Resources
Post a Job
 Special offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a £100 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed are 65% more likely to report a hire than non-sponsored jobs**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires
*The £100 Sponsored Job credit offer is only available for new accounts in the UK that post a job and expires one year after account creation. Upon expiration of the credit, users are charged based on Sponsored Job budget. Terms, conditions and quality standards apply **Indeed data, United Kingdom, Q2 2024

Recruitment Consultant Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Recruitment Consultant interview questions and answers.

  1. Why do you want to be a Recruitment Consultant? See answer
  2. What is your recruitment strategy for finding the perfect person for the job? See answer
  3. What are some new trends you use as a Recruitment Consultant? See answer
  4. Which questions would you ask prospective candidates? See answer
  5. How would you respond to a candidate who is ostensibly unqualified for the role they applied for? See answer
  6. What do you think is a well-written job advertisement? See answer
  7. Have you ever disagreed with a client on a hiring decision? How did you handle it? See answer
  8. What’s the role of a Recruitment Assistant?
  9. Have you ever worked with a demanding recruiter and how did you handle the difficulty?
  10. How would you handle a qualified candidate who isn’t a suitable fit for any of your current clients?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Ready to get started?

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

10 Recruitment Consultant Interview Questions and Answers

Why do you want to be a Recruitment Consultant?

This question lets you know what inspired the candidate to pursue the recruiting profession. Through this, you'll get to know what motivates them and how these factors can drive them to succeed as a Recruitment Consultant. What to look for in an answer:

  • Previous experiences
  • What the candidates consider before making decisions
  • How these motivations can positively impact your business

Example:

"After university, I worked as an intern at a marketing firm. During my stay there, I interacted with like-minded people who were very enthusiastic and proud of their work. Through this, I learned how pursuing a career you love and are passionate about can significantly impact your life and work experience. I've always been passionate about helping people and encouraging them to pursue their dreams and there's no better way to put this passion into use than becoming a Recruitment Consultant."

What is your recruitment strategy for finding the perfect person for the job?

This question lets you know the candidate's recruiting strategy for finding the right people for their client to hire. The candidate should show that they have a successful recruiting strategy and are aligned with their client's needs. What to look for in an answer:

  • Outline of strategy to recruit candidates for the client
  • Awareness of skills required by the client for the candidate
  • Analytical thinking to determine a candidate's fit for the client

Example:

‘First, I implement thorough research of potential candidates that meet the job profile. I use the candidate's CV information, telephone interviews and references to do a preliminary qualification before calling them in for a personal interview. During the interview, I assess the candidate's experience, knowledge of the job and required skills. Following, I decide if the candidate is a good fit for the position, client and company culture."

What are some new trends you use as a Recruitment Consultant?

The recruiter's job is to find the best candidates for their client and the most skilled recruiters stay current with recruiting strategies. Your candidate should discuss new recruiting strategies they use and show a drive and desire to adapt to the industry. What to look for in an answer:

  • Dedication to effective recruiting
  • The desire to learn
  • Knowledge and use of emerging trends in recruitment consulting

Example:

‘I advertise jobs on social media, use recruitment blogs and InMail. Staying with another trend, I use virtual meetings to interview candidates and their reference resources. Also, it's imperative to attend industry events and webinars to obtain information from recruiting industry experts. Industry reports are a good source of data such as..."

What's the role of a Recruitment Assistant?

This direct question helps you understand if the candidates know what you expect of them. Through their answer, you'll gauge if they fit the roles you'll assign them. What to look for in an answer:

  • Research
  • Previous experience
  • If the candidate is open to learn

Example:

"I aim to attract the most qualified candidates and match them to the correct job positions in various companies. Apart from conducting background checks, screening and interviewing candidates, I'm open to learn and perform any other roles that will aid the recruitment process."

Which questions would you ask prospective candidates?

A Recruitment Consultant should know what to ask candidates before matching them to paying clients. Besides a few standard questions, they should also prioritise the company's requirements. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to convert the client's requirements into interview questions
  • Experience 
  • Research skills

Example:

"Apart from a few standard questions like 'why are you a good match for this role,' I will ask more company-specific questions to ensure that the candidate is well-acquainted with how my client operates."

Have you ever worked with a demanding recruiter, and how did you handle the difficulty?

This question addresses the candidate's ability to withstand pressure from an overly ambitious recruiter. A Recruitment Consultant should always have a good relationship with the recruiter to maintain a positive working environment. Things to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to work under pressure
  • How the candidate can use data to demonstrate performance
  • Resourcefulness and ability to present thoughts

Example:

"Yes, and the experience taught me that it's essential to keep the recruiter abreast of the company's progress and my performance. Therefore, I always maintain a continuous, open communication line. I have also learnt to take a data-driven approach. By using key metrics, I demonstrate to the manager that the recruitment is going well and identify areas that have room for improvement."

How would you respond to a candidate who is ostensibly unqualified for the role they applied for?

A Recruitment Consultant will inevitably come across clearly unqualified candidates. How they answer this question will show their ability to remain polite and professional while prioritizing the client's requirements. What to look for in a good answer:

  • Level-headedness
  • Ability to remain professional in challenging situations
  • Respect for others

Example:

"Based on my in-depth understanding of the company, I don't think you'd be a good fit for each other. I'll try to fit you into other openings if I find a better match. Meanwhile, kindly consider working on..."

How would you handle a qualified candidate who isn't a suitable fit for any of your current clients?

This question is similar to the previous one, only that the candidate here is qualified but just not a fit for the particular company. The baseline is to prioritise the client's requirements while remaining courteous with the candidate. What to look for in an answer:

  • Professionalism
  • Communication skills
  • Interest in helping candidates

Example:

"I will inform them that we don't have any openings that match their credentials at the moment. I'll also tell them that we'll keep their CV in our files and let them know as soon as we have a fitting match."

What do you think is a well-written job advertisement?

Most often, job advertisements are the first thing a job applicant looks at. The candidate should have excellent communication and writing skills for crafting appealing job ads for the client. What to look for in an answer:

  • Strategy for appealing to job applicants
  • Stellar communication and writing skills
  • Knowledge of required skills and duties needed for the job

Example:

‘The most effective job advertisements provide clear information about the company and the job, the required duties and a straight-forward explanation of the required skills for the job. Further information about what the job offers is helpful to the applicant. I don't use industry jargon and focus on the right title and keywords. Another priority for me is creating mobile-friendly and social media ads.' 

Have you ever disagreed with a client on a hiring decision? How did you handle it?

As much as Recruitment Consultants want to ensure their clients get the best matches, they must also accept that the client has the final decision. The candidate should demonstrate how they'll balance the two. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to stay calm and professional
  • Communication skills including ability to explain why they made specific decisions
  • Diplomacy

Example:

"I would politely tell the client that while candidate B is also good, candidate A is a better match because they have AB skills and experience in CD fields that will benefit their growth plans."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Ready to get started?

Post a job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related articles

    How to conduct a job interview
    Read article
    Best practices for virtual interviews
    Read article
    How to write a candidate rejection email
    Read article