Anyone workin as a Recruitment Consultant? How is it, i.e. moneywise, working hours, career prospects, etc? Tx

Answer 1

I came from 8 years in recruiting...

Expect it to take at least 6 months for you to begin to make money. Expect it to take 2 years to make good money.

If you are looking ar straight commission jobs, beware. There are firms out there that will use your time to build an applicant base and then dump you.

If you're looking at a draw, check the firm out carefully. Some of them are not very paitient and will not allow you much time to get your feet on the ground.

The hours are long. Expect to work 70+ hours if you want to be successful. Also keep in mind that you will spend a good hunk of your time in the evenings and on weekends on the phone with candidates.

My first year in recruiting I make about $36K. Second year $60K. Third year $100K. After that it ranged from $85K to a career high $210K.

I used the position to get a "real" job in corporate America. I got VERY tired of the long hours, difficult candidates, counter offers, drops, malicious co-workers, deadbeat clients and no weekends off.

The flip side is that recruiting IS a LOT of fun. If you are a "hunter" kind of a personality it can be very satisfying.

Career progression is difficult to determine. If you stay in the 3rd party business, you can make partner or director pretty easily if you outlast the rest of the herd. If you go corporate, you can also rise to VP level after 15 years or so.

You can also use the position to get a HR career going. You will not make as much money in corp as in 3rd party, but quality of life is much better.

Answer 2

Hi, asked a similar question myself a few weeks ago, these are the responses I got:

"I did the job and there is good and bad to it:
Bad - phone always ringing
horrible people you have to interview
sales calls to companies
when your temps don't turn up at a site
commission!!!!!!
very competitive
long hours

Good
get to meet lots of people
commission
going out visiting clients
feeling of satisfaction

I, in all, honesty hated it - but I worked for a small firm who didn't manage their staff very well. Therefore the commission was erratic at best. Probably a lot better within a large organisation."


"NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...
long hours.......promises of bonus's you don't get..................LIES LIES LIES all the time "

"Hard work, long hours your phone never stops, stress stress stress. Money can be good if you are good at it. Basic salary for a trainee would be around 18K, depending on which company you work for and which area. Commission varies greatly with companies and some do not pay commission. It is a very cut throat business however, if your prepared to work your tail off you could possibly earn enough to help you move on. "


Hope they help you...

Lola

Answer 3

All I know is that not every one is made for it... and that the turn over is quite high... Although I am not talking about my own experience there but friends of mine who after Uni tried to get their first job in that field...