Epictetus said, ''Only the educated are free.'' If you are a person who enjoys sales, imagine the fulfillment of selling something that you know works. A college recruiter job offers just that: the knowledge that your career choice is making a difference not just in the lives of the persons you are selling to but to society. After all, a more educated society is good for all of us.
Exhibiting passion is also a must. One needs to have a genuine interest in others and a good attitude about the future. An enjoyment of working with people is also necessary, while the ability to listen attentively is vital. By listening to and enjoying the company of clients, a college recruiter creates an atmosphere in which he or she can help match a student to professional pursuits that will point the way to success.
Now let's look at the duties and responsibilities of a college recruiter. Fundamentally, a college recruiter job is about searching for future applicants to a variety of educational fields. The recruiter travels to high school campuses, community colleges, job fairs, and public employment venues to convince potential applicants that college is the right means to their career ends.
The college recruiter will also spend time developing marketing materials for these recruitment efforts. Other responsibilities include arranging visits and campus tours and creating college fair weekends during which prospective students get to tour the campus and interact with faculty and currently enrolled students. A college recruiter job will involve the use of media, email, and written and oral communications to market to potential students. Great interviewing skills, knowledge of current career trends, and marketing strategies are another must.
And now for some suggestions about what to include in your resume when applying for a college recruiter job. For starters, be sure to sell yourself well. Research the job, the location, and the college's history. Let your future employer know your objectives for the job, and summarize what you believe to be the main requirements and responsibilities. Let your future employer know that you have spent time reaching an understanding of what is expected of you. Cite your professional skills and your experience, and detail your education. In short, profile yourself — give the potential employer a snapshot of who you are.
Of course, we would also do well to consider some statistics relating to the prospects for a career as a college recruiter. In today's economy a main focus in the job market is the longevity of the career one chooses. Stability and growth in the career of choice is obviously desirable. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, recruitment, employment, and placement specialists held 182,000 jobs in 2004. It is expected that the number of these jobs will grow more quickly than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.
Finally, just because you are out of college does not mean you are done with homework. Do your homework on the jobs available to you. Check out RecruitingCrossing.com to search for good recruiting jobs. Apply for several positions and check back to the site regularly. Most importantly, remember that the future is just an assorted collection of consecutive moments.
