While most people assume that an HR and a recruiter are the same, it is important to understand that the two are different due to the roles they play. In a nutshell, HR is tasked with overseeing the overall wellness and welfare of employees within an organization whereas a recruiter is responsible for headhunting, selecting, and recommending candidates for open positions. For further understanding, below are some key differences between the two roles.
1. Job Vacancy Creation
In any organization when a vacant position arises, the head of the specific department creates a job description for the role and the management informs the HR department about it who in turn informs the recruiters of the job vacancy. A recruiter is not in any way involved in creating a vacancy.
2. Role Allocation
The HR department hires a recruiter and allocates tasks to them in relation to open vacancies. Once the recruiters have this information from HR, they then set up the recruiting and interviewing process for potential candidates in the search for a perfect fit. Recruiters receive a huge number of applications from applicants hence they manage the applicants’ database on behalf of HR professionals. They test the suitability of candidates for the available roles before moving them to the next stage and hiring process. The HR team comes in when it is time to discuss matters such as salaries.
3. Terms Of Employment
Most organizations do not hire often and may not see the need to have a recruiter at all times. Due to this, recruiters may be part-time or external employees to the organizations contracted for. On the other hand, an HR professional plays an important role in the day-to-day operations of an organization looking after the welfare of the employees, and is usually a department on its own within every organization. HR hires the recruiters when the need arises.
4. Employee Interaction
The first contact between a potential candidate and a recruiter is when the recruiter advertises for an open position, carries on during the recruitment and interviewing process, and ends when a vacancy is filled. The HR then takes over by handling any queries from the employee and takes charge of the onboarding and induction process, training, and development to equip the employee with the necessary skills for the task ahead. The HR interacts with the employee throughout their employment period in the organization by looking into their promotions, appraisals, and salary increment.
5. Pay Scale
The recruiters are allocated jobs by the HR department and hence are under the HR department. Their salaries and job roles mostly come under the HR department as is with their job roles. As for education, most organizations will require one to have a bachelor’s degree in Human resources and other certifications to be considered for a position as an HR generalist whereas one can get a position as a recruiter if they possess a high school diploma and are knowledgeable about the employment laws.
Final Word
The HR department is responsible for the overall welfare of employees while the recruiters will headhunt potential candidates and make sure they are a good fit for the vacancies available in organizations. Some small organizations do not require recruiters and the HR department as they are usually outsourced HR activities to do the job but with large organizations that hire too often, recruiters come in handy. In the recent past, there has been an increase in the number of recruiters globally who reach out to potential candidates and their work is gaining recognition in the recruitment process, especially with the adoption of remote work.
