What is recruitment? Why do some people choose it as a career path? Is it a good career choice?

To help you determine whether or not this job is for you, we asked experts to discuss the pros and cons of having a career in recruitment.

Here are their insights:

It is flexible, remote, well-paid if you work for yourself

This is a great time to get into recruiting because we are in the midst of the most severe talent crisis in U.S. history.

Low unemployment, eleven million-plus job openings, and the Great Resignation have created a rich environment for recruiting firms. Companies desperately need recruiting assistance and have no idea what to do.

Legacy recruiting strategies are not working, and businesses in all sectors are critically understaffed. Enter the Talent Acquisition Specialist.

Furthermore, never have there been so many resources for launching into recruiting (by a factor of 100x) than in history. Recruiting coaches are available by the dozens.

A literal plethora of training platforms and courses evidence that business in the space is good. New and better tools are launching every day. Whereas in the past, it might have taken you a couple of years to see chronic income in the business, if you choose the right mentors, you can quantum leap to early success today.

However, don’t think that it will be easy.

Scott Love is fond of saying that “recruiting is a character development process disguised as a career,” and I have to agree. Becoming a successful recruiter is the rawest and most intense in-your-face encounter with the personal hang-ups you will ever experience.

Rejection and failure will cause your character issues to surface, like impurities rising to the top in a cauldron or crucible under fire. Although I always knew I had limiting “issues” in my professional life, I never recognized what they were or faced them squarely until I lived by my ATS.

You will need to embrace extreme failure. I am fond of saying that recruiting is 90% failure; it’s just that the 10% is pretty good. Like most sales, it is a numbers game, and volume will be essential early on. You will need to master yourself and maintain your motivation and drive in the face of inertia, adversity, and rejection.

But a skilled recruiter can make unlimited income. The highest-paid professionals in America are not actors and entertainers; they are sales professionals. And let there be no mistake, recruiting is sales.

Pros: Remote, flexible, unlimited income

• You can work from anywhere. There is a good internet connection and not a lot of background noise.
• Your income is only limited by hard work and sales savvy.
• Income can be good once you earn your stipes – 6 figures, plus, the best fees come with experience and reputation.
• In the current environment of the hybrid workplace, it is flexible, remote, well-paid if you work for yourself (if you want an employed job, you will be limited to 60-100k)
• It is relational and can be fun if you learn how to develop rapport quickly over the phone, and it is a tremendous service to both candidates and clients. If you find it rewarding to help people solve problems, this career is for you.

Cons: Competition, self-motivation, extreme failure

• You may not make any regular income for several months.
• Competition is stiff. When business is good more people are entering the field.
• It costs money to make money, and tools can be expensive. But initial overhead is low (a laptop, headset, and an applicant tracking system).
• Most people give up too soon. You need to be a highly-motivated person.
• You must not be afraid of failure, rejection, or the phone

Today, recruiting businesses are thriving, and you will find a large company of fellow travelers, support, advice, and mentors. But don’t do it alone, or you will starve. Find a mentor and do exactly what they tell you to do. A full-hearted commitment will be fundamental.

Related: How to Ask Someone to be Your Mentor

In the blockbuster movie, recently revived, the “Matrix,” Neo is faced with the decision of a lifetime. Morpheus sits across from him, holding two pills, a blue one and a red one.

“This is your last chance,” he says. “After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill – the story ends; you wake up in bed and believe whatever you want to believe. Or, you take the red pill – you stay in wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” The choice is yours.

It is an unbelievably simple and lucrative business model

As a headhunter (agency recruiter, not to be confused with internal recruiter, which is a different job), I have been in the business of recruitment since 2011.

I’m happy to transparently share the pros and cons of the career of an agency recruiter, aka a recruiter that works at a recruitment agency (again, totally different from an internal/corporate recruiter, as I’ll explain further).

Related: How to Become a Recruiter

Pros: Financial opportunity through the power of commissions

This is the number one driver for why people enter this specific agency recruitment industry.

In a sales job, a headhunter and staffing agency salesperson and/or recruiter has the power to generate income per hire. Since the recruitment fees are astronomically high and charged per hire, it is an unbelievably simple and lucrative business model.

The fees range from 20% to 35% on the candidate’s entire salary and sometimes all-in compensation, which result in 5-figure to 6-figure deal sizes (if you recruit for exec searches, i.e., 25% of $400k = $100k fees).

Pros: The freedom this role provides

Another massive pro, outside of the money, is the freedom this role provides: You can choose which clients to work with and which candidates you’ll undertake. Internal and corporate recruiters do not have this because they can only serve their employer.

