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Why would you change industry to become a recruiter?

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Recruitment is arguably not up there in the list of professions that most school leavers or graduates might aspire to, but once someone has a few years of experience in the workplace, the attractions of our wonderful industry become clearer.

Here are some of the main reasons why a career in recruitment could be appealing to someone considering a career change.

Use your industry knowledge in a different way

At Ambition, we have had several consultants who have transitioned into recruitment after previously working in some of the sectors we recruit for, such as insolvency, finance and marketing. 

Having a first-hand experience of working in these industries is extremely valuable when it comes to advising clients and candidates and gives them a distinct advantage as a Recruiter. It means they can act as true consultants to clients and candidates more quickly as they already know the industry inside-out and have first-hand experience of working in some of the roles they are hiring for.

No qualifications needed

It obviously takes a mix of qualities to succeed in recruitment, but the most important aspect is a person’s basic motivation.

At the interview, we always ask them: “why do you want to become a recruiter?”

I think that it is fair to say that recruitment has lower barriers to entry in terms of previous experience. You need the right attitude and approach, but you don’t need a CIMA qualification or an economics degree. We realise that the success of our people is proportionate with our investment in them – individually-tailored training and development plans give anyone the chance to become a big biller.

When you have that lower barrier to entry, sometimes it is simply about “giving it a try.”

You get promoted based on merit

Recruitment is a meritocracy with minimal politics – quite simply if you place candidates, you are rewarded. Some people who are staring at a long and rigid career ladder might well find that attractive.

An often-overlooked aspect of many UK recruiters is that they also operate abroad. I don’t think that I am exaggerating when I say that UK recruitment leads the world, and we have certainly seen great success at Ambition not just in the UK but also in our international locations in Asia and Australia.

This brings exciting international opportunities for our people – something that may well not be on the radar of an insolvency accountant, for example. Recruitment is the ultimate entrepreneurial occupation – if you work hard, doors can open.

You can make a real impact

One particularly enjoyable thing about recruitment is the impact that we have on people’s lives. When a candidate is at a crossroads in their career, much is riding on the success of their interactions with their recruiter. Things won’t work out every time, but if you keep doing the right things, the flow of successful placements becomes an incredible motivation. For people who might be tired of looking at spreadsheets all day, this renewed sense of purpose can make all the difference.

The perks of the job

Lastly, the lifestyle benefits that recruitment offers cannot be denied. There are incentive trips for top performers, flexible working options at all levels of seniority and (to give a more specific example) there are few industries that are more suited for mums returning to work or dads wanting a bit more time with a new family. Your success depends on the work you put in, but if you want to dial it down for a little while, that is equally possible.

If you have ever met a recruiter and wished that you were on their side of the table, it is actually more possible than you might think. When you get a taste for it, you might never imagine yourself doing anything different.


At Ambition, we've had many success stories of recruiters coming to us from other industries and carving out a very successful career in recruitment.

If you're interested in finding out more about whether a career in recruitment could be right for you, get in touch with Grace for a confidential discussion.

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