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While many companies are feeling the pinch of an economic slowdown,
staffing companies and recruiters are thriving thanks to healthy hiring
trends that look favorable moving forward. The $75 billion employment
services industry shows positive signs of growth across a variety of
disciplines including healthcare, financial services, information
technology, and many others. Now may be the best time to enter the
recruiting industry as we prepare for the next leg in America's
unprecedented economic growth.
Finding the right place to get started is important as your first
position as a recruiter inevitably influences your path in the industry.
When you are just starting out, working in a positive learning environment
is as important as being compensated fairly for your work. There are a
number of entry-level staffing positions designed for someone new to the
industry. These "apprentice" positions allow you to genuinely
contribute to a company's success while coming up the learning curve on
becoming a full-service staffing professional. Generally, these positions
involve supporting the efforts of other recruiters while learning the
ropes of the placement process. Here are a few examples:
Sourcer--The primary responsibility of a Sourcer is to generate
the names of potential candidates that can be contacted by an experienced
recruiter. Learning creative ways to perform name generation is critical
to being successful in this position. Sourcers use a variety of resources
to identify potential candidates such as trade magazines, the internet,
and calling companies directly to gain information on their employees. If
you can extract information on the employees of your clients' competitors
there is no doubt a place for you somewhere in the staffing industry.
Average
annual salary: $20,000-$35,000
Research Associate--Research Associates have similar
responsibilities to those of a Sourcer, in addition to handling the
initial pre-screening of candidates before an experienced recruiter
invests time with them. Pre-screening candidates (also called qualifying)
on their skills and motivation is a crucial step in the placement process,
and is often aided by an interview questionnaire used by the Research
Associate. The goal of the Research Associate is to help an experienced
recruiter determine whether or not a candidate is worth pursuing.
Average
annual salary: $25,000-$40,000
Internet Recruiter--Many would agree that the use of the
internet for recruiting purposes has been the most significant development
in our industry's long illustrious history. But since successful
recruiters know that their time is best spent on the telephone, the need
exists for someone to scour the internet so they can benefit from the vast
information available. An Internet Recruiter searches resume databases for
skill sets that match the job requirements of their clients. Other duties
include posting job descriptions that create awareness among job seekers
and give them an electronic means for submitting resumes. With the
abundance of information made available by the internet, a good Internet
Recruiter can make a serious contribution to the bottom line of any search
firm. Average annual salary: $25,000-$50,000
Contingency Recruiter--A Contingency Recruiter (affectionately
known as a headhunter) is by no means considered an entry-level position.
However, there is no shortage of search firms who are willing to lend a
desk and telephone to industry newcomers that feel they can succeed
starting from scratch. Contingency Recruiters receive compensation only
when they make placements. Search firm owners are risk-averse. Therefore,
they are more likely to hire an inexperienced, commission-based recruiter
who might be their next superstar. Average annual salary:
$0-$250,000+
Apprentice recruiting positions are great door-openers to an industry
with real growth and career potential. Ambitious professionals who desire
advancement usually stay in these positions for three months to a year
before expanding their responsibilities and income respectively. Some move
on into other areas of employment services such as benefits, training or
human resource consulting. Others go on to start search firms of their
own. Whichever path you undertake, it pays to do your homework when
getting started to ensure your career begins in the right direction.
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