Express Nursing are a medical recruitment staffing agency who focus on specialist nursing recruitment.
We are looking for new Recruitment consultants who would be responsible for attracting candidates for jobs and matching them to temporary positions within NHS and private hospitals across the country. You'll build positive relationships in order to gain a better understanding of your clients' recruitment needs and requirements.
Working as a recruitment consultant, you'll attract candidates by drafting adverts for use in a range of media, as well as by networking, headhunting and through referrals. You'll pre-screen or qualify candidates, utilise the compliance team to run background checks and once obtaining their availability finally match them to clients requirements.
You also provide advice to both clients and candidates on salary levels, training requirements and career opportunities.
Working in recruitment is like working in sales, where your basic salary could be bolstered by potentially high on-target earnings (OTE) in the form of performance-related bonuses or commission.
Responsibilities
As a recruitment consultant, you're the vital link between clients and candidates. The role is demanding, diverse and involves:
- using sales, business development, marketing techniques and networking to attract new candidates from a very specific pool of people as well as building direct and personable relationships with department managers from client companies
- visiting clients to build and develop positive relationships with them when required
- developing a good understanding of client companies, their industry, what they do, their work culture and environment
- advertising vacancies by drafting and placing adverts in a range of media and job board platforms
- using social media to advertise positions, attract candidates and build relationships
- headhunting - identifying and approaching suitable candidates who may already be in work
- using candidate databases to match the right person to the client's vacancy
- receiving and reviewing applications, managing interviews and creating a shortlist of candidates for the client
- requesting references and checking the suitability of applicants before submitting their details to the client
- briefing the candidate about the responsibilities, salary and benefits of the job in question
- preparing CVs and correspondence to forward to clients regarding suitable applicants
- organising interviews for candidates as requested by the client when required
- informing candidates about the results of their interviews
- negotiating pay and salary rates and finalising arrangements between client and candidates
- offering advice to both clients and candidates on pay rates, training and career progression
- working towards and exceeding targets that may relate to the number of candidates placed, a value to be billed to clients or business leads generated
- reviewing recruitment policies to ensure effectiveness of selection techniques and recruitment programmes.
Skills
You will need to show evidence of the following:
- excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- sales and negotiation skills
- a goal-orientated approach to work
- the ability to handle multiple priorities
- problem-solving ability
- the ability to meet deadlines and targets
- ambition and the determination to succeed
- tenacity
- confidence and self-motivation
- time management and organisational skills
- team-working skills
- creativity.
You must also enjoy working in a high-pressure environment and the responsibility that comes with it.
Salary
Salaries typically include a basic salary plus a performance-related bonus or commission. This can either be an individual, team or branch bonus.
Some vacancies will advertise high OTE (on-target earning) salaries even for trainees. Promise of an initial high salary very much depends on your sales performance.
- Trainee recruitment consultants typically start on a basic annual salary of £18,000 to £20,000. Recruitment consultants' average salaries are around £22,000 to £24,000, with senior consultants earning in the region of £25,000 to £28,000, excluding bonuses or commission.
- Managers with 10 to 15 years' experience can earn in excess of £40,000 (excluding bonuses or commission).
- Once bonuses and commission are included, the total average salary can increase to £38,000 for consultants and £60,000+ for managers.
Other benefits may include training, a company car, mobile phones, laptops, pension schemes, team drinks, social functions and end-of-year rewards for the top billing consultant or department.
Working hours
The hours are typically Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm
What to expect
- The role can be challenging, but also exciting as the profession is fast-paced, target driven and demanding.
- Work is office based but time is also spent outside the office, meeting with clients and interviewing candidates.
- A smart personal appearance is important as the role involves meetings with clients and conducting interviews with candidates.
- Travel within the working day may be required to meet with clients.
Qualifications
Recruitment consultant roles are generally open to graduates regardless of degree subject. Rather than specific qualifications, we would typically value drive, experience, skills and abilities as well as the determination to succeed.
Entry with an HND or foundation degree is possible. Entry without a degree is possible for those with relevant experience, skills and abilities.
Postgraduate study is not essential and you will probably find that relevant experience and skills are more useful.
Work experience
Work experience in sales, marketing or any customer-oriented role is useful for starting a career in the recruitment industry.
We would often accept applications from those without recruitment industry experience as long as they demonstrate the right combination of skills and personal qualities.
