A Day in the Life of a Recruiter
Hello, fellow recruiters!
I’m curious about what your typical day looks like, whether you work in-house or at an agency.
- Do you find yourself focusing mostly on interviewing and sourcing candidates?
- Is there also time in your schedule for HR tasks like process improvements and employee net promoter score (eNPS) initiatives?
It would be fantastic if you could share an hour-by-hour breakdown of your day or something along those lines! 😊
Hi there!
A day in the life of a recruiter can vary quite a bit depending on whether they’re in-house or at an agency, but here’s a breakdown of a typical day for me (I’m in-house) that might give you a good sense!
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Start the Day
After grabbing a coffee, I catch up on emails and messages. Important to make sure nothing urgent slipped through overnight, especially from hiring managers or candidates.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Daily Stand-Up Meeting
I meet with the hiring team to discuss current openings, candidate pipeline status, and any new roles that may need to be added. It’s also a great time to align on priorities.
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Sourcing Candidates
This is when I dive into LinkedIn, job boards, and our ATS to search for potential candidates. I spend time reviewing resumes, reaching out to passive candidates, and refining job descriptions to attract the right talent.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM: First Round Interviews
I conduct initial screening interviews, either over the phone or via video. Here, I assess their skills and cultural fit before moving them to the next stage. I also take notes to discuss later.
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch Break
A much-needed break! Sometimes I meet with team members for lunch to discuss non-work-related topics.
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Candidate Feedback & Follow-Ups
I review interview notes and compile feedback from interview panels on candidates. This is also the time to reach out to candidates to notify them of their status—good or bad.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM: Workflow & Process Optimizations
I spend this time working on HR-related initiatives, like enhancing the recruitment process or improving our candidate experience based on recent feedback. This includes analyzing eNPS data and strategizing on action items.
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: More Interviews
This block is usually dedicated to subsequent rounds or final interviews with candidates. Sometimes I coordinate with the hiring managers to ensure we are all on the same page.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: End-of-Day Wrap-Up
I take time to document notes from the interviews, update the ATS, and reply to emails to keep communication flowing. I also plan my tasks for the next day to ensure I’m organized.
5:00 PM: End of the Day
I log off and unwind!
Of course, there’s always some flexibility as each day can come with its own surprises—whether it’s a last-minute interview or a new role that needs urgent filling. Overall, it’s a dynamic and rewarding job, balancing between sourcing top talent and engaging in HR initiatives!
Hope this gives you a good insight into a recruiter’s day! 😊