Job description: recruiter

A recruiter helps shape an organisation’s workforce by finding, attracting and appointing high-quality talent. This position directly affects the calibre of new hires and, in turn, influences company culture, performance and long-term outcomes.

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Get your hiring underway with our flexible recruiter job description template. It’s ideal for job boards or your careers page and provides a clear foundation to outline the core responsibilities and skills for the recruiter role. Customise it to suit your team’s needs and the opportunities you’re offering.

About your company

[Company] is a leading [industry] business committed to [goals/mission]. We live our core values and aim to [impact/goals]. With a team of skilled professionals, we are changing the [industry] landscape and driving innovation in [specific area]. Join us and contribute to our growth story.

About the recruiter role

At [Your Company], the recruiter will play a central role in our success by sourcing, assessing and securing top-tier candidates.

Recruiter responsibilities

• Design and put into practice effective recruitment strategies to attract a varied pool of qualified candidates suited to the organisation’s needs.
• Work closely with hiring managers to clarify role requirements and produce accurate, detailed job descriptions.
• Review CVs and applications, and carry out initial phone screenings to build a shortlist of suitable applicants.
• Arrange and coordinate interviews with hiring managers and relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain strong relationships with former applicants and passive candidates for future vacancies.
• Keep up to date with recruitment trends and new sourcing techniques to remain competitive in hiring practices.

Recruiter qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience working as a recruiter, either in-house or at a staffing agency.
• Solid understanding of recruitment workflows and candidate selection techniques.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage multiple stakeholders effectively.
• Proficiency with HR software and candidate tracking systems.
• Sound decision-making skills and the capacity to adapt in a fast-paced environment.

Recruiter skills

• Strong communication and negotiation abilities.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Capability to manage sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Experience with a range of interview formats, including phone screens, face-to-face interviews and panel interviews.
• Skilled in using social media, CV databases and professional networks for sourcing.

Recruiters are fundamental to building the company’s foundation by bringing in the best-fit talent. They do more than fill vacancies — they influence organisational culture and support business growth.

Paths to become a recruiter 

Most people begin their careers in human resources or a related area as HR assistants or coordinators. Gaining hands-on experience across HR functions is important before specialising in recruitment. Typical progression includes roles such as HR generalist, moving on to a recruiter role.

Career paths for a recruiter

• Senior recruiter: Leads complex recruitment campaigns and strategy.
• Recruitment manager: Oversees the recruitment team and shapes hiring strategy.
• Director of talent acquisition: Directs the organisation’s overall hiring strategy and enhances processes across teams.

Other possible titles for a recruiter

• Talent acquisition specialist
• Hiring specialist
• Staffing coordinator