They cannot pick and choose multiple clients to represent like those of us on the agency side can do. This means agency recruiters have more diversified business risks as we’re truly not reliant on one particular company to do well.

Think Peloton, think better.com – these companies went through massive issues, so if you’re a TA person who works there (talent acq), you’re stuck with a terrible go-to-market client that no candidates want to respond to.

Conversely, a headhunter can represent these companies within their bucket of clients. Some candidates will go for it as they see fit after a period of rapport-building with the 3rd-party recruiter, going through some details and objection handling before proceeding.

Cons: It is a tough, commission-driven, competitive job

There is a reason why 90% of headhunters and 3rd party agency recruitment professionals quit either right away or after 3-5 years despite success in this line of work.

It is a tough, commission-driven, competitive job where only the hardest working, most creative, tenacious, and tough people make it.

Because you’re dealing with two parties populated with different personality types and demanding people who all expect you to do stuff for them, this level of high pressure (typical of high-paying sales jobs) can eventually take its toll on people.

At a certain period in one’s agency career, usually, in years 3-5, where they’ll now start qualifying for internal recruiting jobs, these folks will then move internally and leave the hectic agency life where every day is essentially another day to fight for the dollar.

Cons: Agency recruitment is pretty monotonous

Another factor is that agency recruitment is pretty monotonous. It’s simply landing clients, landing candidates, and doing placements (deals). That’s it.

There is nothing truly revolutionary about it, and you don’t get compensated for doing anything else that isn’t revenue-related. Thus, many get bored with that simplicity and want to get into advisory, team-building, training, and other careers altogether since the agency is pretty singularly-focused.

Cons: You have to constantly depend on a ‘product’

Lastly, another con is that you have to constantly depend on a ‘product’—humans and life decisions as it relates to careers, that is very malleable and can change their mind.

This can drive recruiters crazy and out of business. After one or two failed deals where clients and/or candidates rescind their decisions, it may be enough to push people out the door and throw in the towel on this career.

You have to truly love this ‘product’ all the good and bad, to survive in this line of work.

For those who love commission, money, reward, recognition, fun, and freedom, agency is a godsend and a lifestyle choice, especially if you own your own agency (this is where I’m at now).

Going internal isn’t a bad move for those who prefer more of a stable, risk-averse employee dynamic.

It’s a great way to join the workforce; it opens doors to many different career paths

Pros: Opportunity for growth

I worked my way up the food chain, and as I gained more experience, I went from sourcing to recruiting for more and more senior-level positions.

I’ve also seen peers move into executive recruitment, management, enablement, marketing, sales, and human resources. It’s a great way to join the workforce, as it will open doors to many different career paths.

Pros: No day is the same

I’ll be honest; my weakness is that I get bored easily. My favorite thing about working at an agency is recruiting for a plethora of companies.

I’m always busy and get to meet a wide variety of people from different backgrounds across the globe. Good companies hire fast, so there’s typically a good ebb and flow of opportunities to keep you on your toes.

Pros: You make an impact to other people

You might be helping a company with its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives or go-to-market goals, but regardless, your efforts positively affect the bottom line.

On the candidate side, you might be changing their life by helping them leave a toxic work environment, land a job after a global pandemic, make more money, or all of the above. You’ll be remembered and may be treated to a Starbucks gift card or a bottle of wine every now and again!

Cons: Facing rejection

It’s the nature of the beast. Not every candidate will accept your offer. Not every company will extend an offer to your candidate. You’re bound to lose one every once in a while.

Not to mention if you’re cold calling companies or a candidate, just like sales, you will get hung up on and told no. You have to learn to bounce back quickly and move on to the next opportunity.

Cons: Turning “off” for the day

The best candidates are often employed, limiting their availability to interview. You’ll definitely want to set boundaries for work/life balance, but it can be worth taking calls outside of normal working hours for strong candidates. Sometimes you’ll have to take calls before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m.

Related: Why Is Work-Life Balance so Important in Today’s World?

Cons: You will deal with people’s attitudes

Although 99 percent of the time, the people are the best part of the job, there will be times they drive you nuts.

A hiring manager might yell at you for not recommending enough candidates, but in reality, they’re just frustrated that they’re behind on their headcount goals. Or it might be a candidate that goes rogue in an interview and makes you look bad.

At the end of the day, recruiting sells the most unreliable product, people (both hiring managers and candidates alike).

Recruiters operate in any market; we adapt our knowledge according to the niche

Here are some insights I’ve gained over two decades of experience.

Pros: Improvement of personal and professional skills

Recruitment is a job based on interacting with people on a daily basis. This allows you to develop numerous personal and professional skills. We learn a lot by interviewing people, capturing new perspectives, understanding different cultures, observing other behaviors, and acquiring technical knowledge.

