Just like other industries, to succeed in recruitment you'll need to have the right mix of personal and professional skills and capabilities.

But knowing if you’ve got what it takes to succeed in recruitment can be difficult to determine – especially if you have no previous knowledge or experience. And even when you have, its not easy knowing what you’ll need to get you on the next step of your career.

Looking for your first job?

If you’re looking for your first career opportunity then education is important. There are no hard or fast rules when it comes to the type of education that the industry and its employers prefer. You don’t need a degree unless you’re specifically applying for a graduate position, you don’t necessarily need ‘A’ levels but you absolutely must have a minimum of 5 GCSE pass grades including Maths and English. You will also be expected to have a working knowledge of Microsoft Office functions, email and the internet. And being able to drive a car is a distinct advantage.

You’ll have little in the way of direct experience or professional skill but as a new entrant, employers will be looking for several key attributes and characteristics that will enable them to determine if you have the potential to fulfil junior and trainee positions and have the capacity and ability to quickly develop into more challenging roles.

Experienced but new to recruitment?

So what if you’re an experienced manager but currently working in other industries? The recruitment industry actively encourages experienced professional into our industry – and as long as you can demonstrate a level of skill and capabilities in your chosen area of expertise then we want to hear from you. Business Service and Support Roles provide the greatest opportunity for skills transfer across industry boundaries but before you decide to join our revolution, make sure that our industry is for you. Remember that we deal with people all day, everyday. We don’t sell widgets, we don’t move boxes and we don’t watch the markets or deal with faceless bureaucrats. We deal with real people and real lives and if that’s the challenge you want everyday of the week then the recruitment industry is where you need to be.

Looking for your next move in the industry?

What about those of you who are already part of this industry - experienced individuals who have demonstrated the skills and abilities to deliver excellent recruitment services and support. Have you thought about how you progress, what additional skills and capabilities you need to move along you chosen career path? If you haven’t already, why not start right here, right now and prepare for your continued future in the recruitment industry.


Whether you’re looking for your first ever job or the next step up the career ladder click here to check out our top tips and tools to help secure your perfect plum position in recruitment.