How's the market for people in the staffing industry? (Chicago: job market, college)

[djkkt6]

I'm considering a move to Chicago sometime in the next few months or so. Curious to know how the market is in the staffing industry. I've got 2 years experience as a recruiter. Would be looking for a job as a recruiter either for a staffing firm or as a Corporate Recruiter, or something similar.

[djkkt6]

Anyone?

22 people have viewed this thread, yet not one can comment? I find that to be odd.

[Avengerfire]

Maybe none of the people that viewed this work in the staffing industry.

[chicagocubs]

Probably because jobs, in general, are impossible to find in this economy; let alone a job that helps people find jobs....(that don't exist)

[chet everett]

There are jobs out here, and some special circumstances ALWAYS need skilled recruiters to track down candidates with the right mix of skills. That said with only two years of experience and NOT having Chicago area connections you are swimming agains the tide.

If you are serious and don't mind burning through LOTS of cold calls and dead-end leads you can find something to pay the bills, but right now general supply AND demand are both smashed down pretty badly so extra effort is the order of the day...

[djkkt6]

Originally Posted by chet everett

There are jobs out here, and some special circumstances ALWAYS need skilled recruiters to track down candidates with the right mix of skills. That said with only two years of experience and NOT having Chicago area connections you are swimming agains the tide.

If you are serious and don't mind burning through LOTS of cold calls and dead-end leads you can find something to pay the bills, but right now general supply AND demand are both smashed down pretty badly so extra effort is the order of the day...

Are you in the industry? I ask because I'm surprised at your comment about "only two years of experience." A lot of staffing firms, at least in St. Louis, actually prefer to hire younger people. My current company has an office in Chicago and is the exact same way. Surely we're not the only one in the industry in Chicago that operates that way.

To chicagocubs... that's just not true. Good people can get good jobs. It's not as doom and gloom as you think it is.

Thanks to both of you for the replies.

[chet everett]

I am not in the staffing industry, but I have used staffing firms to help me fill positions and to personally get me positions. Experienced people have a thicker address book to use on either end.

I don't doubt that some firms prefer to hire inexperienced people, but to say that experienced people are not desired is simply to ignore the obvious -- staffing is a relationship intensive endeavor and the more experience a recruiter has the better they are making relationships pay off.

[b0nb0n]

I think people are being slightly negative about the job market, I'm a college student graduating in a few weeks and I've started my job hunt not too long ago and have a few interviews set up already (in the staffing industry), I'm gonna give recruiting a try. A lot of what I'm seeing is that they do want someone who's had at least a yr to 2yrs experience so I think you wouldn't have a problem finding a job, for me it was a little tougher but I still managed to score a few interviews that I'll be going to next week. The job market isn't as bad as people make it sound, if its not that bad for me as a a person right out of college with little experience I cant see it being horrible for the rest of the educated, experienced population.
Also, if you don't mind me asking, how do you like being a recruiter? I assume you like it since you've stuck around for 2 yrs and are looking to stay in the industry, but is it really as hard as people say?
Any advice would be great from someone like you.

[djkkt6]

No, it's not hard at all. In fact, it's pretty easy assuming you understand the position you're recruiting on and you work for a company that has a good long-term vision and actually wants to be a true business partner with their clients, rather than simply filling their latest opening.

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you have.

[b0nb0n]

Thats what I figured, I guess people just love to make everything seem worse then it is. Maybe there are a lot of bad recruiters out there giving all the good ones a bad name, but it seems like it shouldnt be an impossible/horrible job if you care about your applicants and clients and if you know about your industry...
Also, from your point of view is it better to work as lets say a technical recruiter or a legal recruiter then a general one? I have interviews with two companies one for a technical recruiter and one would be a general recruiter and I'm not sure if one would be a better choice...another thing, how is the commission broken down normally, i guess i can wait till next week to hear what they'll tell me on my interviews but I've been hearing all sorts of info ranging from 2% to 40%.
Thanks in advance and you can DM me with the responses if you feel more comfortable answering that way.