What Does an Entry-Level Recruiter Do?

Entering the recruitment industry can feel both exciting and slightly mysterious. Most people have interacted with recruiters at some point, but far fewer actually understand what the job involves at the most junior level. Yet the entry-level recruiter role is one of the most important in any agency.

If you’re considering a career in recruitment and want to know what to expect, you’re in the right place. In this article, you’ll discover exactly what an entry-level recruiter does and how the work actually feels day-to-day.

Spotting and Sourcing Talent in Very Competitive Markets

One of the first responsibilities an entry-level recruiter takes on is sourcing the right candidates for roles. But this isn’t just a matter of scrolling through CV databases and sending generic messages on LinkedIn to people who don’t really fit what you’re looking for. In reality, sourcing is actually a blend of detective work, intuition, and persistence.

New recruiters learn quickly that the right candidates aren’t always the ones who apply. Sometimes the best talent is hidden deep in an old CV database entry, or they’re passive professionals on LinkedIn who have no idea they’re ready for a better opportunity.

The role teaches you how to read between the lines. Spotting potential in a CV that others might dismiss, or identifying a quality that makes someone suitable for a role, even if their job title doesn’t scream it. Over time, sourcing becomes less about searching and more about knowing where and how the right people move within the market you operate in.

First Impressions and The Art of the First Conversation!

Once a recruiter has identified someone who might be a good fit, the next step is one of the most fundamental skills in the job. The screening call. For entry-level recruiters, this is where confidence grows.

Just to be crystal clear here, these aren’t interrogations. They’re supposed to be warm, exploratory conversations designed to uncover someone’s strengths, motivations, and ambitions. New recruiters quickly learn how to keep candidates speaking, how to ask better questions, and how to pick up on clues that reveal what someone really wants from their next role.

Some calls are really straightforward. Others are delicate and might centre around career doubt, salary frustrations, or personal pressures. The entry-level recruiter learns how to handle these situations with professionalism and empathy, laying the groundwork for genuine trust.

Writing Job Adverts That Actually Work

Posting job adverts sounds very simple, but most recruiters will tell you it’s a skill. Entry-level recruiters are often the ones writing and managing adverts across job boards, so the challenge is writing something that captures attention without sounding like every other advert in that category. 

Junior recruiters learn how to translate a client’s brief into something appealing, realistic, and aligned with candidate expectations. They also see firsthand how small tweaks in tone, structure, or benefits can dramatically change the quality of applications.

This is often the first time new recruiters realise just how much psychology sits behind recruitment marketing!

Supporting the Recruitment Process Behind the Scenes

Much of an entry-level recruiter’s day involves activities that keep the recruitment process moving smoothly. They will arrange interviews, confirm details with candidates, check in with clients, gather feedback, and maintain accurate records in the CRM.

Although this might appear administrative from the outside, the reality is that this work shapes the entire recruitment experience. A missed detail, a poorly timed follow-up, or a misunderstanding between candidate and client can put off even the strongest match.

Junior recruiters learn to anticipate issues, double-check information, and communicate clearly. These habits become essential later when handling bigger accounts and more complex placements.

Developing Early Relationships (Even Before Client Ownership Begins)

Entry-level recruiters rarely ever start with their own portfolio of clients, but they do begin building relationships from day one and that’s mainly with the candidates.

Over time, they start to become known within their niche. Candidates return to them with updates, referrals, or questions. This early trust-building shapes how they’ll manage future client relationships. It’s also where they begin to learn how different industries work and what hiring managers prioritise.

Some agencies gradually introduce junior recruiters to warm client accounts, and others allow early involvement in business development shadowing.

Learning the Commercial Reality of Recruitment

Recruitment is ultimately a commercial profession. And even at the entry level, you learn how placements translate into fees, why KPIs exist, and how to balance activity with outcomes.

This can be quite an eye-opening transition, especially for those coming from purely administrative or service-based roles. New recruiters quickly discover the rhythm of sales, moments of quiet, unexpected opportunities, and the need to stay proactive even when the market feels flat.

Understanding the commercial side of recruitment is what prepares them for future progression, where the balance of candidate and client responsibilities becomes a little more complex.

Compliance, Accuracy, and Doing Things Properly

In the UK, we’ve got the right-to-work checks, GDPR responsibilities, and client-specific compliance requirements, making accuracy essential.

Entry-level recruiters are often tasked with gathering references, checking documentation, and ensuring all candidate information is recorded correctly. It’s very detail-oriented work, but it forms the backbone of a professional service. Especially in sectors where compliance errors can have serious consequences!

By getting used to this early, you’ll gain confidence working with regulated industries or senior placements later in your career.

Becoming a More Confident, Skilled Professional

By the end of the first year, most entry-level recruiters have transformed significantly. They’ve developed communication skills, commercial awareness, resilience, time management, and the ability to juggle multiple priorities in fast-moving environments.

They’ve also learned how to handle rejection, celebrate wins, move on from setbacks, and maintain enthusiasm through the inevitable fluctuations of the job. These early experiences form the foundation of a long, successful recruitment career, whether someone ultimately becomes a specialist consultant, a top biller, or a leader within an agency!

Final Thoughts

So, what does an entry-level recruiter do? They’re sourcing talent, building relationships, learning a sector, supporting clients, and developing the commercial and interpersonal skills that shape the rest of their career.

If you’re ready to start your career in recruitment, submit your CV or get in touch today.