Pros: Helping people go forward in their careers

I believe this is one of the most incredible aspects of this work. When we find a candidate and hire them and can see them grow in their career, it is a wonderful experience.

It is not uncommon for successful professionals to remain grateful to recruiters for finding them.

Pros: Recognition and compensation

As a recruiter, your contributions directly impact the overall business results. This can allow you to earn an excellent salary, rewarding all your hard work.

Pros: Fully dynamic work

We work in dynamic environments, and every day is entirely different. You have to constantly adapt and really enjoy action to go with the flow. After all, they open new positions and close others all the time.

Furthermore, the skills needed in each industry are constantly evolving. The recruiter needs to update themselves continually to conduct a selection process correctly.

Pros: The profession can adapt to various markets

Many recruiters see this as a great advantage: We operate in any market with ease because we will adapt our knowledge according to the niche in which we will work. This motivates us always to be learning new subjects.

Being able to experience different universes is incredible.

For example, I worked for many years in education and marine logistics. I currently coordinate a team of IT recruiters.

Pros: Become a business partner

The company you work for should come to deeply value and trust your perspective on building a successful team, recognizing you can make a critical difference.

Pros: You can travel worldwide and gain experience

With remote work, we can work with people from different countries, speak different languages, and understand how careers are built worldwide, which brings many benefits to our professional experience.

Beyond this, understanding different cultures is enriching on a personal level.

Cons: You need to be a problem solver because there will be problems

As a recruiter, you are the go-between for a potential candidate and a client. It means you often have to juggle appointments, expectations, and frustrations on both sides.

Cons: You can’t allow a setback to slow you down

In this profession, you will work with daily pressure and expectations. You need constant results in your candidate searches.

Sometimes, you will have to deal with rejection, as your candidates will not always be approved in the selection process. Other times candidates will reject our offer. You definitely need to be self-motivated to reinvent yourself daily.

Cons: You won’t have much free time

The recruiter will never work just 8 hours a day. They will have to adapt to the availability of schedules of candidates or clients. If the work is for an international company, they must consider the difference between time zones.

You may do interviews late at night, early in the morning, or even on weekends. (Ideally, you should balance this by having greater flexibility in your schedule at other times.)

Cons: You will face some antagonism

Some candidates may have had a bad experience with a recruiter who didn’t give feedback or value them appropriately. The challenge is to show you take a different, better approach.

It is great for those who enjoy diverse working experiences

Recruitment roles offer many positives and benefits for professionals interested in HR and people management.

Primarily, it offers the opportunity to guide candidates and companies forward together, to make a profound impact on careers, all in a multi-faceted and challenging sphere of work.

For those who enjoy diverse working experiences, recruitment is a great career path.

Productive recruiters can also earn generous commission bonuses from successful placements and build strong professional networks and transferable skills.

On the other hand, recruitment is a demanding profession and may not suit professionals who feel overwhelmed in a high-paced role. Young recruiters will also generally face long working hours as they build their skills and learn to participate in a competitive arena.

Recruitment is best suited to those who enjoy and excel at managing multiple projects and threads simultaneously and those with fantastic social skills and a tireless work ethic.

Related: Why are Social Skills Important?

Charlotte Dikmans

Consultant, The Big Search

You can always find your interest since recruitment is needed in a wide variety of fields

The “people” function will go from one of the least to one of the most valued and sought-after functions and capabilities. This is especially true for companies that desire to stay relevant and attract the best talent in the world.

Recruitment is a wonderful career choice for many reasons. Below, we’ll highlight a few pros and cons you should consider if you’re interested in choosing recruitment as your career path.

Pros: There will always be a need for exceptional talent through recruitment

First and foremost, there will always be a need for recruitment. Exceptional talent will always be in high demand for companies, and recruiters will be expected to find that exceptional talent.

Pros: Recruitment is an excellent choice if you’re a people person

It’s no secret that the right leaders transform organizations. Recruiters can take a company that is in dire need of structure and leadership and revamp it into a stellar place to work. Even if a company or organization has the best intentions with the best mission statement, if they do not have the right talent, they have nothing.

Not to mention, if you’re a people person, recruitment is an excellent choice. Scouting the globe for exceptional people is fun and speaking to some of the smartest and most successful leaders in the world is intellectually stimulating.

Pros: It allows us to partner with many different, exciting companies

Similarly, being in recruitment allows you to partner with and develop insights in many different, very exciting companies that are changing the world we live in.

To be at the forefront of that field is truly thrilling. Since work is such a big part of our lives, finding the perfect fit for our personal careers is crucial to living a happy and fulfilling life. Additionally, helping other people find their dream job is fulfilling.

