Recruitment Consultant – Business Development Focus

Location: Southampton
Contract: Full-time, permanent

About the Role

We are looking for a driven, commercially minded Recruitment Consultant to join our growing team. This is a sales-led role with a heavy focus on business development, client acquisition, and building long-term relationships with employers who need reliable recruitment support.

You will be responsible for developing your own client base, identifying new opportunities, winning vacancies, and delivering high-quality recruitment solutions. The ideal candidate will be confident making outbound calls, comfortable meeting decision-makers, and motivated by targets, commission, and career progression.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively generate new business through cold calling, sales calls, networking, referrals, and market mapping.
• Identify and approach prospective clients, including hiring managers, business owners, HR teams, and senior decision-makers.
• Book and attend client meetings to understand recruitment needs, promote services, and secure new vacancies.
• Build, manage, and grow a pipeline of active and prospective clients.
• Negotiate terms of business, fees, rates, and service agreements in line with commercial objectives.
• Develop strong knowledge of your market, competitors, salary trends, and hiring challenges.
• Write and advertise vacancies across relevant platforms to attract suitable candidates.
• Source, screen, interview, and shortlist candidates for client vacancies.
• Manage the recruitment process from initial vacancy through to offer, acceptance, and aftercare.
• Work towards daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs, including sales activity, client meetings, vacancies won, interviews arranged, and revenue generated.

About You

• Previous experience in recruitment, sales, business development, telesales, account management, or a target-driven commercial role.
• Confident making outbound calls and approaching new clients.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Commercially aware, resilient, and motivated by results.
• Organised and able to manage multiple vacancies, clients, and candidates at the same time.
• Comfortable working to targets and KPIs in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive attitude with the ability to spot opportunities and convert them into business.
• Professional, credible, and able to build trust with clients and candidates.

What We Offer

• Uncapped commission.
• Clear progression opportunities based on performance.
• Ongoing training, coaching, and support to develop your recruitment and sales skills.
• A supportive team environment with ambitious growth plans.
• The opportunity to build and manage your own desk.
• Regular incentives and recognition for high performance.
• A varied, people-focused role where no two days are the same.

Who This Role Would Suit

This role would suit someone with a strong sales mindset who enjoys winning new business, building relationships, and seeing clear financial reward for their results. You may already be working in recruitment, or you may come from a sales-led background such as estate agency, B2B sales, telesales, field sales, account management, or business development.

Apply Now

If you are ambitious, confident, and ready to grow a successful recruitment desk through proactive business development, we would like to hear from you. Apply today with your CV to find out more.