Introduction
Human resources (HR) and recruitment are increasingly viewed as distinct industries with related areas of work. Both are growing considerably and have seen significant changes over the past ten years. These changes have helped HR to shed its previous image as a welfare or administrative role, and it is now widely recognised as a key function in driving business forward and influencing business strategy.
As companies become more aware of the value and importance of HR functions and the need to recruit and retain the best workforce, they are employing graduates with key skills in HR roles.
Recruitment roles may be based either in-house (managing the recruitment needs of an organisation) or in a consultancy (handling recruitment for a range of different clients). Executive recruitment consultancies typically operate in specialist areas sourcing candidates for senior appointments. They often approach individuals directly rather than advertising openly, hence the term ‘headhunting’, which is sometimes used to describe the role.
Recruitment is a large and growing business, and recruitment consultancies are becoming an increasingly significant source of graduate employment.
The human resources and recruitment industry remains a popular and competitive sector.
What kind of work can I do?
- Employee relations (handling employee rights, contracts and complaints)
- Employment legislation
- Recruitment and selection
- Performance appraisal
- Compensation, including pay and benefits
- Consultancy
- Health and safety
- Training and development
What’s it like working in this industry?
Human resources
Salaries vary considerably depending upon location, specialism and level of seniority. HR professionals earned on average €30,720 in 2008. Basic salary levels range from an average of €24,000 for entry-level HR graduates to €70,000 for HR directors. Pay may also be affected by your particular industry sector. HR professionals in the manufacturing and the public sector earn about 3% more than the average HR wage, while those in the private service sectors and the voluntary sector earn 2.3% less than the average. (Overview of CIPD surveys: a barometer of HR trends and prospects 2009).
Most HR professionals are contracted to work 35-37.5 hours per week, but the majority work longer than this. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), in 2008, 73% of HR professionals typically worked 40 hours a week or more.
Recruitment
On average, recruiters earn a basic salary of €26,000. However, this is an industry where commission plays a big part in salary, raising the average on-target earnings (OTE) to €36,000 and, in some cases, doubling the basic salary or more. As with HR, salaries in recruitment vary considerably according to your role and the sector in which you work.
Specialist headhunters in lucrative sectors can earn up to €70,000 OTE. Recruiters in the IT sector can expect to earn the highest total salaries. The finance sector pays the second highest. The lowest total salaries for recruiters are paid in the healthcare sector (figures obtained from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)).
Recruitment consultants often work long hours, contacting clients at the end of their working day.
How big is this industry?
HR and recruitment is a large industry that spans numerous sectors, including the private and public sectors, manufacturing and the voluntary/not-for-profit sector. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is the professional body for HR, and their current membership stands at 133,000. Of these, the majority (67%) are employed in the private sector (CIPD, 2008).
The professional body representing the recruitment industry, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), reports that over 108,000 individuals are employed in recruitment roles (REC, 2008).
Where can I work?
Opportunities exist across the country. Executive search consultancies and graduate HR schemes tend to be based in Rotterdam or other large cities where their clients or organisations operate, but generalist recruitment agencies are found across the Netherlands. For more information about working internationally in HR and recruitment, see opportunities abroad.
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http://www.prospects.ac.uk/industries_human_resources_overview.htm