Recruitment is the bridge between dream jobs and dream talent because, at the same time, recruiters help companies to get to the next level by hiring the right people.

Finally, recruitment is a great basis for any career. You can sidestep into marketing, HR, sales, or even operations or product roles with relevant and transferable skills.

Since recruitment is needed in a wide variety of fields, you can always find your interest.

Cons: It has a lot of pressure and little recognition

While there are many pros to working in recruitment, any career choice has its own challenges. Here are a few we’ve identified for recruitment.

In-house recruitment is a flywheel of work, with lots of pressure and little recognition. Agency recruitment can lack impact, as you never see the growth of organizations you support, and some clients have high expectations that are not always realistic.

Cons: You are giving advice, but you are not the decision-maker

As with any client-facing job, the ultimate challenge is helping your client understand the market and help them reach an ambitious but realistic outcome (which is not as easy as it sounds).

A hard pill to swallow is that, ultimately, you are giving advice, but you are not the decision-maker. This job is not about what you want but about helping your client make the best decision.

Cons: We often have to work on the schedules of those we are recruiting for

If you want a 9-5 job, maybe recruitment is not for you. We often have to work on the schedules of those we are recruiting for and those we are recruiting.

Unfortunately, recruiters don’t always have the best reputation. We can be seen as only sales-driven. While this may not be necessarily true, the work we do can sometimes be tedious and repetitive, as is the case with many jobs.

Overall, we can confidently say that recruitment is a good career. Every single job has pros and cons, but for us, the pros heavily outweigh the cons.

The best part of our day is making people happy. We can help people find their dream job and help small tech businesses expand into thriving companies that are changing the world.

It’s never too late to try something new in your career and life, so if you’re intrigued even a little, go for it!

Recruitment can help you change a life

A career in recruitment can open up doors for you and others you never thought possible.

In fact, you can change a life. However, a word of caution – don’t think that recruitment is easy for a minute.

And many fail who try and perceive it to be easy. You will have long hours, upset clients, upset candidates, but I assure you, when even one person you impacted thanks you for changing their life, you will be hooked forever!

Recruiters have the freedom and flexibility to manage their own time

Pros: You can achieve work-life balance

This has become increasingly important for professionals in all fields. But, it isn’t easy for everyone to achieve a work-life balance.

Recruiters who work independently or as part of an agency get to choose the projects they work on and more or less have the freedom and flexibility to manage their own time.

If work-life balance and flexibility are a priority for you, a career in recruiting might be an excellent choice.

Pros: You will feel professional fulfillment

Do you love helping people achieve their goals? Then working as a recruiter might be the job for you.

Recruiters go above and beyond to match job seekers with great companies and to identify the best candidates for certain roles an employer is looking to fill.

Nothing is more fulfilling than a job candidate calling and thanking you for helping them land their dream job. At the same time, it is equally satisfying when an employer is happy with the newest employee you placed for them.

Cons: It has inconsistent compensation

If you work as an independent recruiter, you can make good money from commissions. But, during those slower months, you might go from earning so much to getting paid so little. You must be ready to endure this kind of financial risk.

Cons: They have a bad reputation

Recruiters sometimes get a bad rep, with some people even viewing them as scam artists.

Of course, in every field, some people engage in fraudulent behavior; this is not unique to recruitment only. As a new and upcoming recruiter, you will have to shake off this reputation and work hard to gain your clients’ trust.

Yes, recruitment is a good career.

It involves the identification of talent needs in an organization, filling them, and developing a candidate pipeline to ensure fluidity in operations. Depending on the company’s size, recruitment may be undertaken by HR managers, human resource personnel, and/or recruitment specialists.

Recruitment seems to be a simple affair of identifying candidates and hiring them at face value. However, it’s both an art and science that calls for recruiters to think outside the box in finding the ideal candidate.

The advantage: It helps you enrich your character, skills, and professionalism

As a recruiter, you interact with different companies and personalities. In the process, you learn their values and company culture, which gives insights and skills into the nature of success.

Recruitment develops your negotiation skills, sharpens your eye for talent, enhances your communication skills, and develops your emotional intelligence as you get to interact with many candidates from various backgrounds with diverse personalities from and for different industries.

That way, you can enrich your personality and professionalism.

The disadvantage: Dashing candidates’ hopes

There are mostly more candidates than job openings, which forces recruiters to be the bearers of bad news. Or the withholder of good news, as unqualified candidates don’t get follow-ups in most situations.

That makes recruitment a career unsuitable for the faint-hearted.

