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Executive recruiter vs human resource specialist

The differences between executive recruiters and human resource specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an executive recruiter and a human resource specialist. Additionally, an executive recruiter has an average salary of $79,755, which is higher than the $53,143 average annual salary of a human resource specialist.

The top three skills for an executive recruiter include customer service, applicant tracking systems and human resources. The most important skills for a human resource specialist are data entry, oversight, and life insurance.

Executive recruiter vs human resource specialist overview

Executive RecruiterHuman Resource Specialist
Yearly salary$79,755$53,143
Hourly rate$38.34$25.55
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs94,24850,511
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age4141
Years of experience66

What does an executive recruiter do?

Often working for recruiting agencies, an executive recruiter is primarily in charge of interviewing and hiring job applicants. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering candidates' applications and requirements, verifying documents and reaching out to references, and conducting a background check, all to ensure that the potential hires are suitable for their designated positions. An executive recruiter must also post job advertisements in different areas such as online platforms, coordinate with the hiring team, and offer job positions to the most suitable candidates. Furthermore, they may also develop training programs for new employees, in adherence to company policies and regulations.

What does a human resource specialist do?

A human resources specialist is responsible for assisting in the recruitment and staffing process. Duties of a human resources specialist include updating the requirements and qualifications of a job post, handling employees' inquiries regarding compensation and benefits, maintaining employees' records, updating the status of new joiners, tracking performance reviews, and generating reports as business requires. A human resource specialist must be detail-oriented, as well as excellent in organizational and communication skills. Additionally, a human resource specialist must have a broad knowledge of the recruitment process and structure.

Executive recruiter vs human resource specialist salary

Executive recruiters and human resource specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Executive RecruiterHuman Resource Specialist
Average salary$79,755$53,143
Salary rangeBetween $51,000 And $122,000Between $36,000 And $77,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CAWashington, DC
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew Jersey
Best paying companyMetaMeta
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between executive recruiter and human resource specialist education

There are a few differences between an executive recruiter and a human resource specialist in terms of educational background:

Executive RecruiterHuman Resource Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 77%Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania

Executive recruiter vs human resource specialist demographics

Here are the differences between executive recruiters' and human resource specialists' demographics:

Executive RecruiterHuman Resource Specialist
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 48.9% Female, 51.1%Male, 26.9% Female, 73.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.2% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 7.6% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between executive recruiter and human resource specialist duties and responsibilities

Executive recruiter example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage company's social media pages (Facebook & LinkedIn).
  • Recruit a team of QA experts to do framework lead solution as a testing bed foundation for quarterly regression testing.
  • Utilize Linkedin, Google, Facebook, and other search engines to seek out qualify candidates.
  • Negotiate all salaries, rates and fees with clients, documenting all activity with precision into CRM system.
  • Prepare for the search process by identifying technical requirements and seeking candidates through networking, ATS database and internet research.
  • Participate in project teams to improve the applicant tracking system (ATS) and the employee referral program (ERP).
  • Show more

Human resource specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage site KRONOS payroll, time and attendance, and vacation tracking for hourly.
  • Manage new hire and current employee paperwork that includes status change forms, W-4s, I-9s, etc.
  • Lead a compliance initiative to ensure successful transition to the e-Verify employment verification process.
  • Integrate efforts on actions and programs where joint OPM functional effort are necessary to accomplish recruitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.
  • Advise, coach, and counsele managers and Sr.
  • Assist with affirmative action reporting, VETS100 and EEO-1 submission.
  • Show more

Executive recruiter vs human resource specialist skills

Common executive recruiter skills
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Applicant Tracking Systems, 13%
  • Human Resources, 12%
  • Logistics, 7%
  • Healthcare, 7%
  • Direct Hire, 4%
Common human resource specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 10%
  • Oversight, 9%
  • Life Insurance, 9%
  • Human Resources Policies, 8%
  • Customer Service, 7%
  • Timekeeping, 5%

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