Recruitment is an energetic and fulfilling career that is based on building connections, overcoming challenges, and achieving results. Whether you’re looking to transition from a different industry or just starting your career journey, a recruitment career could be the perfect fit if you have the right qualities.

Here are six signs that you could be a great recruiter. If any of these resonate with you, it might be time to explore the world of recruitment! We’re currently looking for recruitment consultants based near Southampton and Portsmouth, so browse our current vacancies or submit your CV and we’ll get in touch.

1. You love talking to people

Recruitment is all about connecting with others. If you’re the type of person who enjoys starting conversations and building relationships, you’re already ahead of the game.

Recruiters don’t just match candidates to job roles—they dig deep to understand clients’ hiring needs and candidates’ career aspirations. If you find yourself naturally curious and enjoy listening to others’ perspectives, you have a key ingredient for building trust with both your clients and candidates.

2. You’re driven by targets

Recruitment is performance-based, which means you’ll be working towards specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and goals. Whether it’s the number of calls made, CVs sent, or interviews booked, staying motivated to hit those targets is a huge part of the job.

If you enjoy the satisfaction of seeing your progress and hitting goals, you’ll thrive in a recruitment career. Not only do these targets lead to personal satisfaction, but they come with tangible rewards like all-expenses-paid trips or nights out—motivation to keep you pushing forward!

recruitment career - you're driven by targets

3. You can handle setbacks

In recruitment, not everything goes according to plan 100% of the time. Rejected candidates, tough clients, and last-minute changes are all part of the job. But the best recruiters are resilient—they don’t let setbacks get them down.

If you’ve experienced rejection in the past and are able to bounce back quickly, this is a sign that a recruitment career could be a great fit for you. It’s all about getting back on track after things don’t go your way. When challenges arise, you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back to Making. Things. Happen.

4. You’re organised

Experience recruiters do have to juggle a lot—multiple roles, candidates, clients, and deadlines. Staying organised is crucial, as focus is key to success.

If you’re good at managing multiple tasks at once without losing track, you’ll do well in a recruitment career. Once you’ve got a role to fill, you’ll relentlessly pursue it until the deal is sealed and that fee is yours…

5. You enjoy problem-solving

Like most careers, recruitment can be far from smooth sailing. A candidate might drop out last minute, or a client could change their hiring requirements. This is where your problem-solving skills come in.

If you’re good at thinking on your feet and finding creative solutions to challenges, you’ll love the dynamic nature of recruitment. Instead of getting demotivated when things go wrong, you’ll thrive on the opportunity to solve problems and keep the momentum going.

6. You’re motivated by success and financial rewards

One of the most exciting aspects of a recruitment career is the commission-based structure. Your earnings are directly tied to your success—meaning the harder you work, the more you can earn.

If you’re someone who is driven by success, enjoys working for rewards, and gets excited by the opportunity to earn based on performance, you’ll be in your element in recruitment. Along with financial rewards, we offer exciting incentives like fun holidays and all-expenses-paid nights out to celebrate top performers.

Ready for a recruitment career?

If these signs resonate with you, it might be time to consider a recruitment career. We’re currently hiring for recruitment opportunities in Southampton and Portsmouth. If you’re ready to take on an exciting, fast-paced career with rewarding potential, submit your CV today and join our team!

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If you’re working in retail but are looking for something new, have you ever considered a job in recruitment? You already have more of the skills needed to succeed than you might think.

Recruitment is fast-paced, rewarding, and gives you the opportunity to earn based on your performance—without the unsociable retail hours. If you thrive on working with people, hitting targets, and problem-solving, this could be the perfect career move for you.

Here are seven skills you’ve already developed in retail that will help you succeed in recruitment.

1. Sales

In retail, you’re constantly selling—whether that’s recommending products to customers or upselling at the checkout. With a job in recruitment, the same principles apply.

If you’re working with candidates, you’ll be “selling” job opportunities by explaining why a role is right for them. If you’re working with clients (the companies hiring), you’ll be selling your recruitment services, showing them why they should trust you to find the best talent.

The ability to influence and persuade is key in both industries, and if you’ve been successful in retail sales, you’ll have a strong foundation for recruitment.

2. Customer service and relationship building

A job in retail has likely taught you how to handle different personalities, deal with difficult customers, and maintain professionalism at all times. That experience is invaluable in recruitment.

As a recruiter, you’ll be speaking to candidates and clients every day, helping them navigate challenges, and building long-term relationships. Strong interpersonal skills will help you stand out—and make your job easier.

3. Resilience

Let’s be honest—working in retail isn’t always easy. You’ve probably had customers walk away when you’ve tried to help or had a tough day where nothing seems to go right.

In recruitment, not every candidate will get the job, and not every client will say yes to your services. The key is resilience. If you can bounce back from a bad shift in retail, you can handle a tough quarter in recruitment. The best recruiters keep pushing forward, learning from setbacks, and staying motivated.

4. Multitasking and time management

Retail is all about juggling different tasks—serving customers, managing stock, handling complaints, and keeping everything running smoothly. A job in recruitment is no different.

