Recruiters in Human Resources (HR) are in charge of finding and hiring qualified candidates to fill job openings. Recruiters are usually in-house employees, as opposed to agency recruiters, who are HR professionals that a company can hire on a contract basis for a limited time. Employers have a reactive or proactive hiring policy, but regardless of the policy, HR recruiters play a critical role in the hiring process.
When a company follows a reactive hiring policy, it only advertises for new employees when positions open up. Prior to creating job postings that detail the job duties and requisite skills that applicants must possess, HR recruiters must consult with departmental managers. Internally, the recruiter may post job openings on bulletin boards or send out emails to employees about open positions. When a company tries to promote from within, HR recruiters must first determine whether any internal candidates are qualified to fill a position before allowing external candidates to apply.
When external candidates are eligible to apply for a position, HR recruiters must arrange for job descriptions to be posted on recruitment websites, in local newspapers, or with local employment agencies. Depending on the position, the recruiter may include salary information so that potential candidates can get an idea of the pay range before applying. When applications are received, HR recruiters must compare the applicant’s credentials to the job posting’s requirements, rejecting unqualified candidates and scheduling interviews with qualified candidates.
Recruiters at some companies conduct preliminary interviews with job applicants before setting up meetings with the hiring manager for the most impressive candidates. In other cases, HR recruiters and hiring managers conduct interviews together, though the manager is usually the one who makes the final hiring decision. After the interviews, the recruiter must negotiate terms with the applicants, despite the fact that many companies have strict payroll guidelines, leaving recruiters with little room to maneuver during negotiations. The recruiter arranges for the employee’s orientation and training once an agreement is reached.
Some businesses have a proactive hiring policy, which means that HR recruiters are in charge of finding qualified candidates before positions become available. Because qualified candidates are sometimes difficult to find, companies that employ people with specialized skills frequently have proactive hiring policies. Recruiters must contact and interview potential employees, as well as compile a file of candidates who are interested. When a position at the firm becomes available, the recruiters contact the candidates who have already been identified and schedule interviews with the hiring manager.