As it stands, career guidance for pupils is ‘patchy’ at best. I know plenty of consultants who claim they just ‘fell into recruitment’ as it was never marked as an obvious profession, which leaves me wondering whether our industry could be doing more to promote it as a career choice.

1 Don’t only focus on graduates

There’s an argument that says engaging candidates at the age of 18, or even 21, might be too late. Often young children wish to pursue roles like doctors, nurses, firefighters and teachers, as these public sector roles are most visible to them from a young age. The problem here is awareness and there a number of ways recruiters can address this. 

2 Proactively engage talent

Talent won’t come to you, you’ll have to go and get it. How many recruitment consultants do you see attending open days at schools or colleges or hosting sixth form job fairs to source the best candidates? Not enough. Recruitment agencies should be working harder to partner with schools and colleges to offer work experience placements that will put their firms and the industry on the map.

3 Identify important skills 

There are thousands of career options out there for young people but the problem with advice given in schools is that it is not always made obvious to pupils where their skills can be applied. 

Many recruitment firms are in need of people with strong communication skills and the ability to comprehend data and information. It’s up to us to show them that a career in recruitment is the perfect way to apply their disciplines.

4 Be present on social media

If you’re not visible online, you’re definitely missing a trick, especially if you’re wanting to attract younger talent. A research study, carried out in 2015 found that 92% of teens report going online daily – including 24% who say they go online “almost constantly”. 

Recruitment agencies have the tools to engage with students frequently and substantively; they are just not being utilised to their full potential. 

5 Position business and the industry

While the government should continue to take steps to acknowledge the gaps in careers advice and take action to fill them, recruiters can also take this opportunity to communicate what our industry has to offer: a challenging and complex career with an opportunity to earn a decent salary, continually build their skills and climb the career ladder. 

Sinead Hasson is managing director of Hasson Associates, a niche consultancy specialising in placing marketing and market research/insight professionals in research agencies, brand and strategic marketing consultancies, market analysis and business information providers as well as in-house research teams in the UK and internationally.

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