Thanks to the rise in virtual and distance learning modules with many colleges and universities, becoming a college recruiter is an exciting career option for any human resource professional. College recruiting is a rewarding career that allows you to work with people of all ages who have decided to head back to school to obtain advanced degrees and further their careers. Before considering this career, however, it’s important to understand the job duties as well as the requirements to become a college recruiter.
College recruiters encourage adult learners to enroll in the college programs of their choice. These recruiters are often required to travel extensively throughout their region to local schools to recruit potential students for college programs. In addition, college recruiters must have strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as a high level of perseverance as they work with candidates.
If you would like to become a college recruiter, there are many good ways to get started. A general requirement of college recruiting is to obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the areas of business and human resources. In addition, having coursework or experience in marketing, promotions and computer technology are helpful foundations for any college recruiter to possess. The most successful college recruiters are those who are driven to succeed and have a wide range of industry experience before tackling this demanding career.
To become a college recruiter, it’s also important to take a careful inventory of the skills you have to determine if recruiting college students is something that you will enjoy. Recruiting takes a great deal of determination tempered with patience as candidates decide what to do. Having the ability to work closely with others to convince them that your program is the best while simultaneously respecting their values and needs is a balance that all good college recruiters must maintain.
Once you have the necessary education and experience and have determined that your personality meets with the demands of college recruiting, finding work is the next step. To become a college recruiter, the best places to start searching for a job are with colleges, universities and workforce recruiting organizations. In addition, companies that recruit a large number of new graduates often have opportunities for college recruiters to build rewarding careers in this industry.