As someone who works in the hospitality industry, you already know what it means to think on your feet, keep customers happy, and juggle a dozen things at once. What you might not realise is how well those skills transfer to a career in recruitment.

The recruitment industry is fast-paced, people-focused, and results-driven — much like hospitality. Whether you’re serving tables, managing hotel check-ins, or running events, you’ve likely built a skill set that’s perfectly suited to thrive in recruitment.

In this article we’ll cover five transferable skills that could make you a great recruiter.

1. Customer service & problem-solving

In hospitality, your day revolves around keeping customers happy — answering questions, managing expectations, and resolving issues quickly and professionally.

In recruitment, the same principles apply:

Clients want reliable solutions to their hiring problems.
Candidates want to feel valued and supported.

If you can stay calm under pressure and find fast solutions, you’re already thinking like a recruiter.

2. People skills

Recruitment consultant jobs are all about relationships — and so is hospitality. You’ve learned how to build rapport with all types of people, adapt your tone to the situation, and communicate clearly and politely, even under pressure.

Those people skills are critical when you’re guiding candidates through interviews or advising clients on hiring decisions. Emotional intelligence and persuasive communication go a long way in recruitment success.

3. Multitasking & organisation

Ever managed a full section of tables on your own during a busy dinner shift? Or juggled check-ins, bookings, and last-minute requests at a hotel reception? Then you know how to prioritise and stay organised.

Recruitment is deadline-driven, and you’ll often be working on multiple roles at once, publishing job advertisements, coordinating interviews, chasing feedback, and updating records. Strong organisational skills and the ability to multitask efficiently give you a real edge.

4. Resilience & adaptability

Hospitality can be high-pressure — from tricky customers to last-minute changes or being short-staffed on a busy night. The same goes for recruitment. Candidates drop out. Clients change their minds. Timelines shift. Your ability to stay calm, bounce back, and keep things moving is incredibly valuable in this environment.

5. Upselling

Have you ever upsold a dessert, recommended a more expensive wine, or encouraged a room upgrade? That’s sales. Recruitment consultant jobs are ultimately sales roles — selling a job to a candidate, and a candidate to a client. If you’ve used persuasive language and understood customer needs to guide a decision, you’ve already used sales techniques without even realising it.

Could browsing recruitment consultant jobs be your next step?

If you’re ready to take the people skills you’ve honed in hospitality and apply them to a new challenge, recruitment could be a great fit. You’ll still work with people every day, but with better hours, more progression, uncapped commission, and the chance to make a real impact on someone’s career.

Want to find out if recruitment is right for you?

Send us your CV or drop Elle a message on WhatsApp.

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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.

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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.

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