If you're considering a career as a Recruitment Consultant, one of the first questions that may come to mind is… What education do you need to become a Recruitment Consultant?
The answer might surprise you as it’s very flexible and usually doesn’t require a degree or any higher education. In this article we cover what education qualifications you would need to become a Recruitment Consultant and enjoy a successful career within recruitment.
What Does a Recruitment Consultant Do?
Firstly, lets actually outline what a Recruitment Consultant is and what they do day to day. They are renowned for acting as the bridge between employers and job seekers. Their job involves identifying talent, matching candidates to job opportunities, managing interviews and helping businesses find the right people for their teams. It’s a fast-paced, people-focused career that rewards resilience, tenacity and that hunger mindset. For this reason, higher education isn't an essential when looking to hire Recruitment Consultants, their personality and skillset is what will set them apart from others.
Do You Need Higher Education to be a Recruitment Consultant?
No, a university degree or any higher education usually isn’t required to become a Recruitment Consultant. Many employers hire candidates based on transferable skills, work ethic and personality rather than academic qualifications such as a university degree.
However, if you do have a degree or completed any higher education, here are a few subjects which might help you as a Recruitment Consultant.
Human Resources: Offers a strong foundation in employment law, talent management and workplace dynamics.
Business Administration: Helps with understanding company structures, business needs and management processes.
Psychology or Sociology: Useful for understanding human behaviour & their motivation and interpersonal skills.
Marketing or Communications: Valuable for writing job descriptions, employer branding and client engagement.
Professional Qualifications and Training
While formal education is flexible, industry-specific training and certifications can set you apart, especially if you see yourself being a Recruitment Consultant for the long haul. There are many online courses which you can complete to help you as a Recruitment Consultant.
These can include LinkedIn Learning, SocialTalent and Udemy. You can also do a Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) apprenticeship which may help you fully understand the fundamentals of recruitment.
However, as discussed previously doing formal qualifications or higher education definitely isn’t essential to be a successful Recruitment Consultant and most companies will hire based on personality, attitude and drive.
Skills Matter More
In recruitment, skills and personality often outweigh higher education. Employers are typically looking for candidates who can...
Communicate clearly and confidently
Build rapport with clients and candidates
Handle rejection and stay resilient
Work under pressure and meet targets
Understand the industries they recruit for
Have excellent drive and a ‘hunger growth’ mindset
These skills can be developed through previous experience within sectors such as sales, administration and HR & Talent roles, making a Recruitment Consultant role an accessible career path for career-changers without the need to complete higher education.
Do you think you've got what it takes to become a Recruitment Consultant?
If you've read the above and feel confident that your skills and experience match up to those of a Recruitment Consultant, then we are always looking for enthusiastic and ambitious people to join our growing team. A career in recruitment offers the opportunity to earn a lot of money, progress quickly and develop a successful career. Browse all of our latest recruitment jobs that we are currently hiring for.
Are you curious to find out what the actual benefits of working in recruitment are?
Recruitment offers excellent rewards and benefits, which is usually the main reason most people become Recruitment Consultants. There are many benefits to a career in recruitment, but in this article we share with you what we believe are the most important benefits. Read more in the below article.
Do you want to know what it's really like to be a Recruitment Consultant?
We won't lie, it's not an easy job and being resilient, hungry for growth and determined are just some of the main characteristics you'll need to become successful. We've outlined the daily tasks of being a Recruitment Consultant in the below article.
