What and why are recruitment consultants?

I got asked two very difficult questions the other day. What is a Recruitment Consultant and why do I do it. I will try to answer.

Part of my job as a recruitment consultant is to socialize, have a drink, have a meal and basically pretend to be everyone’s friend. Obviously it is important to explain to the client or employer that I am looking after their best interests. At the same time we are telling our candidates that we are looking after their best interests. The reality of course is that we are looking after our best interests and happily that generally coincides with both parties being satisfied. It is sort like being paid to suggest the 38^th parallel whilst both the North and the South are quite happy to carry on slugging it out. We are in short, brokers. Fortunately due to the recent economic crisis, we have moved up the scale of unwanted brokers, along with Estate Agents, Used Car Sales and Insurance Brokers, due to Investment Bankers and Traders being blamed for the world’s ills.

The massive statement I am going to make though is that I do not know a single person who at University or at that crossroads we reach when we decide what career we will take, not one person, who said “I want to be a recruitment consultant”. Everyone I know fell into it by accident. Some people reveled in the challenge and enjoyed every opportunity it provided. The poor Consultants, felt obliged or trapped in the role and didn’t really get the most out of it. They are very easy to spot if you ever use an agency. The good ones believe in what they are doing and offering. They are honest and do not hide anything. Why should they hide anything, yes they are representing their business, but their business is there to support both the client and the candidate. They are the ones who talk about other clients, they talk about problems, even the ones they couldn’t overcome. They are not the best sales people, they are simply the consultants that care.