How Do I Become an Educational Recruiter?

The qualifications to become an educational recruiter often depend on the school for which you work. Universities and graduate schools typically want you to have at least a bachelor's degree and often choose to hire from among alumni. Similarly, vocational and trade schools may also hire recruiters who have a career background that matches the vocational program or programs offered by the school. In addition, sales experience can often be a significant asset in your quest to become an educational recruiter, particularly if you will be doing a great deal of your work on the phone. At smaller schools, the work of recruiting students may be part of a more comprehensive administrative job role that may require you to have additional education, skills, and job experience.

Many schools are eager to recruit new students, particularly if the students have strong talents or academic ability. They are also often concerned about simply increasing their enrollment numbers and so actively market themselves to all potential students, even those who do not show strong gifts in academics, the arts, or athletics. In addition, some schools are concerned about achieving a diverse student body and may actively attempt to recruit students from various ethnic backgrounds and different countries.

In many cases, you may decide to apply to become an educational recruiter after you graduate from school. Your school may be interested in hiring new graduates who can better communicate to recruits about the typical student experience at the school. If you decide to become an educational recruiter for another school, you may need to demonstrate that you have some sales experience or a strong understanding of admissions requirements, financial aid, and educational administration. One way to do this is by participating in student orientation teams while you are still working on your degree. Telemarketing skills and experience can also be a significant plus when applying for a recruiter job, as many recruiters make early contacts with students over the phone.

Smaller schools may not be able to afford a team of dedicated recruiters. If you wish to become an educational recruiter for a smaller school, you may need to undertake education and training in educational administration. You may be expected to work as an admissions administrator, for example, and recruiting may be just one of several duties that you perform. In such cases, you will typically need experience in performing administrative tasks as well as an understanding of academic policies and procedures. To get this experience, you have the option of taking an entry-level or student employment job in an academic department or administrative office at a school and then transferring the knowledge or experience that you have gained into a recruiter position.