Also known as "headhunters," technical recruiters are employment specialists.
The goal of a technical recruiter is to bring together employers seeking qualified
candidates with individuals who have the appropriate skills. What sets them
apart from other personnel consultants is that they deal only with positions
requiring specific technical skills, such as computer programming or database
administration.
Most technical recruiters handle positions in the field of information
technology (basically, anything to do with computers). A few work in more
science-oriented fields such as engineering and geology. Because they specialize
in one area, recruiters are able to maintain a database of candidates skilled
in this field.
Typically, technical recruiters work for a personnel agency specializing
in this type of hiring. Their job is twofold: to persuade employers to rely
on their people-finding expertise, and to find skilled individuals to fill
the job openings.
But some recruiters are hired by larger firms whose ongoing need for experienced
people is so great that they keep a permanent number of technical recruiters
on staff. These individuals concentrate on the employee-based side of recruiting:
finding, interviewing and recommending qualified candidates to the firm's
human resources department.
A technical recruiter must possess excellent communication skills. "Relationship
building is important," says technical recruiter Ivan Hnatiuk. He spends his
days on the telephone, marketing his services to employers and seeking out
qualified employees.
Besides verbal communication skills, a gift for clear and concise writing
is also helpful. Technical recruiters must write up proposals for employers
explaining why they believe a certain applicant would be right for this job.
"We must present a candidate to an employer in a meaningful way," says Hnatiuk.
Networking is a time-consuming process, so it's not surprising that time
management is a top priority for technical recruiters. "Goal planning is important,"
says Hnatiuk. "I can't possibly be doing everything I need to do in a day,
so I must prioritize."