What Even Is Recruitment? Debunking the Myths and Revealing the Realities
Recruitment is one of those careers everyone seems to have heard of, but few truly understand until they’re in it. In a recent episode of The MorePeople Podcast, CEO Andrew Fitzmaurice and Managing Director Richard Hanwell broke down what recruitment actually is, what it isn’t, and what makes it such a uniquely challenging and rewarding profession.
So, What Is Recruitment?
Forget the idea that recruitment is just placing an ad and watching the perfect CVs roll in. As Andrew and Richard discuss, recruitment is a dynamic, high-energy career that demands adaptability, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to people. At its core, recruitment is about making meaningful connections between people, careers, companies, and aspirations.
“It’s not just taking an order from a client and ticking boxes,” Richard explains. “It’s about networking constantly, managing changing needs, and balancing urgency with long-term relationship building.”
There’s No Such Thing as a “Typical Day”
If you’re asking what a recruiter does on a daily basis, get ready for a long (and unpredictable) answer. “No two days are the same,” says Andrew. “You're juggling advert response, headhunting, handling urgent client needs, building long-term talent pipelines... and talking to people all day, every day.”
That human connection is what makes recruitment powerful, and exhausting. You can work for weeks nurturing the perfect candidate for a role, only for things to fall apart at the last hurdle. But when it works? There’s nothing more satisfying.
The Industry No One Teaches You About
Unlike law or accounting, there’s no formal qualification needed to become a recruiter. That’s both a blessing and a curse. Many fall into recruitment without really knowing what to expect. “You can’t fast-track your way to great results,” says Richard. “You’ve got to learn by doing, often by failing, and by asking the uncomfortable questions.”
And therein lies the paradox: recruitment requires people who are hungry, impatient, and driven, but the profession itself demands long-term thinking, patience, and consistent effort. It’s not easy to master, and most people underestimate just how much work it takes to become great.
The Real Value of a Great Recruiter
A good recruiter isn’t just someone who ‘fills roles.’ They’re trusted advisors. For clients, that means providing market insight, proactive talent scouting, and real partnership. For candidates, it means interview prep, honest feedback, and advocacy, even when they’re not actively looking for a new role.
“The best relationships aren’t transactional,” says Andrew. “You don’t want to be the recruiter who only shows up when there’s a job to fill. You want to be present, helpful, and relevant all year round.”
The Role of Customer Service in Recruitment
Recruitment isn’t sales in the traditional sense. It’s more personal, more emotional, and that’s where customer service becomes critical. Helping a candidate land the right role or helping a company hire someone who transforms their team is a deeply human experience.
Andrew shares, “Early on, I focused so much on getting interviews that I didn’t invest enough in preparing candidates for them. I quickly learned that if I’d already done 90% of the work, why not make sure I nailed the last 10% too?”
The Long Game: Why Staying Power Matters
In the age of instant gratification, recruitment teaches you the value of playing the long game. “People expect to walk in, smash it, and be driving a Porsche in month four,” Richard jokes. “But you don’t get those rewards until you’ve built the trust, the network, the reputation, and that takes time.”
The message is clear: the most successful recruiters are those who build deep, long-lasting relationships. Like any trusted friend, you remember their birthday, their football team, their career goals, and you're there when they need you.
So… Is It Worth It?
Absolutely.
“It’s hard, it’s emotional, and sometimes frustrating,” Andrew admits. “But it’s also deeply rewarding. You build friendships, change lives, and create opportunities that wouldn’t have existed without you.”
Whether you're a candidate considering a job in recruitment, a client wondering what really happens behind the scenes, or someone curious about a career that never has a dull moment - his episode of The MorePeople Podcast is a must-listen.
