What Does A Technical Recruiter Do? (With Skills And Salary)

Updated 5 March 2023

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With a growing number of technology-based jobs, employers want to find the best talent for these specialised positions. Technical recruiters specialise in hiring those with expertise in niche technology skills. If you are looking for a career that connects people with a technology background to potential employers, working as a technical recruiter may be a desirable job for you. In this article, we discuss, "What does a technical recruiter do?", explore how much they earn, provide the skills required to become one, share a sample job description and answer a few frequently asked questions about the role.

Salary figures reflect 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.

What does a technical recruiter do?

If you are wondering, "What does a technical recruiter do?", these professionals usually work in the human resources department or in a recruitment agency to fill open positions in IT and tech companies. They search for candidates who possess the right expertise to fill specialised positions in information technology, data science, cloud computing or network engineering. A technical recruiter's responsibilities may include the following:

Write job descriptions

Technical recruiters require strong written communication skills to write job descriptions. They work closely with team leaders and managers to create job descriptions that clearly convey the desired skills. They are usually familiar with the technical language and vocabulary for certain technologies, programming languages and tools in the IT industry.

Find job candidates

A technical recruiter generally uses digital tools to look for talent. They work with recruiting platforms, including niche technical sites and general employment portals, to post and advertise vacancies. They may also leverage social media to find potential candidates and promote job openings.

Screen potential job applications

Another vital part of a technical recruiter's job is to evaluate job candidates by screening resumes. Considering the expectations of the organisation and team, recruiters search for talented candidates that match the requirements of the open position. An effective application screening helps shortlist relevant candidates for interviews and identifies the strongest contenders for the job.

Interview job candidates

The interview is one of the most critical steps of the hiring process. Technical recruiters conduct a preliminary interview of candidates to find the best talent. Upon selection, the company or team manager might conduct another round to test technical skills. Salary negotiations may follow this stage, and recruiters can also be a part of that. Technical recruiters facilitate and schedule these interviews and interactions between the candidate and the company.

Attend job fairs and hiring events

It is also usually the job of a technical recruiter to meet prospective employees at job fairs and hiring events. They may set up a booth at the job fair to attract the best candidates for a position. Even if a new contact does not get hired, they can become part of a talent network that can help a recruiter create a talent pool of candidates. Technical recruiters also help organise placement drives in institutes to hire fresh graduates.

Create new recruiting strategies

Technical recruiters pursue unique ways to acquire potential candidates for businesses. They may attend conventions or join networks with other recruiters to access a larger candidate database. They are also usually responsible for identifying and installing helpful recruitment tools and solutions that can help optimise the hiring process.

Meet business clients

A technical recruiter also regularly meets with hiring managers to discuss potential candidates for vacancies. Freelance recruiters usually earn money through commissions on every successful hire. Hiring agencies may hire technical recruiters in full-time roles. In both these roles, regular interaction with the client and business is crucial.

How much does a technical recruiter earn?

The national average salary of a technical recruiter is ₹24,610 per month. Many factors can influence the salary of a technical recruiter, including the size and location of the organisation. Enhancing your knowledge and expertise in the field can help you get a higher salary as you advance in the field.

Skills required for a technical recruiter

Technical recruiters require a unique blend of soft skills and technical knowledge. The following skills can be beneficial in your career:

Technical understanding

When hiring for highly technical positions, technical skills become critical. Communicating with candidates in their language and confidently screening them can be a great way to establish yourself as a successful technical recruiter. Technical skills also allow recruiters to effectively use and leverage hiring technologies, like applicant tracking systems and performance management platforms.

Marketing and sales skills

Recruiters usually have to think and act like marketers and salespeople to navigate their responsibilities successfully. Whether they are promoting a company as an excellent place to work or persuading a hiring company of a candidate's suitability for a job opening, recruiters are essentially using sales and marketing techniques. As with salespeople, recruiters may require developing relationships with organisations, consistently following up on prospective candidates, effectively handling objections and ultimately hiring the candidate.

Attention to detail

Recruiters often deal with multiple data points related to vacancies in the hiring department and candidates. That is why successful recruiters require attention to detail and have to review the abilities and experience of different candidates accurately. Often a missed fact can result in a bad hire, reputational damage and wastage of time and resources.

Multitasking

Hiring is a time-consuming process involving various activities, like posting a job advertisement, scheduling and conducting interviews and reviewing candidate information. Recruiters may also have to conduct background checks, meet clients, consult with their employer and send job offers, among other things. It is essential for a successful recruiter to excel at multiple tasks simultaneously.

Communication skills

Communicating effectively via various channels is a necessary skill for recruiters. You may require writing compelling job or social media posts and communicating with candidates and hiring managers through email, phone and in-person. You also effectively represent the company to candidates, serve as a point of contact for them and act as a liaison between the two parties throughout the hiring process.

Analytical skills

Analytical skills measure a person's ability to evaluate information to reach a logical decision. A technical recruiter uses analytical skills to review resumes and assess interview responses. By investigating and uncovering more details about the candidate's skills, qualifications and personality traits, recruiters make hiring decisions. The ability to analyse and evaluate candidates resumes swiftly and accurately also requires strong analytical skills.

Non-verbal communication

Successful recruiters require an understanding of non-verbal cues, such as body language and tone. Being able to control and display positive body language during in-person interviews is a valuable negotiating tactic. It can help you manage the overall direction and sentiment of the conversation. It also gives them the ability to assess the non-verbal cues of a candidate to determine their state of mind and emotions.

Sample job description for a technical recruiter

Here is a sample job description for the role of a technical recruiter:

We are seeking an expert technical recruiter who will be accountable for sourcing, screening and hiring IT specialists to fill niche job positions at our organisation. The technical recruiter will be responsible for each step of the hiring process and will work closely with our senior leadership team to fulfil the company's talent requirements. We prefer a candidate who is diligent, focused and capable of meeting deadlines to the satisfaction of all parties. To be a successful technical recruiter, you should have basic knowledge of technology, technical roles and technical skills and a good understanding of the recruitment process.

Frequently asked questions about the technical recruiter

Here are some frequently asked questions about the role of a technical recruiter:

Does a technical recruiter require a technological background to work?

Most technical recruiters do not have a degree or background in a technological field. They learn the technical language related to various positions on the job. Once you familiarise yourself with the terms related to technical recruiting, it becomes easier to speak with job candidates and the organisations that hire them.

What are some common interview questions for a technical recruiter?

Here are some common interview questions for the technical recruiter role:

Why do you want to work as a recruiter?
What is the most exciting part of being a recruiter for you?
What techniques do you use to find the most suitable candidate for a job?
How do you analyse the efficacy of your recruiting strategies?
How do you keep yourself updated with the latest recruiting trends?
How can you use data as a part of your recruiting strategy?