Often, especially during interviews, you will have to ask tough questions and dash hopes to ensure quality for your clients and safeguard your reputation.

It’s a fulfilling career path since you will be leaving a huge impact on people’s lives

Pros: It provides a ton of great earning possibilities

The benefit of working towards a recruitment career is that it provides a ton of great earning possibilities because managing a recruitment career is similar to running your own business.

Pros: You can end up enjoying the rewards of closing large clients

Once you’ve built the right skills and gotten a good amount of experience, you can start to manage your own clients’ database. And when paired with an uncapped commission, you can also end up enjoying the rewards of closing large clients.

Pros: You help people land a job or help a business owner hire the right candidate

On top of that, it can be a rather fulfilling and satisfying career path since you will be dealing directly with people. You end up having a huge impact on their lives, be it to help them find a new job or helping a business owner hire the right candidate.

Cons: You are always on the go

The downside is that since you are always on the go, it will often be tough for you to find a good work-life balance, especially at the beginning of your career.

Cons: Constant stress about hitting targets and securing meetings

You’ll be constantly focused and stressed about hitting your targets, securing meetings, and closing bigger clients, but the good news is that it does get easier once you start to build up your client database.

Recruitment is an excellent career option

Recruitment is actually an excellent career option. Most people think it’s an easy job to go through resumes and conduct interviews day in and day out.

It’s a tough job but isn’t without benefits.

Recruitment is a very lucrative career choice. The most significant benefit is that you can earn a lot of money in a short period. Recruitment jobs usually work with target earnings, which means you get monetary incentives through hiring.

The more people you hire, the higher your incentives will be.

It makes you a better professional

You learn so many vital people skills and learn so much about the business world in a recruitment career – but above all, you learn a lot about yourself.

Being around so many hiring managers and top-flight candidates are sure to rub off on you. It makes you a better professional. Additionally, the compensation potential is outstanding – but it takes time, patience, practice, and lots of networking to make it to that point.

The downside is the competitive landscape and the long hours.

To stand out in a crowded field, you will be required to work a lot of early mornings and late evenings. The job also tests your mettle. It’s a challenge to maintain a positive attitude in the face of rejection and exhaustion.

The job is fast-paced and lucrative, and another upside is that you are helping candidates find their dream jobs, not to mention assisting organizations in landing their dream candidates. The rewards are plentiful.

It depends on your personal goals and what you want out of a career

“Is recruitment a good career?”

The answer to this question really depends on your personal goals and what you want out of a career. Recruitment can be a very rewarding field, but it also has downsides. Here are some pros and cons to help you decide if recruitment is right for you.

Pros: Good earning potential

One of the biggest pros of a career in recruitment is the potential to earn a high salary. Recruiters can often command salaries well above the national average, especially if they have a few years of experience. In fact, the top 10% of recruiters earn an average salary of over $80,000 per year!

Of course, salaries will vary depending on the company you work for, the size of their team, and the location of the role. But generally speaking, recruitment is a well-paid profession.

Pros: Variety of industries to work in

Another great thing about working in recruitment is the variety of industries you can work in.

From tech to retail, recruiters are working in almost every industry imaginable. This means that you can find a role that matches your interests and skills and isn’t tied to a specific company or sector.

If you get bored easily or like to try new things, a career in recruitment could be perfect for you.

Cons: High-stress levels

One of the biggest downsides of a career in recruitment is the high-stress levels. This career requires a lot of multitasking and can be very demanding, leading to burnout.

A business depends on its recruitment team to find the right person for the job, so there is a lot of pressure to get things right. A recruiter is responsible for finding the best candidates for a role and often has to deal with difficult clients under a lot of pressure.

If you’re not good at dealing with stress or if you like a slow-paced job, then recruitment might not be the right career for you.

Cons: Pressure to meet targets

Another downside of working in recruitment is the pressure to meet targets. Most recruiters are given targets to hit, and their performance is often measured against these targets.

This can be a great motivator, but it can also be very stressful. If you hate pressure and don’t work well under stress, then recruitment might not be the right career for you.

It’s a great option for those who are looking to make some money and gain experience

With my experience, I can say that recruitment as a career is a great option for those who are looking to make some money and gain experience.

I personally love recruitment because it’s not only a job, but it also provides me with something that I can use in the future. It’s been so fulfilling, and I’ve learned so much about human psychology during my time at recruitment.

One of the best parts about recruitment is that you can improve your skills and get to know so many different people worldwide. Recruitment offers excellent opportunities to learn about other cultures as you can become friends with people from all over the world.

However, recruitment also has a dark side, and it’s not easy to ignore, especially for those who are new to recruitment. Recruiters often have long working hours, and it can be quite stressful.

My advice is to handle the workload and know that you will be able to cope in the future. Recruitment can also be quite pricey, and it’s important to know that if things go wrong, you will be able to take out a loan.

Overall, I would recommend recruitment as a great experience, though it can sometimes be challenging.

There is no better feeling in the world than helping someone obtain the job of their dreams

You’re well aware of your responsibilities as a recruiter. Sourcing, for example, is a key component of your day-to-day employment.

While you will undoubtedly enjoy some tasks more than others, you must balance the good with the bad. And, in my opinion, working as a recruiter has many more advantages than disadvantages.

Pros: You can change people’s lives

Are you looking for a job where you can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others? If that’s the case, you have many possibilities, with a recruiter being at the top of the list.

To put it another way, the vast majority of individuals require employment. If you’re in charge of helping someone get a new job, you can relax knowing that they’ll be pleased with whatever assistance you provide.

Even if you can’t hire everyone, you can greatly increase each candidate’s chances by learning about their qualifications and preparing them for job interviews and the remainder of the hiring process. As a recruiter, you may also assist individuals who do not land a job by helping them understand how they can improve their performance in the future.

Yes, I understand that there will be instances when you cannot assist someone. Working as a recruiter entails all of this. On the other hand, there will be several occasions when you can help someone obtain the job of their dreams. There is no better feeling in the world than when this occurs.

Pros: You grow your network

You know how vital it is to expand your network as a business professional, especially as a recruiter. You aren’t doing this to hunt for a new job right now; nevertheless, you never know what the future may hold.

Recruiters get the chance to network with a wide range of people, including firm executives and, of course, qualified prospects.

Although this is not a direct benefit of working as a recruiter, it will undoubtedly occur over time. You should take full advantage of the situation since you never know when someone in your network will be able to help you in the future.

Pros: There are no specific criteria for entry

In contrast to other vocations and industries, there are no specific criteria for becoming a recruiting agency.

Many people who study courses with no clear career route end up working in recruitment.

They hear about an exciting, enjoyable profession where they can work with many young people, socialize a lot, and make a lot of money right out of university, and they say, “Why not?”

The majority of agencies just require a bachelor’s degree. Some employers will hire you even if you haven’t attended university, as long as you demonstrate promise.

It’s one of the few fields where your personality, interpersonal skills, and potential are valued more than a university diploma.

Many agencies would choose candidates based on their attitude rather than their qualifications. As a result, anyone from any background can work as a recruitment agent.

Cons: You are the middle-man

As a recruiting agent, you are the link between the candidate and the client. Recruitment has many moving components, and a lot of things may go wrong. It reflects on you if the candidate arrives late, does not arrive at all, or conducts a poor interview.

Being the link between the candidate and the customer can be time-consuming and stressful because both parties will approach you if something goes wrong, and you will have to resolve the issue.

Cons: You need to be good at selling

To be a successful recruiting agent, you must be a natural salesperson. Selling something is one of the most challenging tasks in the world.

When it comes to recruiting, you’re frequently marketing opportunities to people who aren’t even seeking. You’ll have to persuade them that what you’re selling is worthwhile. It’s difficult enough to do once, let alone repeatedly.

You are in control of your career; You can create your own success story

Recruitment is an industry that is often underrated and misunderstood. It can be a great career choice with many benefits, but it also has some drawbacks that you should consider before making your decision.

Overall, a career in recruitment can be gratifying, but it also has some challenges that you need to be aware of. If you are prepared to work hard and put in the effort, then a career in recruitment could be an excellent choice for you.

However, if you are looking for a less demanding career, this may not be the right industry.

This career is extremely competitive with a lot of stress

A recruiter’s entire career will be filled with training and the opportunity to gain new skills. You will continuously grow and not just when you restart out. Combining the skills you’ve learned with dedication and hard work will achieve great results.

A recruiter can get ahead of the game quickly if they have the right attitude and passion.

It is a good career if done intelligently

Recruitment is indeed a good career if done intelligently. With each promotion, it offers excellent growth prospects and a high bump in salary.

Recruitment can be a fulfilling and lucrative career if you’re an extrovert

Recruitment can certainly be a good career choice, but it has its pros and cons like any occupation.

The trick is to see if the role’s responsibilities are a good fit for your personality.

If you consider yourself an extrovert—like working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, enjoy variety and new challenges, and above else working with a lot of people and stakeholders— then yes, recruitment can be, not only very fulfilling but also a lucrative career.

If, on the other hand, you prefer stability, predictability, slow pace, and working alone, then, well, it might not be such a great fit, and odds are you’ll burn out quickly.