You might be managing multiple job roles, speaking to several candidates, and arranging interviews all at once. Being able to stay organised and responsive is crucial. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, recruitment will suit you down to a T.

5. Adaptability

In retail, things don’t always go to plan. Customers change their minds, stock runs out, and last-minute issues pop up. You’ve learned to think on your feet and find solutions.

Recruitment is full of unexpected challenges. A candidate might drop out of a role at the last minute, or a client may change their hiring requirements. The best recruiters stay calm under pressure and adapt quickly to keep things moving. Those who are adaptable and able to go with the flow certainly reap the rewards!

6. Working to targets

If you enjoy the thrill of hitting sales targets in retail, you’ll love recruitment.

Recruiters work to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as the number of calls made, CVs sent, and interviews booked in any given week. The difference? With a job in recruitment, your performance directly impacts your earnings. The better you do, the more commission you can make. If you’re competitive and target-driven, this is where you’ll thrive.

7. Negotiation

Working in retail has probably prepared you for tough conversations—handling price disputes, dealing with unhappy customers, and negotiating refunds.

In recruitment, negotiation is a key skill. You’ll be discussing salaries with candidates, agreeing fees with clients, and sometimes mediating between both parties to find a deal that works. If you’re confident handling these situations in retail, you’ll find recruitment a natural fit.

Ready for a job in recruitment?

If you’re looking for a career that rewards hard work, offers great earning potential, and builds on the skills you already have, recruitment could be the perfect next step.

Explore our current recruitment opportunities or send us your CV and we’ll get in touch!

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There’s a common misconception that you need extensive experience or a specific formal qualification to break into recruitment, but this isn’t the case! The truth is that you can start a successful career in this field with little to no prior experience. If you like to connect with people, solve challenges, and drive success, then you’d probably make a great recruiter.

In this article, we’ll take a look at how to get a job in recruitment with no experience, breaking down the steps you need to take from exploring the options to securing your first role as a trainee recruitment consultant. We’ll also dive into what makes a great recruiter, the essential qualities you need, and the career paths available to you once you’re in the industry.

Contents

What does a recruiter do?
5 steps: how to get a job in recruitment
How do you know if you would be a good recruiter?
What jobs can recruitment lead to?
Trainee recruitment jobs Southampton

What does a recruiter do?

A recruiter identifies, attracts, and selects qualified candidates for job vacancies within an organisation. They typically work in a niche market, becoming absolute experts in it. A recruiter’s job is to build relationships with candidates (the people looking for jobs) and clients (the businesses that candidates are supplied to).

What does a trainee recruitment consultant do?

Trainee recruitment consultants learn how to be great recruiters through a combination of on-the-job training and more formal education. When a trainee recruitment consultant first starts work they will spend a lot of time on the phone. They will be learning about recruitment and their niche market by asking questions and being curious until they are eventually an expert in their field.

Trainee recruitment consultant jobs Southampton

5 steps: How to get a job in recruitment

Here are five steps for how to get a job in recruitment:

1. Exploration: Explore recruitment jobs for beginners

The first step to getting a job in recruitment is to explore your options. Find jobs using job boards like CV Library and Indeed, or through a quick Google Search.

If you’re currently at university, you can also find recruitment jobs for graduates at careers fairs, open evenings, or through your university’s careers service.

If you’re currently at college or school, you can find trainee recruitment jobs (without degree) through careers fairs or open evenings at your college or other colleges.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Apply for an interview with multiple agencies, if you can, to get a feel for what you want.

2. Decision: Work out what your personal goals are

It’s important to determine what you want before jumping into a role as a trainee recruitment consultant.

It’s just as relevant to think about what you want as it is to think about what your future employer might want. Take some time to really think about what it is that you want to achieve with your job and ultimately your career.

3. Application: Research your potential employers

Before you apply for a role with a recruitment agency, do your research on the business and the sectors that they work in. Don’t be afraid to take a notepad full of notes to refer to if you get invited to an interview!

For example, at Highfield, we recruit specifically for critical infrastructure sectors. Think Water, Highways, Nuclear, Defence, Hi-Tech, and Data Centres.

4. Interview: Win over your interviewers with your curiosity

During your interview, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions. Asking your interviewers questions is a great way to a) find out more about the sectors and the role, and b) show your interest and enthusiasm.

Before your interview, research three or four interview questions that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

5. Demonstrate: Show your personality and enthusiasm

Throughout your application process for your role as a trainee recruitment consultant, don’t forget to show your personality. Ultimately, recruitment is about people, so make sure you show potential employers and interviewers who you are and what motivates you.

Don’t forget to follow up with your interviewer and ask for feedback if you weren’t successful this time.

How do you know if you would be a good recruiter?

To find out if you would be a good recruiter, ask yourself the following questions:

Can you make conversation with anyone and everyone?
Do you believe you can achieve absolutely anything?
Does money drive you?
Do you have personal goals you want to achieve?

If the answer to these questions is a resounding “yes”, then it sounds like you’d be a great fit! Get in touch with us for a discussion about your future career in recruitment.

What are the 4 qualities a recruiter needs?

