How To Become IT Recruiter (With Salary and Qualifications)

Updated 5 March 2023

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IT recruiters work independently or with HR departments to find skilled candidates for available IT positions. Since they oversee the entire hiring process, they require technical and industry knowledge to make correct hiring decisions. By understanding the role and responsibilities of a professional tech recruiter, you can determine whether you want to pursue a recruitment career. In this article, we can find out what an IT recruiter is, what an IT recruiter does, the qualifications they need, if it is possible to become one without experience, how much they make and how to become an IT recruiter.

How do I become an IT recruiter with no experience

You can become an IT recruiter with no experience by following these steps:

1. Use your transferrable skills

Read the IT recruiter job requirements and review your skills and experiences that align with them. For example, if you have worked in software development, marketing or management, you may be proficient in IT, sales and time management that can transfer to the recruitment field. If you have engaged in public speaking or volunteered to teach underprivileged children, your experience of communicating and working with people and building relationships may help you as a recruiter.

2. Create an online presence

You can create professional accounts on social media platforms, professional networking sites and job sites. Having a professional online presence can make it easier for you to connect with established recruiters, follow their content and learn about the industry. You can find and apply for available recruiter jobs. Additionally, you can increase your employability by posting information about your transferrable skills and experiences.

3. Market yourself

You can use your online presence for marketing yourself as an upcoming recruiter. You can research and write informative articles about job recruitments, offer advice and tips to job seekers and share content by experienced recruiters. You can connect with recruitment agencies and inform them of your interest in working as a recruiter. Being confident about your abilities and skills may help you convince people to hire you and start your career in this field.

4. Network in the industry

Professional networking is as essential in the recruitment field as it is in other industries. You can start by signing up for professional networking sites, searching for upcoming and experienced recruiters and connecting with them. Build your industry contacts by sharing tips and valuable knowledge regarding the recruitment business. Your contacts could return the favour by directing you towards work opportunities that employers may not advertise on regular job boards.

5. Join a recruiting agency

You can gain essential work experience by getting an entry-level position in a job recruiting agency. Depending on the agency, the work may be salaried or commission-based. You can then work your way up to a senior recruiter position in that agency or find a better-paying job in another. You can also apply for a corporate recruiter role and get a job that offers both salary and commission. After gaining work experience, recruiting skills and industry contacts, you can consider setting up your own recruitment agency.

What does an IT recruiter do?

An IT recruiter is an information technology professional who works with IT company hiring managers to screen, select, interview and hire qualified candidates for permanent, contract- and project-based IT jobs. IT recruiters may work independently for recruitment companies or in-house with the IT company's human resources department. They must have the technical know-how to identify exceptional IT professionals and discuss available work opportunities with them.

An IT recruiter is responsible for recruiting new and experienced IT professionals to fill available jobs in an IT company. Their daily tasks can vary as per the company's hiring schedule. Some of their responsibilities include the following:

working with the IT department to identify open positions
planning a comprehensive recruitment strategy
writing job requirement descriptions for job postings
advertising jobs on company websites, job sites and other platforms
using search engines, social media and other resources to find candidates
contacting candidates to ask if they want to work with the company
persuading highly-qualified candidates to join the company
reviewing job applications and shortlisting resumes of potential candidates
inviting shortlisted candidates to attend a job interview
conducting group discussions and individual interview rounds
assessing interview performances and selecting qualified candidates
informing candidates about their selection or rejection
negotiating salaries and benefits with selected candidates
arranging onboarding sessions for selected candidates
following up with candidates after they join the company

What qualifications do you need to be an IT recruiter?

You may need a bachelor's degree or a master's degree in information technology, engineering or management to become an IT recruiter. Some employers may accept advanced degrees in other streams if you can demonstrate IT knowledge. You may also need to have experience in human resources and an understanding of employment laws.

Additionally, you must have strong communication, listening, interpersonal, networking, critical thinking, multi-tasking, organisational and problem-solving skills. Being calm, professional, persuasive and good at negotiation are desirable traits. You must be able to assess the personalities of potential candidates to determine if they might be a good match for the company.

How much does a good recruiter make?

The average salary of an IT recruiter is ₹20,846 per month. The exact pay may vary as per the employer, location, negotiation skills, technical knowledge and experience. Some IT recruiters may work on a commission basis, which means they receive a percentage of the first-year salary of the selected candidate. In-house IT recruiters receive a regular paycheck and may also get a commission and a bonus.

How to become an IT recruiter

You can become an IT recruiter by following these steps:

1. Earn an advanced degree

It is possible to get into the recruiting field without an advanced degree, but your career could benefit more from having one. Many recruiting agencies and IT companies require recruiters to have at least a bachelor's degree for beginner-level positions and may require a master's degree for senior recruiter roles. Your advanced degree can be in information technology, human resource management, psychology, sociology, marketing, engineering, business or any other stream.

2. Obtain a certification

You can gain specific recruitment knowledge by completing various in-person or online certificate courses for recruiters. The programs may cover strategic human resource management, hiring and onboarding, recruitment and retention, data science specialisation and sales skills. Some of these courses may be for beginners, while others are for mid-level and senior-level recruiters. They can offer insights into contemporary business models, HR strategies and best practices. You can learn to identify employee motivations and get better perspectives on hiring and retaining qualified candidates.

3. Improve your soft skills

You can benefit from having strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, negotiation, problem-solving and time management skills. As a recruiter, you may have regular interactions with the company management and the IT and HR departments. You may have to plan and implement effective recruiting strategies for multiple job orders. You may also have to work with agencies and advertisers to post job advertisements and find suitable candidates. Additionally, you may need to discuss job opportunities with potential candidates, persuade them to send in their applications, conduct job interviews and negotiate job offers.

4. Get relevant work experience

Many recruiters begin their careers by working in various other positions before getting a job in recruitment. The benefit of working in different fields is that you can get practical experience in the industry and job requirements to improve your recruiting skills. To be an IT recruiter, consider working in the IT field for a couple of years. You can also work in IT research, support, operations, administration and sales.

5. Undergo recruiter training

Some recruitment agencies and IT companies offer short-duration recruiter training programs to equip you with the knowledge you need to work as a recruiter. You can learn how to create effective job descriptions, use recruitment tools, screen resumes, prepare Boolean search to find the desired skills in resumes, select candidates and conduct interviews. You can find out about the latest sourcing methods, recruitment technologies and industry trends.

6. Apply for a recruiter job

Even if you plan to start your own recruitment agency, you may find it useful to get work experience as a recruiter. Additionally, it can be a learning process to go through the hiring process yourself. You can find recruiter jobs on online job sites like Indeed, company websites, recruitment agency websites, professional networking sites and social media. Prepare cover letter and resume templates and customise these for every job application you make. Compile a list of frequently-asked interview questions for recruiters and practice answering those.

Please note that the salary figure reflects data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing. Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.