On the other hand, a career in recruitment isn’t some hidden gem of a utopia with no drawbacks. It, too, has a few cons that can play a crucial part in someone wanting to elect this career path.

For starters, getting used to work-life balance is more of an aspiration than reality. This isn’t your stereotypical 9-to-5 where you punch out on the dot; au contraire, the hours are often quite long and spill into the evening.

Over time it can make you cynical and jaded with people. There is arguably no other career where you’ll meet and interact with such massive amounts of people. Unfortunately, you’ll see the proverbial good, bad, and ugly sides of folks (i.e., hiring companies and applicants).

Finally, recruitment is very competitive and can be cutthroat. Behind the friendly smiles, it’s important to remember that most other recruiters aren’t your true friends (without losing faith in humanity). As is often the rule of thumb, the potential for big money brings a lot of interest as so it is in this field too.

In other words, “caveat emptor” (buyers beware), but if the pros offset the cons for you, then, by all means, go for it.

Recruitment has powerful pros that outweigh the disadvantages

Every profession has its ups and downs, but a career in recruitment has such powerful pros that they outweigh the disadvantages. Working in recruitment has its challenges as the sector is pretty competitive.

It’s filled with experienced professionals with heaps of contacts, recruiters who are faking CVs or pretending to be candidates so that they can have a leg up on you.

At the same time, if you’re committed and accept challenges as growth opportunities, you enjoy perks such as trips abroad, lunches at high-class restaurants, high commissions, etc.

Depending on your role and company, you can earn huge commissions if you land big clients. Of course, this doesn’t happen overnight, as it requires developing communication and problem-solving skills, negotiating, and relationship building.

Besides lucrative salary opportunities, working as a recruitment consultant is a rewarding job as you help people find their dream jobs.

Shifting people’s lives for the better and being the middle person credited with making someone’s dreams come true is an incredibly fulfilling feeling that recruiters value the most.

At the same time, recruitment is hard labor. Essentially you are a matchmaker for the candidate and the company and have to coordinate their needs seamlessly. It takes patience, empathy, and excellent interpersonal skills to succeed in this career.

Most of all, it’s all about people. If you’re not a people person, this career path may not be suitable for you.

Related: What to Do If You Don’t Know What Career Path to Choose?

Recruitment is not just a hiring process; it is much more than that

Why is it challenging to pursue a career in recruitment? In fact, it is just a hiring process where you have to take some interviews and hire the best one. You might have heard such things all these years.

This is not it. There is much more.

Qualities of a recruiter

A recruiter has to play different roles at the same time. He has to show patience to wait for the interviewers, and at the same time, he has to follow the rules for late comings. He has to offer empathy while at the same time he has to be rational during selection.

With the fast-growing world, recruitment has also changed. There are so many opportunities waiting for a recruiter.

You experience a wholesome satisfaction after giving a job seeker their dream job

Suppose you can picture yourself as a successful recruiter brimming with qualities like empathy, relationship building, negotiation, trust-building, problem-solving, and persuasion. In that case, this career is definitely suitable for you.

However, recruitment as a career has pros and cons that one must evaluate evenly before committing to the career.

Perks of being a recruiter:

The biggest perk of being a recruiter has to be the wholesome satisfaction that comes after you can bridge the gap between a job seeker full of potential with their dream job.

Apart from being a financially rewarding career, you get to experience the joy of doing something meaningful with your skills. Convincing fickle-minded candidates and negotiating with employers could be taxing, but the appreciation and recognition of hard-earned money are worth every trouble.

The downside of being a recruiter:

As a recruiter, your work-life balance will be zero, especially at the early stages of your career. You will be expected to complete targets as soon as possible while keeping a balance of productive interactions between employer and potential employee.

Your weekends would reek of coffee that you can’t help but consume to create those targets. As a bonus, your work phone would always ring, giving you difficulty focusing.

Recruiting is one of the most exciting and impressive areas of work

In my experience as a CEO of an innovative company, I am sure that one of the most exciting and impressive areas of work is recruiting. It is really exciting because the recruiter is in a competition every day, attracting the best talent.

Everyone who wants to work as a recruiter should weigh all the pros and cons. If you like to communicate a lot and learn new things, it will be a good experience or start. It is quite an exciting job with the possibility of salary and career growth.

A career in recruitment: Both challenging and rewarding

If you’re thinking about a career in recruitment, you’ll want to weigh the pros and cons before making your decision carefully. A career in recruitment can be both extremely rewarding and challenging.

Here are some pros and cons associated with the profession.

Pros: Rewarding, relationship-building, and high pay

On the plus side, recruitment can be a gratifying profession. You’ll have the opportunity to help people find their dream jobs, and you may even develop relationships that last a lifetime.

