Capella University - School of Business
Capella University offers students the opportunity to earn their degrees from an accredited university delivering the challenge of a traditional classroom with the flexibility to fit education into real life.
Learn how to start a career as a human resources recruiter.
Resource Center Home | HR Career Resource Guide Home | Find HR Schools
The Wall Street Journal's executive career site, Career Journal.com, suggests that a career as a recruiter can be a stepping stone to one of the most in-demand HR career options—training and development.
In this sub-specialty of the human resources field, executive-level positions can come with over $200,000 in yearly compensation.
Some people become private recruiters, known as headhunters, and start independent executive recruiting firms; in these private practices, earning potential is essentially limitless, and often skyrockets well into the six figures.
A successful HR recruiter recognizes ability in potential employees. The traditional interview process is only a part of an HR recruiter's duties. Gathering online resumes, conducting telephone screenings and representing the company at career fairs are also a common part of a recruiter's job.
Recruiters are the face of the company to potential employees. An HR recruiter must have excellent people skills, with a well-developed talent for reading people and conducting interviews. A human resources bachelor's degree with course work in behavioral sciences, social sciences and interpersonal communication is recommended for entry-level positions, and a human resources master's or MBA with a focus in human resources can be very useful in advancing to senior positions. To start on your journey to becoming a recruiter, find a human resources bachelor's, master's or MBA degree.
| Entry Level | Mid Level | Senior Level | |
| Types of Roles | Recruiter, staffing specialist, placement specialist | Hiring manager, recruiting supervisor, associate in headhunting firm | Director of human resources, talent development director, partner in headhunting firm |
| Experience | 0- 4 years | 5 - 10 years | 10+ years |
| Getting There |
|
| |
| Salary* | $39,998 | $61,759 | $141,962 |
| Description | Recruits new employees through interviews, career fairs or online channels | Supervises the day-to-day activities of employee hiring |
|
* Salary information is derived from Payscale.com listed median income for the position. The type of organization strongly affects pay.

