8 Recruiter Roles and How to Get Started

Recruiters find qualified candidates to fill vacant positions, typically by going through resumes, conducting interviews, background checks, and keeping a database of talent available to utilize for future roles. As a recruiter, you may have many different roles and responsibilities based on your areas of interest. 

Learn more about roles in the recruiting and staffing industry, their annual salaries, and how to begin your career as a recruiter.

8 recruiter roles

As a recruiter, you may find different roles or areas of focus. For example, you may work as a talent acquisition specialist finding initial candidates with particular skills, or advance to the chief human resources officer role, where you develop HR strategies to enhance workplace productivity and performance. 

Discover eight recruiting roles, their average annual salaries, and what you need to qualify for the job.

*All annual base salary data is sourced from Glassdoor as of November 2024 and does not include additional pay, such as commission and benefits.

1. Talent acquisition specialist

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $72,824

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, or a related field. Experience in human resources

Talent acquisition specialists help find the best candidate for a position by recruiting and interviewing job prospects. Companies typically work with a talent acquisition specialist to find candidates with specific qualifications, such as a certain level of education completed or a list of workplace skills.

2. Hiring manager

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $58,735

Requirements: Associate degree or bachelor’s degree

As a hiring manager, you work with employees in the onboarding process. Your responsibilities may include writing job descriptions, interviewing candidates, and deciding who the most qualified candidate for the job is.

3. Corporate recruiter

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $69,825

Requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree, plus experience working in human resources

Corporate recruiters help fill vacant job positions at a company by finding qualified candidates to take over the role. Your responsibilities in this role may include working alongside other members of the human resources team to determine qualifications. You may additionally locate and interview candidates that match those qualifications.

4. Human resources manager

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $86,478

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree. Experience in an entry-level human resources position

As a human resources manager, your daily duties usually begin with the onboarding process and beyond. You typically help new employees set up their payroll and benefits. Additionally, you may work behind the scenes with company executives to promote organizational efficiency and create strategies aimed at increasing productivity among employees.

5. Recruiting coordinator 

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $48,384

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree

Recruiting coordinators are typically responsible for locating qualified candidates, conducting interviews and background checks, and helping new employees begin the onboarding process. As a recruiting coordinator, you are encouraged to communicate effectively and regularly with candidates and the company’s hiring team.

6. Sales recruiter

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $64,507

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related major

As a sales recruiter, you typically specialize in finding candidates with a background in sales and marketing. Other tasks you perform may include checking and confirming a candidate’s listed references and frequently updating a database of unused recruited talent for future use.

7. Chief people officer

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $205,112

Requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business, marketing, or human resources. Human resources certifications

Chief people officers (CPOs) are company leaders who work to bring team members together in a productive and positive work environment. In this role, your responsibilities may include creating and implementing new human resources strategies. Additionally, you may train others to become better leaders or the optimum fit for more advanced roles within the organization.

8. Recruitment consultant

Average annual US salary (Glassdoor): $65,505

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree

As a recruitment consultant, you help qualified candidates prepare for interviews with the company you’re recruiting for. You find talent, screen them, and pass them along to the hiring company to ensure they are the best fit for the role.

Recruiter job outlook

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for recruiter roles, such as human resources specialists, has an expected growth rate of 8 percent over the next decade. This is higher than average compared to other occupations [1]. 

BLS anticipates that nearly 86,200 new human resources specialist roles will become available between 2023 and 2033 as professionals retire and new workers enter the workforce [1].

How to begin your recruiting career

To become a recruiter, you typically need at least a bachelor’s degree alongside strong communication and interpersonal skills. Discover the steps you may take to pursue a recruiting role.

Education and training

Employers often look for job candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as human resources, business, or communication. To qualify for more advanced recruiter roles, such as a chief people officer or human resources manager, you may consider earning a master’s degree.

Build your skills

As a recruiter, it’s important that you work well with other people. When working in human resources, you often serve as the communicator between employees and managerial positions, so having the ability to communicate effectively and manage relationships would be beneficial.

You can build your recruiter skills by pursuing your bachelor’s degree at a college or university. Additionally, you could explore a certification such as the AIRS Professional Recruiter Certification (PRC).

Network

One of the most important aspects of recruiting is networking. A key part of recruiting new employees is reaching out and getting to know them, usually via phone, email, or social media. Consider attending job fairs or utilizing platforms, such as LinkedIn, to connect with aspiring professionals for present and future job openings.

Getting started in recruiting with Coursera

The role of a recruiter often involves finding the most qualified candidate for the job and helping them onboard and train at a new company. Within your recruiting career, you may find any recruiter roles that interest you.

Begin building your recruiting and human resources skills today with a certification or Professional Certificate. If you’re interested in specializing in human resources by becoming a manager or specialist, consider the Human Resource Management: HR for People Managers Specialization offered by the University of Minnesota on Coursera. In this series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to onboard and manage employees, as well as how to motivate your workers.