Trainee Recruitment Consultant

Smart Search Technical Ltd; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped commission

20 days holiday + BH

Flexible hours

Workplace pension

Parking facilities

Job summary

Smart Search Technical Ltd in Portsmouth is seeking a Trainee Recruitment Consultant to learn the full recruitment process while managing a personal desk in the technical engineering sector. You will build relationships with clients and candidates, supported by a comprehensive training program and clear progression routes.

The role offers a starting base salary of 23,000–25,000 GBP depending on experience, plus uncapped commission.

Qualifications

• No prior recruitment experience is required, but a background in sales, customer service, a phone-based role or a sporting background is highly desirable.
• Strong business development potential and ability to win new clients.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills are essential.
• Self-motivated and target-driven, with a proactive approach.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong networking skills and a client-first mindset.

Responsibilities

• Learn the full recruitment lifecycle from sourcing to client management.
• Develop new business and expand existing accounts.
• Use industry tools to provide recruitment advice and solutions.
• Negotiate fees, contracts and terms of business.
• Build and nurture long-term relationships with candidates and clients.
• Meet and exceed personal revenue and training targets.
• Keep up-to-date with industry trends and market intelligence.

Skills

Sales background

Customer service

Phone-based role

Negotiation skills

Networking skills

Client-first mindset

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Trainee Recruitment Consultant

Company: Smart Search Technical Ltd (SST)

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Base Salary: Starting Basic Salary 23,000 - 25,000 DOE, plus Commission

Location: Big Yellow Storage Offices, Milton, Portsmouth

The Role

As a Trainee Recruitment Consultant at SST, you will learn the full recruitment process, building and maintaining relationships with clients and candidates. You will be trained to manage your own desk, working across technical engineering sectors, and providing tailored recruitment solutions to a range of clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Learning the entire recruitment lifecycle, from sourcing candidates to managing client relationships
• Developing new business and expanding existing accounts
• Using industry tools to provide recruitment advice and solutions to clients
• Learning to negotiate fees, contracts and terms of business
• Building and nurturing long-term relationships with candidates and clients
• Meeting and exceeding personal revenue and training targets
• Keeping up-to-date with industry trends and market intelligence

What We Offer

• Competitive Base Salary: 23,000 - 25,000 DOE with uncapped commission
• Commission Structure:
  • First 3 Months: There is no commission threshold. You will earn 10% commission on all net sales paid and settled by the client.
  • After 3 Months: A 4,000 threshold applies. You will earn 10% commission on all net sales up to 8,000, and 20% on any net sales above 8,000. The commission applies to sales above 4,000, and you will also be paid on the first 4,000 if the minimum threshold is surpassed.
• Generous Holiday Entitlement: 20 days per annum, plus Bank Holidays and the festive period.
• Flexible Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week (lunch breaks unpaid) Monday to Thursday: 08:00 to 17:00 with flexibility (07:30 to 16:30 or 08:30 to 17:30), 1-hour lunch, Friday: 08:00 to 14:00 with 30 minutes for lunch
• Workplace Pension: After 3 months of employment, you have the option to enrol into the Government workplace pension (Smart Pension), with the employer contributing 3% (total minimum 8 percent contribution required).
• Additional Benefits: Gated parking facilities, engineering office theme, VOIP phones with AI integrations, new IT equipment with double screens, smart gaming chairs and tables for maximum comfort. Excellent access to local amenities all within walking distance of the office.
• Clear career progression opportunities within a growing company.
• Supportive and dynamic team environment, with ongoing training and development.
• Access to a comprehensive database with over 20 years of candidate and client information with SMS capabilities, full use of CV Library, TotalJobs and Indeed.
• The database has been replenished since January 2026 with 25,000+ contacts added.

Requirements

• No prior recruitment experience is required, but a background in sales, customer service, a phone-based role or a sporting background is highly desirable.
• Strong business development potential, with the ability to win new clients.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills.
• Self-motivated and target-driven.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Strong networking skills and a client-first mindset.

If you feel you have the skills and drive to be suitable for this position, please feel free to apply directly or contact Bradley Dalton on LinkedIn or via our website.