If you're considering a career in recruiting, this is the blog for you.&nbsp; For some people in the recruiting field, their role was something they just "fell into." Others may have been drawn to the competitive aspect, the opportunity to help others find their perfect role, or even the potential for growth and career progression. Maybe you're uncertain about what a career in recruiting entails or if your personality, skills, and interests align with the job requirements. No matter which end of the spectrum you're on, this blog will break down some of the common misconceptions about recruiting sales roles and their pros and cons. People often assume that the recruiting role and responsibilities fall under human resources, but that's not the case. Recruiting is much more of a sales function, while human resources is more operations. Look at it this way: recruiting relies on an incentive-based structure where the goal is finding job candidates for a company. As a result, recruiters constantly compete with other companies to secure top talent. They must properly market their company and its available positions to attract prospective candidates.&nbsp; Now let's explore some of the pros and cons of a recruiting career. The pros of recruitingRecruiting offers variety. Each industry, position, and client is different and may require different approaches to secure candidates. Not only do the day-to-day tasks bring variety to the job, but so do your career options. Recruiters can work for various companies, in different capacities—this includes recruiting internally, externally, as a contractor, and more. You can build relationships. Recruiting roles allow you to connect with new people and companies constantly, which is particularly attractive if you’re someone who thrives on relationship-building and social interaction. Over time you’ll build up your network with new company contacts, clients, and others who can be valuable to you and your career. No specific experience or education is required. Many entry-level recruiting roles don't require any professional or recruiting experience. So whether you're new to professional work or transitioning from another career, getting your foot in the door shouldn't be an issue. However, any previous job or industry experience can offer you an upper hand. For example, suppose you have sales experience or have worked in industries such as healthcare, tech, or financial services. You can leverage your valuable knowledge and domain expertise by recruiting for companies within those fields.&nbsp; Recruiting provides amazing earning potential. Recruiter salaries vary depending on your location, industry, job title, experience, and if it's an internal or external role. The average national base salary for internal or "in-house" recruiters is $53,550, with commissions and bonuses adding an average of $27,319 per year. External recruiters, also known as headhunters or agency recruiters, work with multiple companies to fill openings. Their salaries may vary since they're not typically paid a flat wage and instead earn a commission per placement. Experienced external recruiters have the potential to make upwards of $200,000. Technical recruiters specializing in specific fields like IT, legal, and healthcare can earn particularly high salaries. It can be fulfilling and rewarding. Helping people find new and exciting opportunities can make you happy and fulfilled. It’s rewarding to better someone’s life with a fantastic job offer.&nbsp; The cons of recruitingThe recruiting environment can be high-intensity and high-stress.&nbsp; Because of the competitive nature and commission-based aspects of recruiting, it can be an extremely stressful and demanding job. If you struggle to meet firm quotas and recruiting goals, it can negatively impact your mood, mental state, and even lead to performance improvement plans or job loss. Compensation may vary. Although recruiting offers high-earning potential, the commission-based job means that your income may vary. Some days (and paychecks) can be better than others. Your bank account may take a hit if you fail to meet your monthly quotas. For some, unpredictable income can have a direct impact on stress levels and overall job satisfaction. It’s a sales job. Recruiting is essentially a sales role—and depending on your personality and interests, this may actually be a pro! However, it's a different story for those with different communication skills and working styles. If you like to keep to yourself and are more introverted, recruiting may be outside of your comfort zone. Like sales, recruiting requires daily cold calls, emails, monthly quotas, and a competitive nature, which can be difficult to adapt to. This may be the best and most straightforward aspect of the role for some people, but it may be stressful and overwhelming for others. The schedule can be demanding.&nbsp; Recruiting may require a lot of creativity to reach prospective candidates. Today, many recruiters have stepped outside the typical tactics like cold calls and emails and now rely on LinkedIn InMails, video messages, and texting. Creating personalized messaging takes time and creative energy. You also have to consider different time zones and candidates' varying availabilities. They may reach out to you after hours, requiring you to be more flexible and occasionally work outside regular business hours.&nbsp; Rejection can hurt. Job candidates may change their minds and turn down job offers. On the other hand, companies may also reject your candidates, leaving you to deliver the bad news. Either way, you have to face the possibility of rejection or reward regularly. This requires thick skin and an ability to manage your emotions, because you can't take it personally. Are you ready to make the leap?Now that we’ve covered some of the pros and cons, you should have a better idea of whether or not a career in recruiting is a good fit for you. Consider your interests, skillset, personality, and communication skills before pursuing a recruiting opportunity.&nbsp; At eHire, we work tirelessly to match top companies with top talent. Whether you're looking to bring on in-house recruiting talent or you’re pursuing career opportunities as a recruiter, we can accelerate your search. Contact us today to learn more. Share This Blog

Is a Career in Recruiting the Right Path for You?