When you’re looking at a job, often the best person to talk to is someone who already does the job. We sat down with Rebecca F. to talk to her about what it’s like to work as a corporate recruiter at Reynolds.

Where did you go to school, and what did you study?

I went to Northwestern State University in Louisiana and received a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Tourism.

How did your hospitality and tourism education apply to your job as a corporate recruiter?

In my college program, I was taught management skills, business plan writing, event planning, advertising, and customer service. Many of these skills came in handy as a recruiter.  I have to be able to write professionally, plan events for the company as well as for the Recruiting department, know how to advertise for our open positions, and use customer service skills when I’m interacting with candidates and hiring managers.

What does a corporate recruiter do?

From the minute there is an open position, to when a new hire is walking in the door on the first day, I am the person communicating between any applicants and the hiring manager. I’m responsible for finding out the career or field the applicant is interested in and identifying the appropriate role within our company, and walking the individual through our recruiting process. At the same time, I’m working with the managers hiring within the company to help them find the right person for the job.

I also work with local universities to help increase awareness of our career opportunities at Reynolds.

What has made this job a good fit for you?

I can never predict what is going to happen; my job is the opposite of repetitive and I love it.

What would a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A large part of my day is spent communicating with hiring managers to get feedback on applicants, learn about expectations for an open position, and discuss future openings. I usually interview one to two applicants a day.

There’s also a lot of research involved in this position. We constantly have to stay up-to-date on how applicants look for jobs to help ensure we can attract the best applicants and fill openings as quickly as possible.

How much time do you spend travelling for career fairs or other events? What do you like about attending those?

I go to career fairs or other events once or twice a month.  During the spring and fall, events come up more often. I love having the opportunity to get out of the office and represent the company in a different setting.  Many students are nervous to talk to recruiters. I try to make them feel comfortable and more confident.

What is your favorite part of your job?

I love that I have the opportunity to help people every day. I am just as excited to hire someone and fill a position as the person actually being hired!

What would make someone a good fit for this position?

To be a good recruiter, you have to be professional, outgoing, organized, and open to change. As the first impression of the company to potential employees, it is important to set a good impression and show professionalism on a daily basis.

To check out open positions in the Reynolds and Reynolds Recruiting department, head to our careers page.