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What does a professional recruiter do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A professional recruiter is responsible for finding qualified candidates for a job opening and ensuring that the demands of the employer and the employee are met throughout the recruitment process. Your duties will typically include sourcing, pre-screening, and presenting qualified candidates to the recruitment manager, soliciting employee referrals, and conducting background and reference checks. Additionally, you are expected to manage and oversee the job offer process, ensure the delivery of an exceptional job candidate experience, and facilitate employee onboarding.

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Professional recruiter responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real professional recruiter resumes:

  • Manage all phases of the iCIMS - iRecruiter applicant tracking system process and source/recruit qualify internal and external management candidates.
  • Manage records of sales activities and follow-up on requirements by utilizing office specific HRIS technology.
  • Utilize internal database, LinkedIn (or other social media), job boards and other networks to identify qualify candidates.
  • Update and verify all information in ATS.
  • Perform recruitment metrics data analysis and reporting for business partners and team members using recruiting system and PeopleSoft HRIS.
  • Research and recruit potential employees through LinkedIn
  • Facilitate community outreach efforts by working community healthcare fairs.
  • Assist pharmaceutical companies in setting continuous medical education seminars for healthcare providers.
  • Present and prepare PowerPoint presentations on various topics to educate colleagues in the office and operate WebEx technology for conference calls.
  • Manage employee's personnel files and maintain accurate up to date confidential client files to ensure compliance with HIPPA.

Professional recruiter skills and personality traits

We calculated that 34% of Professional Recruiters are proficient in Applicant Tracking Systems, Human Resources, and Background Checks. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Interpersonal skills.

We break down the percentage of Professional Recruiters that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Applicant Tracking Systems, 34%

    Cultivate and maintained a solid network of consultants and update databases and applicant tracking systems.

  • Human Resources, 6%

    Distributed fully executed Physician/Professional Provider Agreements to both physician/mid-level provider and the appropriate Human Resources department.

  • Background Checks, 6%

    Performed appropriate background checks on applicants being seriously considered for a specific position.

  • Reference Checks, 4%

    Screen candidates, conduct behavioral interviews, administer evaluations, conduct background investigations and reference checks.

  • Recruitment Process, 3%

    Guide candidates through recruitment process and maintained relationships throughout and afterward.

  • Work Ethic, 3%

    Developed solid candidate base utilizing relationship and networking abilities and solid work ethic.

"applicant tracking systems," "human resources," and "background checks" are among the most common skills that professional recruiters use at work. You can find even more professional recruiter responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for a professional recruiter to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what professional recruiters do because "listening and speaking skills are essential for human resources specialists." Additionally, a professional recruiter resume shows how professional recruiters use communication skills: "track candidate s progress and document communications using various applicant tracking systems, including pcrecruiter and taleo. "

Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling professional recruiter duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "specialists must pay attention to detail when evaluating applicants’ qualifications, doing background checks, maintaining records of an employee grievance, and ensuring that a workplace complies with labor standards." According to a professional recruiter resume, here's how professional recruiters can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "handle new employee start details, employee orientations, background checks, drug screens. "

Interpersonal skills. This is an important skill for professional recruiters to perform their duties. For an example of how professional recruiter responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "specialists continually interact with others and must be able to converse and connect with people from varied backgrounds." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a professional recruiter: "conducted phone interviews with candidates to assess technical skills, interpersonal skills, availability and negotiate salaries. ".

Most common professional recruiter skills

The three companies that hire the most professional recruiters are:

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Compare different professional recruiters

Professional recruiter vs. Talent acquisition consultant

A Talent Acquisition Consultant is responsible for sourcing and recruiting high-quality candidates. They may work in an office setting or travel to different locations to search for new talents.

