Agriculture

A Day In the Life of a Corporate Recruiter

I work remotely, but typical recruiters work in an office setting.  Our job is to attract, interact and hire talent into our company.  I spend much of my day advising hiring managers and speaking with candidates via phone and video calls as we manage the recruitment/interview process.   Recruiters are often the first contact for a prospective employee to interact with a company of interest and play an important role in engaging with and explaining why a company or role would be something to consider.  I manage my own work schedule and have a great deal of autonomy in my position. 

Educational Pathway

Most recruiters have a bachelors degree at a minimum to be considered.  The area of study can vary from psychology to human resources to general business.  I studied Biology and Zoology and initially worked as a Scientific Recruiter- so was able to use my degree in my work.   A typical pathway into Corporate Recruiting involves gaining experience working in a staffing agency.  When I was hired with Driscoll's I had about 6 years of recruitment experience and had recently completed a Masters degree in Business Administration. 

Characteristics/Skills/Inspiration

Recruiting is a mix of sales, general human resources knowledge, and effective communication skills - mainly in persuasive writing and verbal communication.  Being able to 'think on your feet' and having a strong customer service mindset are important.  I knew I was fit for this career as I'm achievement oriented and was able to find success early in my career by helping to hire a variety of people into new roles.  

Pros and Cons 

Pros: flexible work environment (many hybrid/remote options), above average pay, personally rewarding as you help people get new jobs!  products that impact millions of people, very good pay and job outlook (career growth) 

Cons: candidates aren't always truthful, you have to deliver bad news, you have to be able to manage expectations with dozens of managers and candidates at the same time 

Biggest Challenge Faced In Getting Where They Are Today - How did they overcome it?

Finding the 'right' role for you - can take time.  I got into recruiting after 10 or so years of working in other fields after my bachelor's degree.  Finding a good company to represent can make the biggest difference  - as you are representing that brand and what they stand for.   Be open to new opportunities, and don't be afraid to take a risk for a good employer. 

Advice For One Pursuing this Career

If you like meeting people and enjoy a 'sales oriented' position, recruiting may be for you.  I would target entry level/junior recruiter or recruiting coordinator positions after college to gain experience.  Customer service oriented roles provide valuable experience, and anything with direct sales would be helpful.  It is very rewarding, but you also have to be good at giving career advice and delivering bad news (we can only hire 1 candidate for each position!).  Ask questions, learn all you can, and practice professional communication skills. 

Extra Notes/Interesting Facts

Recruiting is very rewarding!  It is a role that can be leveraged to move into general HR positions or you can build a long term career in talent acquisition. All of your friends and relatives will ask you to look over their resumes once they know you are a recruiter!