Recruiter means "someone who recruits personnel". In a nutshell, a recruiter is someone who works as an intermediary between a job seeker and a company. These are the duties of a recruiter:
Job search
A recruiter asks a client what exactly they are looking for. All this information the recruiter then pours into a job posting. This contains, for example, the tasks the new colleague must perform, the skills they must master, and what salary they will receive in return.
Searching for candidates
Once the job posting is online, people can apply. Yet a recruiter is not just going to wait for a good candidate to apply. Recruiters also search for candidates themselves. Once a recruiter has found a suitable candidate, he contacts them to ask if the candidate is interested in the job.
Screening candidates
Screening means "to examine". A recruiter first screens a candidate by looking at the resume. A next step is the interview. Finally, the recruiter may ask the candidate to take tests.
Presenting candidates
If a candidate passes the screening, the recruiter introduces them to the client. The recruiter is then an ambassador for this candidate, trying to convince the client about the candidate. The recruiter remains a liaison between candidate and client.
Contract and salary
Has the conversation between candidate and client gone well? Then the recruiter takes care of the administration. How that works depends on what the recruiter has agreed with the client. For example, whether there is an interim period first, or whether it will be a permanent contract right away.
How does a recruiter make money?
Recruiters earn money when a client hires their candidate. The client then pays the recruiter a pre-agreed amount. That amount never comes from the candidate himself.