The annual salary of talent acquisition consultants is $14,700 higher than the average salary of professional recruiters.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both professional recruiter and talent acquisition consultant positions are skilled in applicant tracking systems, human resources, and background checks.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between professional recruiters and talent acquisition consultant. For instance, professional recruiter responsibilities require skills such as "strong work ethic," "linkedin," "quality candidates," and "interview candidates." Whereas a talent acquisition consultant is skilled in "customer service," "manufacturing industry," "recruitment strategies," and "ta." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Talent acquisition consultants really shine in the finance industry with an average salary of $74,599. Comparatively, professional recruiters tend to make the most money in the insurance industry with an average salary of $60,015.The education levels that talent acquisition consultants earn slightly differ from professional recruiters. In particular, talent acquisition consultants are 4.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a professional recruiter. Additionally, they're 0.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Professional recruiter vs. Staffing consultant

A staffing consultant develops and maintains the accounts of clients through outside and inside organizational activities. Staffing consultants induct, assess, and monitor the job applicants preparing them for their assignments. They match jobs to applicants and the candidates to their jobs. Their duties include helping both employees and employers in their respective responsibilities. They also act as business development and sales consultant to talent acquisition firms.

Staffing consultant positions earn lower pay than professional recruiter roles. They earn a $13,778 lower salary than professional recruiters per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both professional recruiters and staffing consultants have skills such as "applicant tracking systems," "human resources," and "reference checks. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, professional recruiter responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "background checks," "work ethic," "strong work ethic," and "source candidates." Meanwhile, a staffing consultant has duties that require skills in areas such as "r," "direct hire," "criminal background checks," and "client satisfaction." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Staffing consultants tend to reach similar levels of education than professional recruiters. In fact, they're 1.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Professional recruiter vs. Staffing specialist

A staffing specialist is responsible for overseeing the staffing needs of an organization. Staffing specialists work closely with the department heads and hiring managers for their staffing requirements and qualifications. They advertise job hirings on the company's online job board and other communication platforms. A staffing specialist carefully evaluates the applicants' documents, reaching out to potential candidates for scheduling interviews and assessments. A staffing specialist must have excellent knowledge of the human resources disciplines, following the policies and procedures of hiring candidates, and assist them during onboarding.

On average scale, staffing specialists bring in lower salaries than professional recruiters. In fact, they earn a $9,676 lower salary per year.By looking over several professional recruiters and staffing specialists resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "applicant tracking systems," "human resources," and "background checks." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, professional recruiters are more likely to have skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "source candidates," and "quality candidates." But a staffing specialist is more likely to have skills like "data entry," "customer service," "telemarketing," and "persuasion."

Staffing specialists earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,631. Comparatively, professional recruiters have the highest earning potential in the insurance industry, with an average salary of $60,015.Most staffing specialists achieve a similar degree level compared to professional recruiters. For example, they're 1.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Professional recruiter vs. Recruiting coordinator

A recruiting coordinator's tasks include posting job vacancies, coordinating candidate travel, setting up schedules for interviews and handling last-minute scheduling changes, preparing offer letters, and conducting background checks on aspirants. The coordinator assists in the company's recruiting and talent acquisition procedures and strategies by hiring job-seekers to fill in vacant positions and to supply the company's workforce needs and goals. To be effective, he/she should have excellent communication skills and intimate knowledge about hiring best practices to be able to attract aspirants.

Recruiting coordinators typically earn lower pay than professional recruiters. On average, recruiting coordinators earn a $9,156 lower salary per year.According to resumes from professional recruiters and recruiting coordinators, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "applicant tracking systems," "human resources," and "background checks. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between professional recruiters and recruiting coordinators, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a professional recruiter might have more use for skills like "source candidates," "business development," "quality candidates," and "internal database." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of recruiting coordinators require skills like "customer service," "powerpoint," "onsite interviews," and "candidate travel. "

In general, recruiting coordinators earn the most working in the finance industry, with an average salary of $47,481. The highest-paying industry for a professional recruiter is the insurance industry.In general, recruiting coordinators hold similar degree levels compared to professional recruiters. Recruiting coordinators are 1.6% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of professional recruiter

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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