what is a recruitment consultant?

Qualified employees are the foundation of successful companies. As a recruitment consultant, you live out your hunting instinct by searching for the right people for a business. Once you've found them, you try to win them over. To be successful in your profession, you need market knowledge, networks, and persuasiveness. That's why most recruitment consultants specialise in a particular industry. Only then can you identify promising talents or top-tier executives. Once you've found them, you convince them to consider a change of employer. As a recruitment consultant, your roots are in HR. You master modern recruiting tools and all methods of personnel selection. You bring candidates and companies together, making everyone happy. Sounds fascinating? Can you imagine working as a recruitment consultant? Then definitely keep reading.

recruitment consultant job
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working as a recruitment consultant.

Your task as a recruitment consultant is to find suitable employees for companies. To do this, you develop a strategy that gets you to your goal as quickly as possible. You leverage networks, post job advertisements, make an initial selection, participate in interviews, and advise senior management. Before you can enjoy the success, you’re quite busy. Here’s what your specific responsibilities as a recruitment consultant are.

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types of recruitment consultant.

A recruitment consultant isn't the same as a personnel consultant. Basically, they're both responsible for the same thing: finding employees. However, they don't do the same. Here are the most common types of recruitment consultants: 

  • Talent scout (Sourcer): As a Talent Scout, you're always on the lookout for young talents. You identify them and build up a pool of candidates. Usually, you find the next generation at universities or universities of applied sciences. Trainee programmes offered by companies are also a good hunting ground. Sometimes, you develop these talents with the aim of supporting them long-term.
  • Personal recruitment consultant: Recruitment consultants or HR consultants work within companies or operate independently. Either you’re looking for employees for your employer in various fields or for different clients. The goal remains the same: to fill positions perfectly.
  • Recruitment agency: The lines between a recruitment agency and a recruitment consultants are quite blurred. As a recruitment agency, you're often the go-to person in a pinch. When companies need to fill key positions quickly, they turn to you for support. In such cases, you're mainly in demand for temporary placements.
  • Headhunter: Headhunters are also recruitment consultants, but they mainly specialise in executive positions. You usually reach out to candidates who are open to a change via social networks. Sometimes, you also approach potential candidates directly within companies. Thanks to your intuition and a lot of patience, you convince candidates to listen to you.
Female with blue blazer holding a touch pen and a tablet, sitting at a desk
Female with blue blazer holding a touch pen and a tablet, sitting at a desk
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salary as a recruitment consultant.

Your gross salary as a recruitment consultant depends on numerous factors. Your qualifications and professional experience play a significant role. Typically, you start your career as a junior recruitment consultant. When comparing average gross salaries on various job platforms, an annual gross income of around 76,500 CHF makes for an attractive entry point. That’s roughly 6,400 CHF per month. After a few years of experience, you can earn considerably more as a senior recruitment consultant. The more valuable you are to a company, the higher your base salary and additional benefits will be. Learn more about your gross salary as a recruitment consultant.

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training and further education as recruitment consultants.

Recruitment consultants do not typically follow a traditional apprenticeship. One path involves completing an EFZ qualification and gaining work experience, for example as an HR assistant. Alternatively, you can pursue a degree in business administration and then enter the HR field. Since the profession of a recruitment consultant relies heavily on people skills and persuasiveness, studying psychology can also serve as a solid foundation. In practice, you’ll network and build up your contacts. If you feel ready for a career in recruitment, take advantage of the various training opportunities available. These include roles such as HR consultant, recruiting specialist, or HR professional with a federal diploma (BP). Besides technical training, staying informed about current trends and developments in the job market is crucial for success as a recruitment consultant. It’s also important to keep up with the attitudes and behaviours of your target groups. Additionally, improving soft skills and interview techniques can significantly boost your success rate.

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positions as a recruitment consultant.

As a recruitment consultant, you're in demand whenever companies urgently need skilled professionals. Large corporations and HR consultancies especially value your expertise. But you’ll also find attractive positions in private and public employment agencies. Are you looking for a role as a recruitment consultant? Take a look at our listings.

male and female having a conversation
male and female having a conversation
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jobs for career changers as recruitment consultant.

Since recruiting is not a traditional apprenticeship profession, there is an opportunity for a career switch. You can improve your chances with practical experience in HR. Large companies value applicants with a well-established network. Additionally, a degree and the necessary soft skills prepare you well for the tasks. If you still lack certain skills, you can acquire them through courses or part-time semesters. With a solid foundation, nothing stands in the way of your career as a recruitment consultant.

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working as a recruitment consultant at randstad.

In order to do a good job for our talents and clients, we also need the best employees internally. Visit our career page to learn more about our benefits, culture, and what everyday life is like as a recruitment consultant at Randstad. 

Joy in the workplace is a given for us. We believe in our employees and appreciate each and every one who drives us forward with their work every day.

your career at randstad
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career opportunities as a recruitment consultant.

You love your work as a recruitment consultant but are looking for new perspectives? Thanks to numerous offerings from higher technical colleges and universities of applied sciences, you can give your career a real boost. With a diploma as a Human Resources Manager or a Bachelor of Science (FH) in Applied Psychology, you position yourself well for middle management roles. By completing a degree and earning a Bachelor of Science (FH) in Business Administration, even a move into senior management is within reach. If you bring exceptional ambition and a strong network, even more opportunities open up. For example, you could start your own consultancy firm. Want to develop further as a recruitment consultant? Check out our tests and tips.

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skills as a recruitment consultant.

As a successful recruitment consultant, you know the job market inside out. You're well-versed in all matters related to employment law. In addition, you excel with the following qualities and skills: 

  • Networking: Your success as a recruitment consultant mainly depends on an excellent network. You understand the importance of personal channels to gather information and gain access to potential candidates. You’re able to establish the right contacts and maintain your network. The art of networking comes naturally to you.
  • People skills: As a recruitment consultant, you're primarily dealing with people. You can already assess your counterpart accurately based on the first impression. You look behind the façade and understand how they think and act. This allows you to identify suitable employees effectively.
  • Persuasiveness: Once you've found the right candidates, you need to convince them. You get them excited about the upcoming tasks and show them that the position is a perfect fit for them. Empathy and tact are key to achieving this.
Smiling female in meeting at the office.
Smiling female in meeting at the office.
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benefits of working as a recruitment consultant at randstad.

There are many good reasons to work as a recruitment consultant at Randstad.
✓ exciting jobs with well-known companies
✓ a reliable contact person whenever you need one, personal advice really matters
✓ attractive employment conditions and good social benefits
✓ continuing education courses and personal development opportunities
✓ clear information in the myRandstad app
✓ do you have a fixed-term contract? Often, there’s a chance to secure a permanent position afterwards. Many popular companies also recruit their staff directly through Randstad.

your professional development budget as a recruitment consultant at randstad.

If you work as a production worker for Randstad, you have access to training courses. As part of the TempTraining program from swissstaffing, you can attend various training sessions. You will get the course fees reimbursed later, provided you pass the course exam. Your Randstad consultant is there to support you if you have any questions. This way, you can acquire additional language skills or job-specific knowledge, all during your working hours as a recruitment consultant.

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application tips for recruitment consultants at randstad.

Have you found your dream job as a recruitment consultant? It’s not just qualifications and certificates that determine the success of your applications. Careful, error-free, and personalized documents will definitely help you in your job search. Here are a few useful tips to improve your chances:

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frequently asked questions.

Answers to frequently asked questions about working as a recruitment consultant can be found here.

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