To be a recruiter you need four qualities:

Drive – A strong inner motivation to achieve goals and excel in your role. Driven recruiters are proactive, consistently seeking out new opportunities and striving to improve their performance.
Optimism – A positive outlook that helps you stay hopeful and confident, even in challenging situations. Optimistic recruiters see potential where others might see obstacles, and foster a can-do attitude that is crucial for success.
Adaptability – The ability to adjust to changing circumstances and embrace new challenges. Recruitment is a dynamic field, and being adaptable allows you to stay relevant and effective in a constantly evolving market.
Resilience – The capacity to recover quickly from setbacks and remain steadfast in the face of adversity. Resilient recruiters enjoy the challenge of a high-pressure job with frequent rejections, and remain motivated no matter what happens.

What qualifications do you need to be a recruiter?

You don’t need formal qualifications to be a recruiter. Just bring your authentic self and your best telephone voice! In the recruitment industry, your personality and ability to connect with others are far more valuable than a degree.

Employers like us are looking for individuals who can engage with candidates effectively, build rapport, and convey enthusiasm and professionalism over the phone. So, if you have a confident, friendly demeanour and a knack for making great first impressions, you already possess the essential tools to thrive in this field. Join us at our next recruitment open evening to find out more.

What jobs can recruitment lead to?

Starting in recruitment offers a range of career opportunities, and recruitment companies like us provide a structured path for your growth.

You can advance to management and leadership roles, where you’ll lead teams, set goals, and shape strategies for success.

Another possible path is client development, focusing on building relationships, understanding client needs, and identifying new business opportunities.

You might also move into account management, overseeing client accounts, managing the recruitment process, and ensuring client satisfaction.

Our progression plan supports your development at every stage, providing the training and resources you need to excel in these roles and achieve your career goals.

Recruitment jobs Southampton

Trainee recruitment jobs Southampton

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Contents

What is a personal brand?
How does having a personal brand help you do your job?
How to build a personal brand
5 steps to build your personal brand as a recruiter

What is a personal brand?

Having a ‘personal brand’ means presenting yourself to the world, showcasing your experiences, skills, and personality, to shape how others perceive you, especially in professional contexts.

Showing your values and relatability through platforms such as LinkedIn can be incredible impactful when it comes to connecting with people in your industry and for recruitment in general.

How does having a personal brand help you do your job?

Having a strong personal brand on LinkedIn can be more impactful than making 100 sales calls. It drives inbound leads, leads you to have normal conversations with people who are relevant in your industry, and most importantly, it shows that you’re human and not just another recruiter.

How to build a personal brand

Be relatable

Post unique content that your audience can relate to. Develop your own online voice through which to share your life experiences that people reading will identify with. Keep your content tonally consistent and find the specific qualities that set you apart from others in your field.

Be vulnerable

Don’t be afraid to share your failures with your audience, as well as your successes. It’s well known that the best marketers are storytellers, and marketing yourself is no exception. Be vulnerable, genuine, and thoughtful with the content you share.

Add value

Share your knowledge with your audience, putting out content that is genuinely valuable to people you’re connected with. If you’re not sure where to start, try out a couple of content themes and see which posts resonate most with your audience. Use interactive features on LinkedIn like polls to gauge your audience’s interest in a certain topic.

Don’t post rubbish

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised! To grow and maintain a strong personal brand people need to know that they can come to you for quality content. This means not posting rubbish just for the sake of posting something. GIFs can only get you so far!

5 steps to build your personal brand as a recruiter

1. Identify your niche and your goals

The first step to building your personal brand is identifying and establishing your niche. What kind of companies do you recruit for? Which roles? Where? It might seem counterintuitive, but it’s much easier to establish yourself as an expert in one small area.

With your niche identified, think about your goals. Are you trying to grow a following so that you always have a talent pool at your fingertips? Are you trying to connect with and influence other recruiters?

2. Create valuable content and post it consistently

Once you know who you’re catering for, it’s time to create some valuable content to share. Think about what your ideal audience wants to learn from you and answer any questions that usually crop up in your day-to-day life as a recruiter.

Most importantly, stick to a consistent upload schedule. Your following will know what to expect from you and LinkedIn will see you as a regular contributor to the platform.

3. Network with relevant people

Whatever your goals, LinkedIn is a great place to network with individuals. Don’t think of it as growing a list of connections, but rather as an exchange of value. Freely exchange information with the people you want to get to know and use the search features to find new people.

4. Keep conversation casual and human

Avoid sounding like a robot churning out LinkedIn posts – there’s enough of that going on with the availability of AI! Encourage casual conversation in your comments and DMs and make sure you strike a suitable balance between human and professional.

5. Always be authentic

Never copy other people’s content. It’s not a good look! If you’re in a niche that you’re passionate about, you should have no trouble thinking of lots of topics to post about.

If you’re struggling to come up with unique, use your day-to-day to write a list: What kinds of conversations have you had with candidates? What questions did they ask? What are your clients interested in? What are the key trends in your niche?

We encourage consultants to build their personal brands now just to make their lives easier by driving inbound leads, but also so the people they work with can put a face to the name; they can show that they’re not just another recruiter.

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