The role of the recruitment consultant is constantly evolving and as a profession, it has always challenged those that follow this career path to be adaptable and able to thrive in an ever-changing and demanding sector.
The demand to fill the workforce gaps created by those who went to fight in WWII led to the creation of the recruitment consultant role. However, it was more about finding willing and capable people back then than the ‘science’ of identifying the perfect candidate that defines the role today.
The role has seen much evolution, through the 1950s that introduced CV to help recruitment consultants in learning more about the candidates through the illustrated qualifications, skills and personal qualities.
As companies chose to outsource their recruitment needs more and more to experts in the 80s and 90s, the role of recruitment consultant came into its own, offering highly specialized skills. Also, the concept of headhunting thrived, as it provided the best candidates.
New technologies arrived, such as Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and candidate databases, allowing consultants to offer more and more bespoke candidate selections and many chose to work in dedicated sectors, so they could become the specialists their clients and candidates demanded.
The Internet and email revolutionized the role of recruitment consultant and facilitated a reduction in time to hire and the interview process, however with it came ever increasing client expectations as more and more people felt able to ‘do it themselves.’
The role of recruitment consultant has often been hailed as finished, especially with the increasing use of social media, algorithms, data, AI candidate sourcing and testing. However, the role is still going strong and in demand.
Why?
Passive candidates, the importance of the ‘human touch’ and the constant need for businesses to secure ever increasing hard to reach top talent.
A role that was born out of the challenges of war is still as challenging today and will always probably be so. Fortunately, there will always be a need for great recruitment consultants who can move with the changes the digital age brings and continue to do what they do best: placing great candidates with great clients.
Learn more about this Evolution of a Recruitment Consultant through the infographic below:
