The main responsibility of a recruiter is to manage the hiring process.

Recruiters are dedicated to hiring the best candidate that is available to fill an employer's need for talent. They are multidimensional thinkers who balance the very different and sometimes conflicting needs of the hiring manager and the job seeker.

Recruiters must be able to listen to the needs of a manager and company, interpret those needs for job seekers, evaluate the candidates to find the best one, and then "sell" the right candidate on the job. A hire is only successful when both the company and the individual agree that it is in each of their best interests to proceed. In today's tough economy, there are a lot of job seekers competing for the best positions. Companies are struggling as well to continue to be profitable and grow. Successful recruiters are able to clearly navigate the hiring process to make the situation a win-win and meet the needs of both the employer and the job seeker.

There are several types of recruiters. Sometimes recruiters are employees of the company that is looking to hire. Typically a part of the human resources function, they work with managers to hire people who will also work for the company.

Other types of recruiters work in a firm dedicated to recruiting, which is separate and outside of the company that wants to hire. Their job is to find and present the best candidates and help managers make decisions as to who gets job offers.

What does a recruiter do?
The main responsibility of a recruiter is to manage the hiring process. When a company requires that a new or existing position be filled, a recruiter will work to analyze the requirements of that position. Next, the recruiter will write and post a job listing and network to develop a candidate pool. Then the recruiter will review resumes and interview job seekers to determine who the hiring manager should interview. The recruiter then must schedule the interviews and help the hiring manager determine who should be hired. Once the decision is made, the recruiter will fill out the proper paperwork and complete the hiring process.

Recruiters do their job mostly over the phone or in face-to-face interviews. It requires the ability to work with all different types of people at different levels within an organization. They must have strong verbal and written communication skills, be able to persuade others, negotiate, and pay attention to details. They have to be able to set and manage the expectations of others and evaluate situations from many different perspectives in order to get everyone to the point of the hire.

Recruiters work for the company that pays them and primarily represents their interests, but to be successful they must balance company interests with that of job seekers. This is a delicate balance and can be hard to achieve.

The work environment for a recruiter is always changing because of job market demands and dynamics within a company. If working independently, a recruiter may be helping several companies find job candidates, which requires flexibility and maybe even travel.


Who is hiring recruiters?
The unpredictability of today's job market increases the demand for qualified recruiters to help organizations sift through the vast number of people looking for work and find the best person for the job. Many industries are hiring for these positions, including pharmaceutical, biotech, engineering, media, construction and architecture companies. These fields require employees with an extensive amount of experience and education, making good hires critical for a company's success. A qualified recruiter can improve the quality of a company's hires and impact the productivity of the entire organization.

Recruiters must have good judgment and be able to multitask. They provide a valuable service for companies and job seekers alike, especially in a complex job market. Recruiters are important participants in every hiring process