The biggest pro is earning a very good living as a recruiter. The average salary for someone in this field is relatively high, and it’s not uncommon for top recruiters to make six-figure incomes.

In addition, many companies offer excellent benefits packages and perks to their employees, so you could end up with a pretty sweet gig if you land a job with a good firm.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About Remote Employee Perks and Benefits

Cons: Stressful, demanding, long-hours

On the downside, recruitment can be a demanding job. You’ll often work long hours, and you may have to travel frequently. The job market can also be volatile, so you’ll need to be prepared for times when business is slow.

Another major con of recruitment is that it can be extremely stressful. This is especially true if you’re working in a high-pressure environment or trying to fill critical roles.

The recruitment process is very versatile

Recruitment is the process of attracting and recruiting the best candidate for a vacant position. Choosing it as a career can have the following pros and cons:

• Pros: Potential to gain international experience

Technological advances have made the recruitment process very versatile, as you are not just bound to your geographical boundaries. Now, you can recruit for different roles from anywhere in the world. This would allow recruiters to travel to other countries and gain international exposure.

If working for a large recruitment firm, the opportunity to work in an overseas office might also arise.

• Cons: Handling rejection

The number one con of working as a recruiter is handling rejection. Sometimes your candidate might reject the job, or they might not get it. It can happen for several reasons, and some might be entirely out of your control, and you can do nothing about it.

Good negotiation skills might help in certain situations, but it depends on why the candidate rejected the offer. But what you must do is to keep on learning and finding the right candidates for your clients.

Recruitment is a highly rewarding career, both financially and emotionally

Recruitment is a great career for those who are looking for a challenging and rewarding role. There are many different types of recruitment roles available, so there is sure to be one that suits your skills and interests.

Overall, a career in recruitment can be gratifying and enjoyable. However, it is crucial to be aware of the challenges of the job before you decide to pursue it.

It provides dream jobs

Recruitment is one department that can influence an organization in any direction. Recruiters have the duty to source the most productive candidate for the company that will indeed contribute to the organization’s success.

With one slight mistake in their strategy, they could end up recruiting the wrong person for the job, which can waste lots of the company’s resources.

If one is not convinced about the above reason for being a recruiter, we should also consider the attractive base salaries offered to recruiters.

Recruitment is easily the most rewarded department in any organization as a major contribution by an employee can be directly connected to success for the hiring manager who hired that particular employee. So, it is obvious that employers will include the hiring manager while rewarding any achievements.

On the other hand, in addition to the rewarding career, a recruiter can positively impact people’s lives as they are the people who provide dream jobs to many aspiring candidates.

With the latest tools available, recruiters can select candidates who are passionate about a particular job. In this way, the recruiter can gain the satisfaction of fulfilling people’s dreams of a successful career.

Recruiters can earn more after affiliating with big firms and organizations

Recruitment is a good career option for anyone who likes to make a difference through their hard work and shape the lives of young individuals.

Pros: It boosts job satisfaction and provides competitive salaries

Not only is it a fulfilling job, but you can earn up to $200,000 a year. This can be done by conducting private one-on-one or group sessions at high schools or universities.

But this amount can be way easier as recruiters can earn more after affiliating with big firms and organizations. They can also get commissions on each individual hired.

Pros: It promotes career advancement

The role of a recruiter has seen exponential growth during the pandemic, especially with the Great Resignation looming around the corner. A recruiter’s role has become more significant than the profit-driving departments such as sales.

Recruiters are responsible for training and onboarding new hires, as their role would now be an integral part of the company. They are now much more likely to progress in their careers than individuals in other departments.

A recruiter can easily set their goals and achieve them in a reduced turnaround time. This allows them to move up the chain of hierarchy.

Cons: It is an overwhelming path

It is a very competitive career path if you start fresh after graduation. Initially, it’s like you are moving around in uncharted territories, where targets are being bombarded to you constantly.

They would have to acquire more clients or get new prospective clients onboarded within a short period, which can feel overwhelming. If you don’t achieve the desired results, companies can replace you easily. 

Related: How to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed at Work

Cons: The pressure of knowing that the organization depends on you

Recruitment is not an easy job, as you may have to skim through hundreds of candidates to find diamonds out of the rough. This can be a highly stressful situation to face on a daily basis as organizations depend on you.

One can’t always promise consistency or vacancies to both the companies and candidates because the demand varies.

You have the freedom to pick the sort of job you undertake

While a recruiting profession is intellectually stimulating, fulfilling, dynamic, and opens doors to a range of career opportunities, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to selecting recruitment as a career.

Frequently Asked Questions