Recruiting Specialist Job Description
Table of Contents
A Recruiting Specialist is responsible for bringing qualified people into an organization. Working in the HR department, a Recruiting Specialist plans and runs all the organization’s hiring activities according to the organization’s current and projected job vacancies.
The Recruiting Specialist role is crucial in ensuring the organization hires the right people at the right time and plays an important role in improving staff retention, productivity, and the success of the organization.
Similar Job Titles:
Recruiter, Senior Recruiter, Junior Recruiter, Healthcare Recruiter, Lead Recruiter, Executive Recruiter, Entry-Level Recruiter, Technical Recruiter, Sales Recruiter
What Does a Recruiting Specialist Typically Do?
A Recruiting Specialist assists the Hiring Manager or HR Manager in developing recruitment plans and ensures that the plans are implemented and the vacancies filled with qualified people.
The specific tasks for a Recruiting Specialist are:
- Assisting HR management to develop an annual recruitment plan
- Ensuring job descriptions are in place
- Creating and placing job ads
- Running interview, assessment, and selection processes
- Managing and communicating with applicants
- Reporting to HR management on recruitment progress
- Developing and implementing internal referral systems
- Representing the organization at recruitment events
Assisting HR Management To Develop an Annual Recruitment Plan
Departmental heads across the organization request new hires as part of their annual growth plan, and a Recruiting Specialist works with HR management to develop a recruiting strategy to fill all the vacancies.
A Recruiting Specialist breaks the annual recruitment plan down by month, department, the number of new hires, level of entry, and financial impact and ensures the recruiting plan is passed on to the finance department and the departmental heads involved.
Apart from planned hires, a Recruiting Specialist must reactively search for and bring in qualified candidates to replace employees who quit, get laid off, or retire.
Ensuring Job Descriptions are In Place
The HR Manager, Hiring Manager, and departmental heads collaborate with a Recruiting Specialist to ensure that job descriptions for vacancies are complete and up to date. A Recruiting Specialist then draws up job postings and prepares job ads to entice suitably qualified candidates.
Creating and Placing Job Ads
Job ads provide a window to the organization and should be carefully crafted to attract the right kind of applicant. A Recruiting Specialist creates job ads that reflect the job requirements and the organization’s culture, places the ads in the appropriate media, and tracks the ads’ success.
Running Interview, Selection, and Assessment Processes
A Recruiting Specialist runs all the initial interviews with applicants who fulfill the minimum requirements for the job, creates a shortlist of candidates, and runs assessment processes, psychometric tests, and background checks with them. Applicants who pass all these steps are presented to the departmental head and the Hiring Manager for final interviews.
Managing and Communicating With Applicants
The organization should ensure that all applicants are treated well and receive a favorable impression. A Recruiting Specialist maintains contact with all applicants throughout the recruitment process and ensures that they are kept informed of the status of their application.
Candidates who have impressed but are ultimately unsuccessful are kept on file for future opportunities, and a Recruiting Specialist ensures they are still interested in possible future vacancies.
Reporting to HR Management on Recruitment Progress
A Recruiting Specialist reports regularly to the Hiring Manager, HR Manager, and Departmental Head on the progress of all ongoing recruiting processes. A Recruiting Specialist analyses the success of each recruitment process and implements changes to the methods used to foster continuous process improvement.
Developing and Implementing Internal Referral Systems
The best source of potential new candidates can often be found within the organization, and a Recruiting Specialist should encourage employees to suggest candidates. A Recruiting Specialist may propose an incentive system to drive internal referrals.
Representing the Organization at Recruitment Events
Recruitment events provide an opportunity for an organization to present itself to potential candidates, as well as a chance to spot talent.
A Recruiting Specialist represents the organization at trade shows, recruitment fairs, and industry events and ensures the organization is presented in the best way possible.
Roles a Recruiting Specialist Typically Collaborates With
The following roles work closely with a Recruiting Specialist:
| Collaborative Roles | ||
| HR Manager | Human Resources Executive | Compensation and Benefits Manager |
| Benefits Manager | Senior HR Specialist | HR Coordinator |
| Hiring Manager | Corporate Recruiter | Recruiting Consultant |
Recruiting Specialist Salary
A Recruiting Specialist can expect to earn between $51,000 and $64,000 annually in the U.S. The median is around $57,463.
What Is the Recruiting Specialist Pay Difference by Location?
A Recruiting Specialist’s earnings will be affected by location as follows:
| City | Average Salary |
| San Francisco, CA | $71,823 |
| Seattle, WA | $62,823 |
| Denver, CO | $58,103 |
| Austin, TX | $56,513 |
| Washington, D.C. | $63,963 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $56,863 |
| Boston, MA | $64,733 |
| New York, NY | $69,123 |
What Is the Recruiting Specialist Pay Difference by Experience Level?
Experience will have the following effect on a Recruiting Specialist’s salary:
| Experience Level | Average Salary |
| < 1 year | $55,914 |
| 1–4 years | $57,463 |
| 5–9 years | $57,463 |
| 10–19 years | $57,463 |
| 20+ years | $57,463 |
Recruiting Specialist Job Description Template
[Company] has a well-deserved reputation as an excellent employer. We are growing exponentially and need a committed and dynamic Recruitment Specialist to make sure we continue to attract and secure the best possible new hires for our company.
You will plan and run all our recruitment initiatives and will play a crucial role in helping us find the right people for the future of our business.
You will report to senior management and will be expected to work independently with all levels of our company.
Recruiting Specialist Responsibilities
Your tasks as an Internal Recruiter will include:
- Assisting with annual recruitment planning
- Working across the company to understand job and personality requirements for vacancies
- Running effective and efficient recruitment processes
- Growing the number of internal referrals
- Representing [Company] at external events
Required Skill Set
You must bring the following qualifications, skills, and behaviors:
- Bachelor’s degree in HR
- At least five years’ experience in recruitment, ideally in a corporate environment
- Expert knowledge of recruitment practices, assessments, and evaluations
- Industry-specific knowledge is preferred but not required
- Solid knowledge of applicant tracking and recruitment software
- Thorough understanding of labor legislation
- Proven analytical and decision-making skills
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
Hiring Resources for Ambitious Companies
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