gains more experience they will begin to have more client contact in preparation for a consultant role.

What does a career in recruitment offer graduates?

The first thing that recruitment offers is the opportunity to earn more money than virtually any of your peers in the first three years or so. Entry-level graduate positions pay basic salaries ranging from £15,000 up to around £25,000 in central London. Taking into account commission, first-year on-target-earnings are anywhere between £25,000 and £35,000.

Recruitment also offers responsibility at an early stage and a structured career path, which is very attractive. Running a desk in a niche agency is very much like running your own business and usually a new consultant will have the chance to build their own team within 18 months of consistently meeting target.

What does it take to be successful in recruitment?

Like most jobs it requires a combination of skills and attitudes, but there are some real prerequisites. The first is the absolute highest standard of written and verbal communication skills. The second is confidence. From the word go you have to be in control and come across as confident without being arrogant.

On top of this you need to work hard, be organised and determined to succeed. You also need to be a very good networker. Those graduates with a hundred or more names in their mobile phone address book are likely to have the right sort of skills to get into recruitment.

Finally, what advice do you have for graduates looking for their first role in recruitment?

Before you apply, make sure you research the industry. Recruitment won’t suit everybody, so research the market and make sure you are certain this is what you want to do.

It’s also important not to bow to pressure from a prospective employer. Don’t be fooled by offers of very high on-target-earnings. A lot of adverts state earnings of £50,000 to £60,000 in the first year, but if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Finally, don’t consider recruitment as a fall back plan. If you go into the job with that idea the chances are you won’t be successful. It’s a very challenging career and you have to be sure you are getting into it for the right reasons.

Case Study: Financial Recruitment Consultant

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