Do I need a degree to be a recruitment consultant?

Not usually. Many agencies hire for people skills and drive, so sales, customer service or admin experience can be enough.

What should I do if I have no recruitment experience?

Highlight roles where you spoke to people all day, hit targets or persuaded customers, and explain why recruitment interests you.

Should I put my figures on my CV?

Yes, if you can give them honestly, such as roles filled or placements. Say what period they cover and keep the numbers simple.

Recruitment consultant CV example

A strong recruitment consultant CV shows you can find good candidates, build trust with clients and hit targets without losing the personal touch. Employers look for clear numbers such as roles filled each month, plus an example of handling a difficult conversation well.

Poppy Dawson

Recruitment consultant

Profile

Personable recruitment consultant with experience filling permanent and temporary vacancies for local employers. Confident at sourcing candidates, running screening calls and building steady relationships with hiring managers. Works well to weekly targets and takes care to keep candidates informed at every step.

Experience

Recruitment Consultant

an independent agency for office and admin roles

Filled around six permanent and temporary roles a month for a portfolio of local employers

Wrote job adverts, searched job boards and LinkedIn, and phoned candidates to check skills and availability

Ran screening calls and short interviews, then shortlisted the best three or four candidates for each vacancy

Kept clients updated with a weekly call and gave candidates honest feedback after every interview

Completed right to work, reference and compliance checks before candidates started

Recruitment Resourcer

a medium-sized staffing agency

Searched databases and job boards to build shortlists for senior consultants

Booked interviews and kept the applicant tracking system up to date

Called new candidates to introduce the agency and explain how the process works

Followed up every open vacancy to help the team hit its monthly targets

Example · fictional candidate · Riviera design · Use this design

Tips for a recruitment consultant CV

Use numbers where you can, such as roles filled, placements a month or targets hit
Show both sides of the job: looking after candidates as well as winning and keeping clients
Say which sectors you recruit for, such as office, industrial or healthcare, so the agency can see a fit
Name the systems you have used, such as an applicant tracking system, LinkedIn or job boards
If you are new to recruitment, include sales, customer service or admin work that shows you can chase, persuade and stay organised
Give a short example of handling a tough moment, such as a candidate dropping out on the day they were due to start

Applying with a cover letter? See our recruitment consultant cover letter example.