Career Definition for Employment Interviewers
Employment interviewers act as an intermediary between job seekers and employers. They can work for agencies or employ themselves by building a private roster of job candidates and companies they serve. The employment interviewer collects detailed information from employers and job seekers and works to match qualified candidates with the most appropriate open positions provided to them by the companies that employ their services. When notifying interviewers of new jobs, companies provide a detailed description of job duties, required experience and preferred educational background.
Employment interviewers negotiate pay rates and working hours based on an employer's needs. They then seek out proper candidates for the job and interview the best choices on behalf of the company or refer them to that company's human resources department. An employment interviewer can also work for both permanent and temporary employment agencies as well as for state and local government agencies.
| Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Job Skills | Selling skills, interpersonal skills, confidence, decision-making abilities |
| Median Salary (2021)* | $62,290 (for human resource specialists) |
| Career Outlook (2021-2031)* | 8% (for human resource specialists) |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Required Education
Most agencies or companies looking to hire employment interviewers who have a minimum of a bachelor's degree, though some may look past educational background if the employment interviewer has sufficient professional experience. College programs that include courses in human resources, personnel and industrial relations, business, psychology and communications are all useful to the successful employment interviewer. Many agencies also allow on-the-job training or offer their own courses dealing with company policies and interviewing techniques. Companies seeking highly trained individuals for engineering, accounting or other jobs may look for employment interviewers that have some experience in the specific profession.
Skill Required
Most, if not all, employment interviewers are expected to have excellent interpersonal communication skills, both over the phone and in person. They should also have strong selling skills and a deep interest in working with people from a variety of backgrounds and professions. They should be able to display confidence in their abilities and to anticipate whether or not candidates are a good fit for a company based on the interviewer's sometimes limited contact with each.
Career and Economic Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), human resource specialists, of which employment interviewers make up a significant part, are expected to see a faster than average increase in job growth of 8%, from 2021 to 2031. The larger a company and the pool of employment candidates for specific jobs, the more apt it will be to seek an agent to filter through those individuals and find the best fit for the organization's needs. Employment interviewers also have advancement opportunities. They often move into personnel and human resource management positions, in addition to opening up and managing their own employment agencies. As of May 2021, the median annual salary for a human resource specialist was $62,290, according to the BLS.
Alternate Career Options
Related careers include:
Training and Development Manager
Responsible for planning and directing the skills and training of their organization's employees, these managers normally have at least a bachelor's degree in business administration or human resources, in addition to related work experience. The BLS predicts a faster than average increase of 7% in these positions, from 2021-2033. The BLS reported an annual median salary of $120,130 in 2021.
Compensation and Benefits Manager
These managers usually have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, finance or a related field, in addition to related work experience. They plan and direct employee salaries, retirement packages and insurance plans for their organization. Slower than average job growth of 2% is expected during the 2021-2031 decade, according to the BLS. In 2021, compensation and benefits managers earned median wages of $127,530, also according to the BLS.
