A professional desk with a notebook, fountain pen, and eyeglasses in a bright, modern office with soft natural light.

Recruiter

Match people with jobs - either in-house or running your own desk at an agency.

This UK recruiter career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.

Quick facts

Starting salary
£22,000 - £30,000 + commission
Mid-career salary
£40,000 - £80,000 OTE
Senior salary
£100,000 - £200,000+ OTE
Work environment
Office (agency) or hybrid (in-house)
Time to entry
0 - 1 year
Degree required
Not required
Category
Business, Finance and Legal

What a Recruiter does

Match people with jobs - either in-house or running your own desk at an agency.

  • Tech Recruiter - Place software engineers, designers, and data roles.
  • Executive Search Consultant - Headhunt senior leaders for big companies.
  • In-house Talent Partner - Hire for a single company, no commission, more strategy.

How to become a Recruiter

  1. Look up Recruiter roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
  2. Talk to someone already working as a Recruiter - even a 15-minute call helps
  3. Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
  4. Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
  5. Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month

Key skills

  • Resilience
  • Listening
  • Pitching
  • Networking