Welcome to the first guide in our Sector Spotlight series, where we explore a job role or industry. We’re starting with a comprehensive look at starting a career in recruitment and HR.
Are you a problem-solver who loves building relationships and helping others achieve their professional goals? Then a career in the exciting world of recruitment and human resources (HR) could be the right fit for you.
The demand for talented HR and recruitment professionals is on the rise, with more companies than ever relying on human resource teams to support the workforce as the business grows.
But what’s the difference between recruitment and HR? How do you break into this industry, and what skills and education do you need to succeed? We cover this and more in our guide to starting a career in recruitment and HR.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a career changer, or just curious about the sector, we show you how you can turn your passion for people and problem-solving into a fulfilling career.
First up, we reveal the difference between HR and recruitment.
What is the Difference Between Recruitment and HR?
It’s a common misconception that recruitment and HR are the same thing. They’re not. In fact, they are two very different functions in an organisation. Here’s the difference.
Recruitment
Recruitment is all about identifying, attracting, and hiring the best talent for a specific job role. This includes sourcing candidates, vetting CVs, interviewing candidates, and recommending suitable applicants to the hiring manager.
Although not directly involved, recruitment specialists need a deep understanding of the company culture, values, and goals to make sure they select the right people.
While recruitment is an important part of any HR department, it’s just one specific role in a larger ecosystem. Once a candidate is selected, HR takes over.
HR
HR, on the other hand, manages the full employee life cycle, starting from onboarding and finishing with offboarding. This includes company culture, employee training, compensation, well-being, and performance.
HR teams also manage company policies and procedures and employee relations
It’s important that HR professionals work with recruitment teams to ensure new hires have a seamless introduction to the business and their roles.
In a nutshell, HR and recruitment are two different functions in a company that work together closely to ensure the right candidate is hired for the right role. It’s important that these two functions collaborate effectively to ensure an organisation continues to build a diverse and talented workforce.
Example
Here’s an example of how these functions work together.
Imagine your company needs to hire new sales reps. Firstly, the recruitment team would work with the sales department to create a job description and advertise the role across different platforms. As applications come in, they would screen CVs, carry out initial interviews, and pick out a few promising candidates.
This is when HR would get involved, conducting background checks, collecting documents, collaborating with hiring managers to set up interviews, and making job offers.
After a candidate is hired, HR works with them to help them settle into the company and role.
As you can see, the process requires strong collaboration between both functions.
Now we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a look at the history of the recruitment and HR sector.
A brief history of the HR and Recruitment Sector
Getting familiar with the history of recruitment and HR in the UK is a surefire way to impress future employers. So, here’s a brief overview of the industry over the years.
HR and Recruitment in the UK have evolved quickly to adapt to job market changes, employment laws, technology, and global events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Up until the 1900s, HR didn’t exist as it does today. Instead, managers or secretaries carried out many of the HR tasks. However, as businesses began to grow, this was no longer possible. By the 1940s, the first official HR departments started to form in the UK. This was largely a result of new labour laws, including minimum wage and restrictions on working hours.
Throughout the sixties and seventies, HR professionals saw a shift towards a more employee-centric approach, with training and development becoming a top priority. As a result, HR teams became more focused on employee engagement and development.
During the eighties and nineties, the UK job market went through some significant changes. Namely, the increase in temporary work contracts and an influx of women in the workforce. This resulted in a push for more flexible employment conditions and a demand for recruitment professionals to fill temporary positions.
As we reached the early 2000s, the internet totally transformed the world of recruitment. Online job boards, social media recruitment, and recruiting software have made it easier for companies to reach a wider talent pool.
That brings us to today. There are currently over 100,000 recruitment and HR workers in the UK. As the sector continues to evolve, we’re seeing a bigger focus on diversity and inclusion, employee wellbeing, and HR and recruitment technology.
Required Education and Skills
Are you considering a career in the HR and recruitment sector? Here are the skills and qualifications you’ll need to successfully break into the industry and thrive.
Education and qualifications
While many entry-level roles in the sector don’t require a degree, it is certainly a plus. In particular, degrees in HR management, industrial relations, or business administration.
That said, many other fields of study also equip you with transferable skills for a career in recruitment and HR.
