While daunting at times, recruitment is probably one of the most fulfilling industries out there. As a recruiter, you'll be tasked with helping companies achieve their hiring goals and candidates fulfil their dreams. It’s a big responsibility, but with the right set of skills, you’ll have no trouble excelling in your profession.

That said, breaking into the world of talent acquisition can seem challenging at first. This especially is because there are quite a few working parts to the process. Plus, recruitment is a highly competitive industry. With so many experienced recruiters flooding the market, it’s easy to feel like you’re not competent enough.

But the good news is there are plenty of entry level recruitment jobs in the UK. And with the right skills, you can land your very first gig successfully. Let’s take a closer look at a few tips that would help you start your recruitment career with a bang. 

1. Create An Impressive LinkedIn Profile

With nearly 800 million members in more than 200 countries and territories, LinkedIn is still one of the most sought-after recruitment platforms. Needless to say, you can find many entry level recruitment jobs on LinkedIn. 

 But to land a job, you need to attract a graduate recruitment agency, and the only way to do that is by creating a stellar profile. The profile is a way to showcase your professional life, including your academic and career achievements. With the right profile, you can showcase your background and even your passion for the recruitment sector. This is likely to draw many recruiters.

The first thing you need is a profile photo, preferably a professional headshot. Next, make sure to specify your location, personal details (age, gender etc.), and the header text. The header text will tell recruiters about who you are and help them connect with you. 

 That said, you can’t ignore the ABOUT section. It should consist of a detailed summary of your professional life so far, especially if you have a compelling story to tell. Otherwise, keep it crisp and short.

As you are looking for entry level recruitment jobs, the history section may not need many updates. However, if you care about a cause or volunteer for one, do mention it. Also, if you are switching careers, do mention that as well. And most importantly, keep your profile updated.

2. Start Networking Right Now

Networking or building good relationships is at the heart of the recruitment business. You can’t find, connect with, and recruit the best talent without developing long-lasting relationships. And networking should begin even before your start applying for entry level recruitment jobs.

One of the best ways to start networking is professional social media. Apart from LinkedIn, there are plenty of professional social media sites, job portals, and recruitment forums. You can start networking through these online channels to expand your professional social network. 

 For example, joining LinkedIn groups relevant to your niche and interests can help you connect with like-minded people. Similarly, posting valuable and informative content on social media sites will also help you grow your network. 

But Rome wasn’t built in a day. 

So, you will have to be consistent and patient. If you keep at it for months, your online reputation will start taking shape. And as said earlier, building your relationship skills will help you throughout your career as a recruitment consultant. With these skills, you’ll be able to win the trust of your clients and candidates, which is the foundation of a successful recruitment career.

3. Define Your Recruitment Career Path Right Out the Gate 

Like any other industry, specialization has become the new normal in the recruitment industry too. Today, there are many different recruitment careers and opportunities, including working with:

• General recruitment agency 
• Rec-to-rec recruitment agency 
• Executive recruitment agency 
• Corporate recruitment agency 
• Specialists like a graduate recruitment agency 

Most entry level recruitment jobs start with a trainee recruitment consultant role, but your career path will soon need to change. If it doesn’t, you’ll risk falling behind. So, before you set out with your first ever gig, you need to know which career path is right for you. 

Take our time to go through each career option. You can talk to people in your network to get a feel of what the career path will look like. If it suits your personality, go for it. For example, recruiters with an entrepreneurial streak often end up starting their own recruitment agency. 

Whatever your decision is, you’ll have to work hard. And your interests may change over time. Or you may have to change your career path due to shifting industry trends. Keep these factors in mind the moment you start applying for entry level recruitment jobs.

4. Focus On Your Transferrable Skills 

Transferable skills are the ones you will use in every job, no matter the niche or the role. As entry level recruitment jobs require no or little experience, transferable skills will impress the recruiters.

So, what transferrable skills does a trainee recruitment consultant need?

First of all, your communication, both written and verbal, needs to be spot on. Remember, you will be talking to dozens of strangers every day. If you can’t establish a rapport with them right off the bat, you can’t convince them to take up a job offer. 

Similarly, your time management skills will also be tested in the recruitment industry. You will be cold calling potential candidates at a specific time, and you will have to follow it up in a given time frame. Therefore, time management skills will come in handy when you start working in a graduate recruitment agency.

Just like communication and time management, negotiation is a critical part of recruitment as well. You’ll be negotiating with clients regarding salaries, perks, and job offers, among other things. It's necessary that everyone walks out happily after a round of negotiation. And you can do that only if you’ve excellent negotiation skills.

In Conclusion 

The recruitment industry provides plenty of exciting career opportunities for fresh graduates. However, the industry has been experiencing a tremendous shift for the past few years. You will need to be prepared if you want be a successful trainee recruitment consultant. Hopefully, these four tips will help you in this regard.

If you are a graduate looking for opportunities in the recruitment industry or any other niche, we can help you. Get in touch with us to find out how.

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