What does a recruitment consultant do on a daily basis
In today's fiercely competitive job market, finding the perfect match between job seekers and employers is no easy feat. It requires an intricate balance of expertise, intuition, and industry knowledge.
This is where recruitment consultants shine. They build relationships with employers, attract valuable candidates, and orchestrate successful placements.
Which brings up a common question: “What does a recruitment consultant do on a daily basis?”
If you've ever wondered what sets these professionals apart and why their insights matter, read on to discover the inner workings of this pivotal role in Australia.
It might even stand out as the career move you’ve been looking for.
Using their expertise and market knowledge, recruiters navigate a range of responsibilities that encompass every stage of the talent acquisition process.
Most daily tasks are aimed at connecting clients with ideal candidates. Yet, no two days will ever be quite the same.
So, what does a day look like as a recruiter?
It will usually include:
Talking with clients and candidates
Communication is key. Recruitment consultants interact with employers to understand their hiring needs. And they build relationships with job seekers, assessing their skills and aspirations.
Screening and interviewing candidates
A crucial part of the process. The recruiter reviews resumes, conducts phone screenings, and assesses candidate qualifications so they can shortlist the most promising individuals.
Candidate selection
Selecting the right candidate involves evaluating their experience, cultural fit, and overall growth potential.
Negotiating successful placements
Proficient negotiation skills come into play during job offer and compensation discussions, ensuring both parties are satisfied with the outcome.
Market research
Routine market research keeps recruitment consultants updated on industry trends and salary benchmarks, providing valuable insights to clients and candidates.
Proactively sourcing candidates
This might be done through job boards, social media, networking events, and databases that allow recruiters to uncover top talent.
In addition to these core activities, recruiters also manage administrative duties. These include maintaining candidate records, updating databases, and interview coordination.
Related: Discover how you can become a recruitment consultant in Australia
Beyond the usual daily tasks, recruitment consultants engage in other longer-term activities that contribute to their success and the growth of their clients.
These often include:
Building strong relationships
Relationship building is essential for recruiters. By nurturing connections, they can anticipate client needs, offer career guidance to candidates, and ensure a seamless recruitment process.
Attending development days
Examples include workshops, conferences, and training sessions. They allow recruiters to enhance their skills, stay updated on industry trends, and sharpen their expertise in talent acquisition strategies.
Dedicated reporting days
These offer valuable insights into a recruiter’s performance and the effectiveness of their recruitment strategies. By analysing the data, recruitment consultants can evaluate their successes and identify areas for improvement.
Proactive networking
Some recruiters network to expand their industry connections and build a talent pool for future placements. They may collaborate with colleagues, attend networking events, or leverage digital platforms to stay connected.
In most cases, a recruitment consultant’s day will extend beyond the usual daily tasks.
But by focusing on relationship building, investing in professional development, and leveraging data-driven insights, they lay the groundwork for greater long-term success.
Many Australians misunderstand what recruitment consultants do day-to-day. So let's shed more light on the true role of a recruiter by debunking three common myths.
In fact, the role of a recruitment consultant goes well beyond simply placing people in open roles. While finding the right fit is important, recruiters also invest significant time and effort in understanding clients' unique needs, company culture, and long-term goals.
They also provide clients with strategic advice and industry insights, helping them make informed hiring decisions that align with their business objectives.
While administrative tasks are a necessary part of the job, recruiters prioritise activities that directly impact the recruitment process.
Tasks such as building relationships with clients and candidates, screening candidates, negotiating job offers, and providing ongoing support throughout the hiring journey all come before administrative duties.
In reality, recruiters take a strategic approach to talent acquisition. They work closely with clients to understand their long-term talent needs and growth strategies. And create strong connections within their talent network.
Overall, recruitment consultants are committed to building lasting partnerships and supporting clients in achieving their long-term business goals.
Related: Learn about how much a recruitment consultant earns in Australia
Here at Robert Half, Senior Manager and specialised financial and accounting recruiter Stewart Selwood reveals how his work days generally pan out and what it takes to succeed in this role:
“Our job is different from one day to another. We can plan, but things can change in an instant.
“I start my morning with catching up on admin tasks, such as checking my emails and advert responses, followed by a team meeting. It’s an efficient way for our whole team to be across the status of all open jobs and talk through any issues. The remainder of my morning is split between catching up with job seekers, candidate interviews, and actively sourcing for open jobs.
“My afternoons tend to be a mix of meeting with prospective job seekers, answering any questions they have, and other necessary tasks. Things like posting open jobs on LinkedIn, writing job adverts, reviewing applications, taking references, booking interviews, gaining candidate feedback, making offers to successful applicants, and attending client meetings with my colleagues to understand their recruitment needs.
“The day moves pretty fast, and I need to be across a lot of responsibilities.
“People think you pull a CV off the internet, chat to the person for 5 minutes on the phone, then send it to the client, and they hire them. But it’s actually the work you do in the background that neither client nor candidate sees that makes you a success.
“For example, a client might be amazed that you present two candidates for a role within 30 minutes of picking it up. But they don’t realise you’ve interviewed 12 candidates every week for the last six months. And because you have a full understanding of their needs, you already have in mind your top people for the job. This job is proactive, not reactive.”
Stewart also offers excellent insight into how your personality and skill set can determine how rewarding you'll find the role:
“Recruitment is a sales role, but that doesn’t mean talking constantly. Sales is asking a good question, then listening closely. So you need to be inquisitive, ask intelligent questions, and probe for more information. Details matter, both positive and negative. “You need to be empathetic, genuine, and an efficient judge of character. You also need to be resilient – you won’t place every job, and telling someone they didn’t get the job is always the hardest conversation.
“But recruitment is also a highly rewarding career.
“There’s a huge sense of camaraderie in this role – forming close bonds with your teammates and strong relationships with clients and candidates too. And telling someone they got the job is one of the best feelings you’ll experience. Hearing their delight is genuinely hard to beat.”
Do you have a passion for helping people, outstanding communication skills, and a great work ethic?
Now that you know what a recruitment consultant does on a daily basis, perhaps it sounds like the career move you’ve been searching for.
If you’re keen to join our team at Robert Half, apply now.