If you don’t have a degree, there are also several professional courses that can help you break into the sector. For example, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) offers a number of qualifications, including a Certificate in Human Resources or a Diploma in Human Resource Management.
Skills
Qualifications are certainly important, but so is your skill set. These are the key competencies you’ll need to have a successful career in HR and recruitment.
- Collaboration: You need to be able to work with a wide range of personality types.
- Communication: This sector is all about effective communication with candidates, recruitment teams, colleagues, hiring managers, and other stakeholders.
- Problem-solving: An ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently is a must for HR and recruitment professionals.
- Emotional intelligence (EI): HR staff act as the mediators between colleagues and teams, and therefore must have high levels of empathy and emotional intelligence.
- Time management: The world of recruitment and HR is a busy one, so excellent time-management skills are essential.
- Attention to detail: Both functions deal with a lot of paperwork and documentation, so a keen eye for detail is vital.
Additional reading ?? Top Graduate Employers
Jobs in Recruitment and HR
You can choose from a variety of job roles within the recruitment and HR sector, depending on your experience level and interests.
Here are some of the most common positions:
- Recruitment Consultant: Usually works for an agency and is hired by a company to find the best talent. Writes job descriptions, source candidates, screen applicants, and make recommendations to hiring managers. They work closely with candidates and clients to match the best person with the right job role.
- HR Assistant: Supports the HR department with admin tasks, such as processing paperwork, maintaining employee records, and answering workers’ questions.
- HR Manager: Oversees the HR department in a business. This includes managing employee relations, recruitment, performance, training and development, benefits and compensation, and diversity and inclusion.
- Talent Acquisition Specialist: Identifies, attracts, and retains talent within an organisation by using job boards, careers fairs, and social media.
- HR business partner: Works with businesses to understand their needs and goals, then offers expert advice and support on organisational development, employee performance, and engagement.
- Employee relations specialist: Manages issues between employees, working with them to find a resolution. This can include mediating conflicts, developing procedures and policies to improve employee relations, and investigating incidents.
Worth a read ?? Best UK cities for graduate jobs
Job Search Strategies
If this guide has convinced you that a career in the HR and recruitment sector is for you, the next step is to boost your chances of landing an entry-level role.
Here are 4 tips for success.
1. Use specialist job boards
Using a specialist job board will dramatically increase your chances of success.
For instance, Developing a Student’s graduate jobs board is packed with the latest entry-level career opportunities in HR and recruitment.
On top of the latest job opportunities, you can find a wealth of career advice and resources to help you break into the sector.
Search graduate HR and recruitment jobs near you →
2. Write a strong CV and cover letter
Having a strong CV and cover letter is always important, but it’s absolutely essential if you want a career in recruitment and HR. So, be sure to wow future employers with a clear, well-laid-out CV that showcases your skills, goals, and achievements.
Bonus read ?? How to nail your first graduate interview
3. Network, network, network
Networking is one of the most effective ways to get your foot in the door in the world of HR and recruitment. Whether online or in-person, signing up for networking events and careers fairs significantly increases your chances of landing an interview.
4. Keep on top of industry trends
HR and recruitment is a competitive sector, so you will need to find ways to stand out from the crowd. A great way to do this is to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends. That way, you can showcase your knowledge and passion for the sector during job interviews.
Participating in conferences, professional development opportunities, and reading leading industry publications will help you keep an ear to the ground. It’s also a good idea to follow industry thought leaders on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
Don’t know where to start? You’ll find a host of job market insights and news on our weekly blog
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Finding Graduate Jobs In Recruitment And HR
Choosing a graduate career path is one of your biggest life decisions. As such, the more you know about your target sector the more informed your decision will be. We hope this guide has equipped you with essential information about the recruitment and HR sectors.
The HR and recruitment sector is a fast-paced and exciting one, with plenty of development opportunities and huge earning potential. While a degree in HR is desirable, it’s an accessible career for those from different study backgrounds. As long as you have the drive and skills for the job, it’s possible to break into the field and become an HR or recruitment professional.
Are you a graduate looking for jobs in recruitment and HR? Be sure to check our dedicated Graduate Jobs Board to find the latest opportunities in your area.
Explore our weekly blog for the latest industry insights, guides, and tips to help you land your first graduate role.
If you’re a graduate employer, our services page has information on advertising on our specialist jobs board, creating a company profile, and more.
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