What Skills Make A Good Recruiter?

Jemima Thomas • 25 February 2025

Recruitment is a fast paced, dynamic, and rewarding career for many professionals.

Recruiters come from all walks of life and backgrounds and act as an intermediary between clients and candidates in order to place the best talent in the right roles.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in recruitment, you’re likely considering what skills you need to work as a recruiter.

In this guide, we’re going to cover some key skills that make a good recruiter to help you better understand the career path and what it takes to thrive.

Skills that make a good recruiter include, but are not limited to:

Communication
Negotiation
Problem solving
Organisation
Adaptability

1. Communication

The first skill that makes a good recruiter is communication.

Why Is Communication Important In Recruitment?

As a recruiter, excellent written and verbal communication skills are key in establishing and maintaining a good working relationship with clients and candidates.

Whether this is over the phone, online, or in person, you must be a confident communicator.

What’s more, research has found that ‘74% of recruiters also indicated that knowing how to use digital communication tools and video conferencing is also crucial for job candidates’, emphasising the importance of familiarising yourself with several tools and platforms.

Active listening is also an important part of communication, as you must be able to understand a company’s requirements while recognising candidate needs.

2. Negotiation

Negotiation skills are crucial for a career in recruitment.

As a recruiter, you’re the middle person between your client and candidate. It’s your job to act as a negotiator on both parties' behalf to help them reach an agreement.

For instance, there will be times when a candidate isn’t happy with the salary offer they’ve received.

While your client will undoubtedly be searching for the best candidate for the job, your candidate will likely be looking for the best salary they can achieve and will be considering many other factors, from job flexibility to a better work-life balance.

Your job is to offer advice and help negotiate for both sides until you reach a conclusion that ensures both your client and the candidate are aligned on terms and expectations.

If you’re considering recruitment as your next career move, you need to recognise the importance of negotiation.

3. Problem Solving

The importance of being able to problem solve as a recruiter cannot be overstated.

Research has found that ‘86% of employers prioritise candidates with strong problem-solving skills when hiring fresh graduates’, and this applies more than ever to an industry as dynamic as recruitment.

You’ll face many challenging yet rewarding situations that require you to think outside the box to come to a resolution that works for everyone involved.

Are you interested in pursuing a career in recruitment? Look no further than Recolution Group.

We’re recruitment specialists revolutionising the way talent is discovered, creating endless opportunities for professionals and businesses.

Contact our recruiters today to learn more about our job opportunities.

4. Organisation

Organisation is a key skill required for almost any career, and recruitment is no different.

As mentioned above, the recruitment industry is growing and is fast paced, and more often than not, you’ll be managing multiple clients and candidates at a time.

When paired with daily meetings, briefings, training, and regular client calls, there’s a lot to juggle as a recruiter, especially when you consider that ‘new positions take an average of 42 days to fill’.

That said, if organisation and being able to manage your time well are skills you pride yourself on, a career in recruitment could be an excellent move for you.

5. Adaptability

You must be able to adapt to a variety of situations as a recruiter.

In the recruitment industry, circumstances can change at the drop of a hat. Having the ability to adapt quickly while maintaining good relationships is an essential skill for a recruiter.

From candidates accepting roles before pulling out to accept another offer to your client not wanting to negotiate on salary, there will be countless scenarios where you must adapt and work out a solution to avoid risking damaging your relationships.

Your resourcefulness in these situations will go a long way in determining how successful you will be as a recruiter.

How We Can Help

Are you ready to ignite your career in recruitment? Look no further than the Recolution Group.

We’re always on the lookout for hungry and tenacious talent to join our experienced team of recruitment consultants.

Be sure to check out our current recruitment job vacancies or get in touch at info@recolutiongroup.com with a member of our team today to find out how we can help.

Written by Jemima for Recolution Group.

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