HR Recruiter Job Description

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Table Of Contents

Learn about the important requirements, obligations, responsibilities, and skills that should be in an HR recruiter job description.

A human resources recruiter is an HR specialist focused primarily on finding and recruiting candidates for open roles. HR recruiters assess staffing needs, create and manage recruiting strategies, and source, screen, and interview potential hires. HR recruiters are sometimes known as talent acquisition specialists, HR coordinators, and recruiting coordinators.

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HR Recruiter Job Description Template

We are looking for an experienced human resources recruiter to help us attract and hire skilled candidates in a demanding field. The successful candidate will have a track record of success in recruiting passive and active candidates through social media, job sites, professional organizations, and job fairs.

In addition to developing our recruiting processes and talent pipeline, this role will be responsible for screening, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding qualified candidates. Must be able to work effectively with management to understand job requirements and create effective job descriptions.

HR Recruiter Responsibilities

  • Creating and maintaining recruiting initiatives

  • Sourcing candidates through job sites, social media, corporate job pages, professional networking events, college job fairs, and more

  • Developing a talent pipeline in advance of job openings

  • Coordinating with hiring managers to understand staffing objectives

  • Writing job descriptions and managing job ads

  • Screening and testing candidates

  • Coordinating background checks

  • Staying up-to-date on local and state employment law regarding hiring practices

  • Interviewing potential hires and making recommendations to hiring managers

  • Onboarding new hires after selection

  • Managing recruiting and hiring data and administrative tasks

HR Recruiter Requirements 

  • A bachelor’s degree in human resources, organizational psychology, business, communications, or a related field

  • Some employers will prefer or require an MBA

  • Some employers will prefer or require certification by an industry organization such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) or HR Certification Institute (HRCI)

  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills

  • An existing professional network that allows them to build an effective talent pipeline

  • Previous experience as a recruiter, sometimes in a specific industry

  • Experience using applicant tracking system (ATS) and human resource information systems (HRIS) software

HR Recruiter Duties And Responsibilities

Develop and Manage Recruiting Initiatives 

Collaborate with stakeholders including leadership and hiring managers to determine recruiting goals, strategy, and processes. Create best practices, templates, and metrics to define success. Track and evaluate recruiting data against hiring goals.

Build a Talent Pipeline 

Source qualified candidates for open roles and develop a talent pool for future hiring needs. Develop candidate sources including social media, professional associations, colleges and universities, apprenticeship and training programs, and more. Connect with active and passive candidates for current and future roles.

Related: Best HR Software

Evaluate Candidates

Screen candidates in applicant tracking software and develop pools of potential hires. Interview candidates via phone, video, and in-person meetings. Administer skills testing for technical roles. Coordinate with hiring managers, teams, and leadership to review progress and refine goals.

Manage Hiring and Onboarding Processes

Draft job descriptions, post ads for open positions, and manage hiring budgets. Update and manage data in ATS and HRIS systems. Send offer letters, participate in salary negotiation and counteroffers, and manage new hire paperwork. Conduct background checks or manage third-party vendors. Onboard new hires and ensure a successful transition to the team.

In addition to keeping abreast of hiring and recruiting trends, HR recruiters must be current on local, state, and federal hiring laws. These regulations include minimum wage and overtime laws, worker protections, background check restrictions, and more.

HR Recruiter Salary And Job Outlook

Median National Salary: $54,472, per ZipRecruiter

Education Required: A bachelor’s degree in business, communications, organizational psychology, human resources, or a related field. Some employers require certification from industry organizations or give preference to candidates with an MBA.

Number of Jobs: The Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks recruiting jobs as part of a larger occupational designation, human resources specialists. There were 782,800 HR specialists as of 2021, the most recent year for which data is available.

Job Growth 2021 – 2031: The BLS projects that the number of human resource specialist jobs will increase by 8% over the next 10 years, faster than the average for all occupations.

The Bottom Line

Hiring for HR recruiter roles is especially important because the quality of the candidates you find for this role will determine the talent and skill of your workforce, potentially for years to come.

Ready to hire? Post your HR recruiter job description on ZipRecruiter today and find highly qualified applicants near you.