Career Path of a Tech Recruiter at a Global Staffing Agency

My name is Tyler, and I'm a recruiter at an agency called Thor Companies. I've been a recruiter for six and a half years now, which has flown by.

I started in recruiting somewhat randomly after college. I'd done a couple of HR internships while studying, but I didn't initially see HR as a career path. A few years after graduating, I tried different things and wasn't sure what I wanted to do.

I ended up taking on various ad hoc jobs, like fundraising and working in a bridal showroom. Eventually, I decided I wanted a full-time job with income stability.

I reached out to my former HR internship supervisor, who was heading HR at a genomic research facility in my home state, Connecticut. I started working there as a temp.

The facility had received a state loan to develop the biotech scene, which required them to hire 200 scientists in two years to have the loan forgiven. They needed significant recruitment help. I joined at the perfect time, and it was exciting. I was immediately drawn to recruiting.

I enjoy talking to people and the nature of the work. I find headhunting fun, and I think of myself as a detective, which is similar to recruiting. It clicked with me immediately.

I wanted to gain agency experience, as it's often said you aren't a true recruiter without it. Many people move from agency to in-house roles, but I did it in reverse. I moved back to New York and worked at a couple of agencies here.

I've been with my current agency for three and a half years, and it's been quite rewarding. It's definitely not for everyone, but you don't need a college degree to do it. You do need to be comfortable in a sales environment, as it's essentially a sales job.

It also helps to enjoy learning about different industries. And, of course, you need to enjoy the interpersonal aspect of the role. Here I am.