Every year, thousands of graduates leave university asking the same question: “What now?”

While traditional grad schemes are more competitive than ever, one career path is booming… recruitment.

You’ve probably seen the job ads: Trainee Recruitment Consultant – £40K OTE – Fast Progression. 

But what does that actually mean? And why are so many grads finding this sector so appealing at the moment?

Well, you’ve come to the right place! Read on to find out what recruitment really involves, what the appeal is, the kind of salary, career progress and support you can get and, most importantly, how to get your foot in the door (with the help from us here at Edmund & Evans!).

What is recruitment?

Quite simply, recruitment is the process whereby the right people are matched with the right jobs. In a recruitment role, you’ll speak with clients (employers) and work closely with them to identify the right kind of person that they need, then headhunt, interview and coach the best candidates for the job in question.

Different career paths

Within recruitment, there are different career options you can pursue:

180 recruitment

Also known as delivery or candidate-focused recruitment), 180 recruitment is a model where you concentrate on either sourcing and managing candidates or client acquisition. Here, you’ll specialise in finding, attracting and managing top candidates, with the work involving job ad posting, CV sourcing, screening, interviewing and candidate feedback.

Salaries range from £22,000 to £50,000, depending on experience and location. Additional commission and bonuses are also available.

360 recruitment

Here, a holistic recruitment approach is adopted where either one person or a small team works across all aspects of the hiring process, including client sourcing and acquisition, interviewing, offer negotiation and onboarding.

You will serve as a single point of contact with both clients and candidates, with a strong skill set including proficiency in sales, building relationships and candidate management experience.

Salaries range from £36,000 to £46,600, depending on experience and location. On-target earnings can also push this higher.

Executive search consultant

An executive search consultant (also known as a headhunter) is a specialised recruiter that works with companies to find and hire top-level executives. Work involves in-depth research to identify the best candidates, jobseeker assessment, client relationship management, candidate engagement, salary negotiation and onboarding.

Salaries range from £32,000 to £90,000, depending on experience and performance, with higher earning potential available based on results.

Why are graduates choosing recruitment as a career?

Leaving university and entering the world of work is tough at any time but particularly so at the moment, with growing numbers finding it harder to land roles that match their qualifications. 

Why? 

Because the number of jobs advertised is down by about a third (reaching its lowest point in seven years), because some employers want both qualifications and practical experience, because the advent of artificial intelligence is reshaping the workplace and shrinking entry-level opportunities, and because competition is rife.

All of this and more is why recruitment is becoming increasingly attractive as an option because it’s dynamic, diverse, vibrant, challenging, rewarding, sociable, people-centric and connection-based.

Not only that but a job in recruitment also helps you feel like you’re making a difference to people’s lives, propelling them along in their journey towards their dream career. While this is great for them, of course, it also gives you a huge amount of professional satisfaction and a true sense of purpose.

But, naturally, you also need to think about your own career, as well, and recruitment abounds with opportunities for career advancement, with quick ascension up the career ladder for ambitious graduates keen to make their presence felt. It’s possible that you could become a team leader within 18 months with the right aptitude and approach.

Why work with Edmund & Evans

Over the last five years, we’ve cemented ourselves as one of the most trusted recruitment partners in the UK, putting both clients and candidates at the heart of all we do. We’re a boutique firm that offers real training across the board and you’ll be able to work directly with the founders of the company, all of whom are experienced recruitment specialists.

Last year, we placed over 54 graduates in high-quality positions, with 90 per cent still in their roles. If you’d like to be one of our top performers, get in touch with the team today.