Is Joining a Small Recruitment Consultancy Worth It? Insights on Career Paths and Qualifications

Hello everyone. I am Kumar Abhijit, and I must appreciate the site for the information and the useful resources it provides to its members.

With due respect to everyone in the recruitment industry, I would like to know if, with recruitment consultancies (read small) growing like wildfire, is it worthwhile to enter such a domain? And if one does so, what lies ahead of him?

Also, could you clarify one more thing? When going through job portals, one finds requirements for Recruitment Executives whose educational qualifications are mentioned as "graduate/any graduate/MBA." What exactly are they looking for, and do they actually need MBAs?

Your help and advice will be highly appreciated.

Kumar Abhijit :)

RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT

YOUR QUESTION NUMBER ONE

You should expect this trend in all countries where there is a free market and growth opportunities.

- Some are real consultants, offering varied services.
- Some are just consultants, looking for investment opportunities.
- Some are just in niche markets.
- A large chunk are "fly by night" operators.

In INDIA, with the economy on the growth trend and the reforms pushing business growth, which requires substantial human resources. Hence, the demand for recruitment consultants. Also, the trend towards outsourcing is creating the demand for more consultants. The growth rate in consultants will not be maintained for long. After 4/5 years, the only ones that will survive are:
- Large ones who offer quality/varied services, with solid customer service.
- Boutique consultants who offer niche markets, with specialized services.
- Some few will survive, with lots of luck and not merit.

Here, you have a choice:
- Join the "fly by night" operators who offer hefty pay/commission and make quick/big bucks but no career because your role is more of a salesperson than a real HR career person. If you slow down or do not perform to the target, you could be out of the door, even if you have an MBA.
- Join established large consultants on a lower salary and lay a foundation for a future solid career.

YOUR QUESTION NUMBER TWO

An MBA is not a must for this career, but an MBA helps you in a number of ways:
- Makes your entry into jobs easier.
- Better understanding of the business.
- Better appreciation of the business process.
- Effective understanding of customer business.
- Good understanding of customer needs.
- Provides better HR services/customer satisfaction, etc.

YOUR QUESTION NUMBER THREE

WHAT DO THEY EXACTLY LOOK FOR IN AN MBA, they are seeking:
- A person who can put their consulting service in the forefront.
- A person who can create a good first impression with the prospect.
- A person who can convert a prospect into a customer.
- A person who can create/develop/maintain customer relationships.
- A person who can convert the customer relationship into cash.
- A person who can develop a business-to-business relationship.
- A person who can understand the customer's business needs.
- A person who can provide customers advice on HR matters.
- A person who can deal with customers' senior management.
- A person who can make effective presentations to customer management.
- A person who can create excellent proposals.
- A person who has leadership qualities, etc.

Regards,

LEO LINGHAM