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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Recruiting Assistant

💰 $ - $

Human ResourcesRecruitingTalent AcquisitionAdministrative Support

🎯 Role Definition

The Recruiting Assistant is a pivotal support role within the Talent Acquisition or Human Resources department. They are the organizational powerhouse and primary point of contact that ensures the entire recruitment lifecycle runs smoothly and efficiently. This individual acts as a brand ambassador, masterfully coordinating the complex logistics of the hiring process, from initial candidate contact to their first day. By managing schedules, communications, and data with precision, the Recruiting Assistant directly impacts the quality of the candidate experience and the overall effectiveness of the recruiting function, making them an indispensable partner to recruiters and hiring managers alike.


📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Administrative Assistant
  • HR Intern
  • Customer Service Representative

Advancement To:

  • Recruiter / Talent Sourcer
  • Talent Acquisition Coordinator / Specialist
  • HR Generalist

Lateral Moves:

  • HR Assistant
  • Onboarding Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Masterfully coordinate and schedule a high volume of complex interviews, including phone screens, virtual meetings, and multi-stage, multi-person panel interviews across various time zones.
  • Act as the primary point of contact for candidates throughout the interview process, providing timely updates, logistical information, and answering queries to ensure a world-class candidate experience.
  • Maintain meticulous and real-time data integrity within the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), including updating candidate statuses, inputting interview notes, and ensuring all information is accurate.
  • Post and manage job requisitions across multiple internal and external career sites, ensuring descriptions are formatted correctly and are consistent with company branding.
  • Initiate and monitor pre-employment screening processes, including background checks and reference checks, while ensuring compliance and handling sensitive information with discretion.
  • Prepare and dispatch offer letters, employment contracts, and other new hire documentation, ensuring all details are accurate and delivered in a timely manner.
  • Arrange and coordinate all travel and accommodation logistics for non-local candidates, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience from start to finish.
  • Provide direct support to the recruiting team by assisting with initial resume screening against basic qualifications and sourcing potential candidates from various online channels.
  • Generate and compile regular and ad-hoc recruitment activity reports, tracking key metrics such as time-to-fill, candidate pipeline status, and source effectiveness.
  • Systematically gather and organize interview feedback from hiring teams, ensuring a structured and timely decision-making process for each candidate.
  • Champion the candidate experience by proactively identifying areas for improvement and implementing initiatives to make the hiring process more engaging and positive.
  • Collaborate with HR and hiring managers to facilitate a smooth onboarding process for new hires, including scheduling orientation and preparing welcome materials.
  • Manage and process recruitment-related invoices, candidate expense reimbursements, and other departmental financial administration tasks.
  • Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of recruitment events, such as university career fairs, industry networking events, and internal hiring drives.
  • Serve as a gatekeeper for confidential information, handling all candidate data, compensation details, and internal discussions with the utmost professionalism and integrity.
  • Facilitate the employee referral process by tracking submissions, communicating with referring employees, and ensuring timely follow-up.
  • Support diversity and inclusion initiatives by assisting with targeted outreach, tracking diversity metrics, and ensuring an equitable process for all applicants.
  • Manage the general recruitment inbox, responding to or triaging inquiries from candidates and internal stakeholders in a prompt and professional manner.
  • Assist in the creation and maintenance of a talent pipeline for frequently filled or critical roles to reduce future time-to-hire.
  • Act as a super-user and internal resource for the Applicant Tracking System, assisting with training and troubleshooting for recruiters and hiring managers.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc reporting requests related to recruitment metrics such as time-to-fill, source of hire, and diversity statistics.
  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of recruiting processes by identifying bottlenecks and suggesting more efficient workflows and tools.
  • Collaborate with the broader HR team on cross-functional projects, such as employer branding campaigns, employee referral program enhancements, and DEI initiatives.
  • Assist in maintaining and updating internal recruitment documentation, process guides, and training materials for new recruiters or hiring managers.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • High proficiency in navigating and maintaining data within Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) such as Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, or similar platforms.
  • Strong command of calendar management and communication tools, particularly Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, and video conferencing software (Zoom, MS Teams).
  • Advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or Google Workspace for creating reports, tracking data, and preparing documents.
  • Experience with Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS) for processing new hire information and ensuring data consistency.
  • Basic familiarity with sourcing techniques and platforms like LinkedIn Recruiter to assist with passive candidate identification.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with a demonstrated ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of competing tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • Impeccable attention to detail and a relentless commitment to accuracy, particularly when handling candidate data, schedules, and formal documentation.
  • Superior written and verbal communication skills, characterized by a professional, articulate, and empathetic tone suitable for interacting with candidates and senior leaders.
  • A high degree of integrity and professional maturity, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with absolute discretion.
  • A proactive and resourceful problem-solving mindset, capable of anticipating needs and independently finding solutions to logistical challenges.
  • Outstanding interpersonal skills with a customer-service orientation, enabling the ability to build strong, positive relationships with candidates, recruiters, and hiring managers.
  • Resilience and adaptability, with the capacity to remain calm and effective under pressure and navigate the ambiguities of a dynamic recruiting landscape.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Human Resources
  • Business Administration
  • Communications
  • Psychology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1-3 years of professional experience in an administrative, coordination, or high-volume customer service role.

Preferred:

At least one year of direct experience within a recruiting or human resources department is strongly preferred.