What is a Recruiter?

In brief

As Recruiter you are the link between people and opportunities. You discover talent, build relationships and know exactly how to match the right candidate with the right position. Whether you're actively searching on LinkedIn, conducting interviews or devising strategies to fill vacancies - your mission is clear: make the perfect match.

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What does a Recruiter do?

A recruiter ensures that open positions are filled with the best-suited candidates. You write catchy vacancy texts, screen applicants, conduct interviews and guide candidates through the entire process. In addition, you think along about employer branding and continuously improve the recruitment strategy of the company.

Main duties:

  • Writing and publishing job postings
  • Actively seeking and approaching candidates through LinkedIn and job boards, among others
  • Screening, interviewing and selecting suitable candidates
  • Maintaining contact with candidates and clients
  • Checking references and guiding during the application process
  • Advising managers on labor market and recruitment strategies
  • Thinking along about employer branding and candidate experience

What competencies should you have?

These are the qualities that make you excel in this role:

Listening skills and empathy.
Strong communication and social skills
Results-oriented and commercial attitude

What does a workday look like?

Every day as a recruiter is different. You start by discussing new vacancies with the hiring manager. Then you actively search for suitable candidates, review applications and plan introductory interviews. In between you keep in touch with candidates at different stages of the process and give feedback after interviews. In the afternoon you update vacancy texts, evaluate progress with colleagues and think about new recruitment strategies.

How do you become a Recruiter?

There are several routes to becoming a recruiter. Most recruiters have a background in:

  • HBO Human Resource Management / Personnel & Labor
  • HBO Commercial Economics or Business Administration
  • WO Psychology (A&O), Communication or Organizational Sciences


There are also specific trainings and certifications in recruitment techniques, employer branding, LinkedIn sourcing or interviewing techniques that enhance your profile.

Salary

A Recruiter's salary in 2025 will average between €2,600 and €3,600 gross per month, depending on experience, education level and sector. Senior recruiters can often advance to €4,200 gross per month.

Diploma

A college degree in HRM, Business Administration or Commercial Economics is ideal. For more analytical or corporate recruitment positions, a wo degree in psychology or organizational science may be a plus.

Number of hours

Most recruiters work 32 to 40 hours per week. In recruitment agencies, flexible working hours are often possible, depending on deadlines and client appointments.

Working Hours

Recruiters usually work during office hours (08:30-17:30). In some commercial recruitment agencies, it is common to maintain contact with candidates or clients outside these hours as well.

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Your next step?

Recruiter

Are you ready to discover talent, make matches and shape careers?
Check out our vacancies and start your journey into the world of recruitment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does a Recruiter do?

A recruiter recruits, selects and supervises candidates for open positions, ensuring that both candidate and organization are satisfied with the match.

A corporate recruiter works internally for one company; an agency recruiter works externally and helps multiple companies find staff.

Not always. With an MBO/HBO degree in HR or commerce and strong communication skills, you can often work as a junior recruiter starting.

Sure. You can advance to senior recruiter, recruitment lead, talent acquisition specialist or even HR business partner.

You will often work in a recruitment team, along with HR consultants, hiring managers and marketing colleagues.