What Do Recruiters Actually Do All Day? 

Are you working with a recruiter or know someone who works as one? Chances are, you might be wondering why their work-life balance seems to be better than any other role you have witnessed, such as a bank teller or broker. Why can they go out for coffee during office hours or visit places outside the office while you are stuck in your office all day? The life of an organised recruiter might make you jealous as they appear to have an enjoyable work-life balance. In fact, a recruiter is a role with one of the best work-life balance compared to their coworkers. 

While recruiters seem to have better work-life balance, all their “going out during office hours” is not without reasons - they might have just met a client or prospective candidates. All the free time they have might also be the result of their hard work in a few past weeks. The life of a recruiter seems easy but all the glitters are not gold. All the ease does not come as a miracle; recruiters do encounter difficulties and headaches during their career just like any other roles in a company.  

Now that you realise the work of a recruiter is not all fun, you might still wonder what a recruiter does besides hiring and talking to clients. To answer your curiosity, Talentvis sits with a recruitment professional and consultant Shawn Wong who has more than 8 years of experience in the recruitment industry. Read on...

Question: What does a recruiter do?               

Mr Wong: We provide human capital/Talent Acquisition solutions to clients and career opportunities to individuals. Through in-depth knowledge of our clients’ industries, we are able to provide consultative advice to potential candidates pertaining to available opportunities and career advancement.  

Question: Based on your experience as a recruiter, what are common problems that job seekers face when looking for a job? 

Mr Wong: Having interacted with so many job seekers, I feel that most face difficulty managing their own expectations and not understanding the nature of the business and expectations of the job. 

Question: Do you think recruiters play a vital role as a bridge between job seekers and employers? 

Mr Wong: Yes, of course! Our clients (potential employers) have a need which is to find the right talent. Our candidates (potential employees) have a need which is to find a job. We bridge this gap and bring the two together. So now we have come to the end of the interview! We do hope that you will now understand more what a recruiter can do for you!

Questions: So, under what circumstances would job seekers require the help of a recruiter? 

Mr Wong: When they are looking for a job in a niche or specialized industry, seeking progression but unsure of exposure of functions that can propel them for future progression or lacking in interview or self-presentation skills.

Question: How’s the process of working with a recruiter like? 

Mr Wong: It starts with the candidate sending his resume. He then waits for the call for a discussion. In the event the candidate is shortlisted, we will meet up to prepare him for an interview with the client. After which, there will be the collation of feedback from employer and employee and it ends with conducting placement or closure activities. 

Question: What advice would you give to job seekers? 

Mr Wong: Be open to gaining exposure even if you detest certain functions of the job. To be in a leadership position, you must possess skills & attributes like:

• Problem-solving

• People management

• Conceptualisation, forecasting & strategising

• Presentation

These are fundamental skill sets that can only be acquired through exposure of various job functions in your designated industry of interest. 

Question: Thank you for the advice. Now, it is time for ‘Confessions of a Recruiter’. What do you enjoy most about your job? 

Mr Wong: The sense of satisfaction comes when I am able to fulfil my client’s talent acquisition needs and assist my candidate to secure a job that will position him/her for progression in the future.

Question: Then what about the challenges that you face in your job? 

Mr Wong: I would say understanding the operations and cultures of various industries thoroughly in order to source for the right candidate for my clients.

Question: Many people have misconceptions of recruiters. Is there any that you would like to clarify? 

Mr Wong: Most people actually think that we charge the candidate a fee upon successful placement!!!! That is absolutely not true! 

Question: Now that it is clarified, you can be at ease! A job of a recruiter is hard and not everyone is suitable to be one. In your opinion, what does it take to be a recruiter? 

Mr Wong: I feel that a recruiter needs to have strong PR skills, willingness to keep learning and keeping oneself updated on industry news. He or she must also have tolerance and patience to handle people from different walks of life. 

If you have queries about job applications or are looking for a job; or you are a company or organisation looking for top talents to leverage your business, recruiters at Talentvis are ready to help - let’s connect!

Next read: The Value of Recruitment Industry, Challenges, and Trends: Survey