For those who are driven and enjoy working with people, a recruitment career can bring a healthy balance of reward and challenge.
As one of the most accessible sectors, recruitment also has a low barrier to entry – yet it offers an uncapped earning potential. With numerous opportunities to earn commissions and promotions, it’s not uncommon for trainees to take control of their futures and progress through the ranks to Partner and Director level.
If you’re interested in becoming a recruiter but you’re not sure where to begin, our quick guide has all the information you need. We’ll answer some quick questions about how to get started in recruitment, with insights from our experts on their top 5 reasons to choose a recruitment career.
What qualifications do I need to become a recruiter?
You don’t need formal qualifications to become a recruiter. Agencies focus on hiring trainees with strong motivation and transferable skills they can build on. Though previous experience in fields such as sales, telemarketing, or customer service can help give you a valuable head start.
What skills do I need for a recruitment career?
Key skills for a successful recruitment career include;
- Listening: Actively understanding the needs of your clients and candidates to make the best match
- Communication: Engaging effectively across emails, calls, video meetings and in-person client interactions
- Commitment: Staying motivated and dedicated to hitting targets
- Resilience: Overcoming challenges with a positive mindset.
By honing and developing these skills in an agency environment, you’ll be on track to becoming an expert recruiter.
How can I become a recruiter?
Our 12-week, fully-paid Desk Ready training programme could be the ideal place to begin your recruitment career. Since launching our training programme in 2021, we’ve seen a number of talented individuals go on to bill an average of £86k in their first year. We’re hiring trainee recruiters in Nottingham and London – find out more.
5 reasons to choose a recruitment career
With careers spanning 10 to 22 years in the industry, we asked some of our most experienced recruiters what they enjoy the most about their jobs…
1. Helping others
Few things are as rewarding as knowing you’ve had a positive impact on someone’s future. With over 19 years of experience, our Talent Acquisition Director, Louise Carling shares – “ultimately, impacting the course of someone’s career path is a real privilege in this job.”
“The reason I chose a recruitment career is to help people,” says Michelle Cracknell-Leafe, Talent Acquisition Partner with 12 years in recruitment. “So much time in our life is spent at work. By finding someone the right job, in the right place, I can really make a difference.”
Ben Love, Talent Acquisition Director (10 years in recruitment), agrees – “You get to support a wide range of interesting businesses and people. No two days are the same – whether it’s engaging with different candidates or helping businesses to solve unique challenges. Recruitment keeps you on your toes. Plus, there’s the rewarding aspect of making a real impact on someone’s career journey.”
2. Uncapped pay and commission
Recruitment offers a unique opportunity to directly influence your income through commissions, a motivating factor for many – especially during times like a cost-of-living crisis.
“Recruitment is one of the few industries where there is a direct correlation between how hard you work, how well you do, and how much you earn,” says Alex Alcock, UK Growth & Strategy Director with 16 years in recruitment.
Michelle, reflecting on her own experience adds – “I like how I can change my income depending on how hard I work. In the early days, I’d have said money and commission were my motivators – I bought my first house, car, holidays, spoiled my pets, etc. These days, it’s for the buzz and reward of helping people, alongside the flexibility and environment at Distinct. I do just actually enjoy doing recruitment and the process. I think I would be a bit bored in a job where every day is the same.”
3. Career progression
Many successful recruiters begin their careers as trainees. A great example is our Talent Acquisition Partner, Imogen Talbot-Slack, who in just seven years at Distinct has progressed through the ranks and this year opened our Boston office alongside Rebecca Sherman.
Henry Clarkson, Talent Acquisition Director (13 years in recruitment), adds – “The work you put in can directly boost your own progression, without hitting a ceiling or waiting to be promoted.”
For Claire Fletcher, Divisional Director with 22 years of experience in the industry, recruitment has offered both stability and diversity – “I have stayed in recruitment for a long time as it has opened up opportunities for me (and because I enjoy it). I have never just stayed in the same market. I’ve recruited in the Midlands and London, for temporary and permanent roles in accounting, finance, procurement and supply chain. Recruitment has given me stability, but also allowed me to develop my skills in different disciplines and to build and manage teams.”
4. Flexibility
At Distinct, we’re proud to offer a flexible work environment. After a six-month probation period, team members can enjoy hybrid working, and after one year, unlimited holiday requests. We also prioritise a culture of autonomy over micromanagement, allowing you to plan your schedule in a way that works best for you.
“Recruitment gives me the flexibility to do more of the stuff I love doing – travelling with my family being one of the main ones!” says Ben.
5. Variety
A common saying in recruitment is that “no two days are the same.” In this career, you’ll develop a wide range of skills in areas like advert writing, business development, negotiation, and pitching. As Claire notes, “the uniqueness of recruitment comes from the sheer variety of different skills you use and tasks that you do, day-to-day.”
“There’s always something else to get stuck into,” adds Alex. “Whether there’s another client to work with, a new candidate to engage with, or developing an existing relationship. That, and the thrill of making placements, closing deals.”
Bonus: People and relationship building
As a recruiter, you’ll interact with various candidates and clients daily, cultivating lasting relationships that often extend well beyond placements. Many of our top recruiters maintain these connections for years, celebrating the growth of both candidate careers and businesses.
“Recruitment is focused on relationship building, which I love,” shares Becky Downes, UK Talent & People Director (12 years in recruitment).
“I’ve really enjoyed building lasting customer relationships. Becoming an expert on HR subject matter and genuinely being interested in the profession have both sustained me,” adds Louise.
Become a recruiter with Distinct
Our Desk Ready programme is designed to give you the essential first step in your recruitment career. Our 12-week course is designed for:
- Recent university graduates
- Beginner recruiters with 0-12 months experience
- Those with work experience in a similar field
At Distinct, we have a supportive environment where you’ll receive all the comprehensive training and resources you need to succeed. You’ll earn a salary whilst learning from experienced recruiters with established and successful markets. Upon graduating, you’ll be assigned a recruitment desk to begin earning commission and working your way towards your next promotion.
We’re hiring in Nottingham and London, with opportunities to recruit for UK and US markets. Learn more and apply to our Desk Ready training programme here. If you’d like a quick chat on what to expect, feel free to contact any of the recruiters listed above by clicking on their profiles.
