When it comes to the process of hiring a new employee, the roles of a recruiter and hiring manager often intertwine, leading to some confusion regarding their distinct responsibilities. While both play critical roles in the recruitment process, they each have unique contributions to make. This blog post aims to distinguish between the two roles and establish who’s really hiring the employee.
Roles and Responsibilities
To kick off, let’s define both roles. A search consultant is typically a professional from an external firm or an in-house HR department, whose job is to manage the strategy and hiring process, and to assess, screen, and select qualified candidates for open positions. On the other hand, the hiring manager is the person who requests a new hire and typically is the future supervisor of the incoming employee.
Executive Search Consultant
Starting with recruiters, they are the ones who dive headfirst into the talent pool, searching for the perfect match for a job opening. They are often the first point of contact for candidates and play an essential role in promoting the company’s brand to potential hires. Search consultants sift through resumes, conduct preliminary interviews, and evaluate candidates based on the job requirements.
Once the recruiter has identified suitable candidates, they pass the baton to the hiring manager. The hiring manager carries the responsibility of making the final hiring decision, with input from the search consultant. They assess the shortlisted candidates through more in-depth interviews, evaluate their skills and fit for the role, and ultimately decide which candidate to hire.
So, who’s really hiring the employee? The answer isn’t quite black and white. The recruitment process is a collaborative endeavor that demands the combined efforts of both the recruiter and the hiring manager.
The recruiter’s role is invaluable in casting a wide net, leveraging their network and expertise to bring the most qualified candidates to the table. They act as gatekeepers, filtering out unsuitable candidates and ensuring that only the most fitting individuals reach the hiring manager.
Hiring Manager
On the other hand, the hiring manager, armed with a deep understanding of the role and its contribution to the team and the broader organization, is equipped to make the final hiring decision. They bring a strategic perspective to the hiring process, understanding the role’s nuances and the type of individual who would excel in it.
While the hiring manager makes the ultimate decision, it’s crucial to remember that they do so based on the recruiter’s recommendations and initial work. Without the recruiter’s expertise in evaluating, sourcing and screening candidates, the hiring manager would have a considerably more challenging task.
Thus, in the grand scheme of the hiring process, both the recruiter and the hiring manager play significant roles. Their responsibilities are interconnected, forming the two halves of a whole recruitment cycle. From the initial identification of the need for a new hire, sourcing candidates, screening applications, conducting interviews, to the final job offer – each stage involves the mutual effort of both the recruiter and the hiring manager.
However, the collaboration doesn’t end with the signing of the contract. Successful talent acquisition is also about the post-hire process and integration of the new hire into the team. Here, too, both the hiring manager and recruiter have roles to play. Hiring managers ensure the newly hired employees integrate smoothly into their teams, while recruiters stay involved in the onboarding process to ensure a positive candidate experience, especially during the first six-month transition to the new job.
Recruiter and Hiring Manager
The recruitment process is a well-orchestrated dance between the recruiter and the hiring manager. Both are pivotal to the success of the hiring process. So, it’s not so much a question of who’s really hiring the employee, but rather how the recruiter and hiring manager can work together to ensure they bring the best talent on board. As the adage goes, ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’ and in the world of talent acquisition, the search consultant and hiring manager work closely together on the same team.
To learn more please reach out and connect with a consultant.