​Today (6th April) marks International Recruiter Day. So, we caught up with our engineering and aviation maintenance recruiter, Paula Gutierrez, who works in our Madrid office.

1. What does your typical day consist of?

My role varies day-to-day but it always begins with a coffee.

Being organised is a key part of a recruiter’s job so I start the day by going through my emails to see if there are any urgent tasks, which I work on first.  

I action client requests which can include uploading new roles onto job portals and update existing vacancy information if the client’s needs change. You need to be very reactive as a recruiter, which is what I enjoy the most.

I sift through all new job applications to see whether candidates are suitable for the role they have applied for and if so, contact them to discuss the next steps in the recruitment process.

There are various stages depending on client requirements and the position we are recruiting for, but this sometimes involves a call with candidates to discuss experience, salary expectations, document checks and availability.

I work on multiple positions at the same time so it is important for me to check on the status of each role and work with our internal marketing team to see how we can attract more candidates if needed. This can include job advertisements on our company social media pages and headhunting directly using LinkedIn.

 Fridays tend to be the most strenuous day for me because I need to ensure everything is in place, ready for candidates to begin their new role on the Monday.

2. What is the most rewarding part of your role?

The most rewarding part of my job is placing candidates in a new position. Not only because I am helping my clients to find great talent, but whenever I have been offered a role in the past, I have always felt really excited; so it is great to be the one to share positive news with successful candidates. We strive on finding the right people, the first time round.

3. Why did you choose to become a recruiter?

I didn’t plan to become a recruiter. My path into recruitment came when I was working in England as a Health Care Assistance for a health and social care company. I’m quite a confident, approachable and patient person, and so my colleagues thought I demonstrated the personal qualities of a recruiter. The company offered me the opportunity to join their head office recruitment team, where I began recruiting for specialised profiles. I never thought I’d be able to do a job like that however, I picked it up quickly and found it incredibly rewarding.

My role at Resource Group is very different from my previous position, because the profiles I am recruiting for now are a lot more specific. It’s been challenging to learn about a new industry but I’ve received great support from my colleagues, and I really enjoy recruiting for engineering maintenance roles.

4. Why do you enjoy working as a recruiter for Resource Group?

I enjoy being part of a vibrant and high-energy team of industry experts. They all provide a great source of information and are willing to support when needed.

I’m lucky to work in a well-structured organisation where compliance is taken care of, which enables me to focus on my tasks at hand. I work closely with our dedicated account managers to ensure I have an in-depth understanding of client briefs, and it’s this attention to detail that allows me to have autonomy of my work when finding candidates.

Our client base is very varied, and I get the chance to work with some of the largest airlines and maintenance companies worldwide, which is impressive.

5. What are the personal qualities a recruiter should have?

• You need to have industry knowledge, especially when recruiting for specialised positions, so that you can confidently liaise with candidates and answer their questions.

• Good communication skills are a must because you will be liaising with candidates at different stages in their careers and from different backgrounds, and it’s important to build a rapport.

• Recruiters will be working on a number of jobs at the same time, so multi-tasking and being able to prioritise are definitely skills to have.

• Patience is also an important skill because, as with any job, things don’t always go to plan. Candidates’ availability may change and clients may alter requirements, so being organised and reactive will help.

6. What advice would you give someone interested in becoming a recruiter?

 My advice would be to research and understand the industry you are working in and always show enthusiasm and willingness to learn.