Recruitment Officer: responsibilities, salary, and training (based in France) | RSB

Recruitment Officer: responsibilities, salary, and training

The HR recruitment officer identifies, attracts, and selects the talent an organisation needs. They define candidate profiles alongside hiring managers, draft and post job adverts, source candidates, conduct interviews, and support the onboarding of new hires. This role differs from generalist HR functions, which cover a broader scope including training, personnel administration, skills development, and employee relations. According to Rennes School of Business internal data, the average salary observed among graduates with 0 to 2 years of experience is €40,534 gross per year (based in France), including bonuses.

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In figures:

€40,500

Average junior salary RSB, 0–2 years, annual with bonuses (France)

All sectors

Where to work?

86%

of surveyed RSB graduates are satisfied or very satisfied with their job

This role is right for you if…

You enjoy interacting with diverse candidates and understanding their motivators.
You are a good listener, ask the right questions, and put people at ease.
You are organised and capable of managing multiple recruitment processes at once.
You appreciate roles combining human relations, communication, and management.
You demonstrate discretion, objectivity, and diplomacy.
You want to contribute to employee onboarding, development, and well-being.

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A comprehensive, career-focused degree designed to build your skills in management, organisation, communication, project leadership, and employee support.

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A typical day for a Recruitment and HR Officer:

Your day often starts with an overview of current recruitment drives. You review new applications, update your tracking system, and speak with line managers to clarify their staffing needs, required skill sets, and the next steps in the hiring pipeline.

You might then conduct telephone or video interviews, write job descriptions, and source prospective candidates on professional networks. You draft interview reports and present shortlisted candidates to hiring managers. Depending on your role, you may also organise new hire onboarding, prepare training sessions, attend recruitment events, or answer employee queries. The pace varies according to business needs and hiring peaks.

Today, you will also use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) to centralise applications, track recruitment stages, and streamline collaboration with line managers. You carry out direct sourcing—notably on LinkedIn or CV databases—to identify talent not actively applying. Throughout the entire process, you ensure compliance with non-discrimination and equal treatment principles for all candidates.

Key responsibilities

Recruitment side

You gather hiring needs from managers, define target candidate profiles, and write job adverts. You source candidates, review CVs, conduct initial interviews, and coordinate the various stages of recruitment up to the final employment offer.

Human resources side

Generalist HR roles cover a broader scope than recruitment alone. You may be involved in employee onboarding, training, personnel administration, skills development, internal mobility, or supporting managers. As a recruitment officer, you will regularly collaborate with HR teams without necessarily handling all of these duties yourself.

What salary can you expect?

Level	Annual gross salary (based in France)	Source
Junior · 0–2 years	€40,534	RSB internal data · employment survey
Mid-level · 3–5 years	€46,458	RSB internal data · employment survey
Senior · 7+ years	Varies by sector, company size, level of responsibility, and HR specialisation	RSB internal data · employment survey

Source: RSB internal employment survey conducted with an alumni sample. Average annual gross salary (based in France), including bonuses.

Which study path leads to becoming a Recruitment or HR Officer?

The RSB pathway

The Master in Management (Programme Grande École) builds a holistic business perspective and expertise in management, communication, organisation, and change management. Internships and corporate projects allow you to gain initial experience in human resources.

Other potential pathways

The Bachelor in Management, available full-time or as a apprenticehip/alternance programme, covers organisational operations, management, and key business functions. It can subsequently be supplemented by the Master in Management or a specialisation in HR management.

Associated programmes

Main pathway: Master in Management (Programme Grande École. Possible first step: Bachelor in Management or work-study Bachelor in Management. A complementary specialisation in human resources can further strengthen your professional expertise.

View the associated RSB programme

Partner companies recruiting

SAINT-GOBAIN GROUP · ASTEK · LACTALIS GROUP · SOCIABBLE · TOTALENERGIES

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Your first steps in the role

You assist in drafting job postings, screening applications, and carrying out initial candidate contacts. You arrange interviews, update tracking tools, and help prepare for the arrival of new team members. You learn to understand hiring managers’ needs and evaluate candidate suitability for a role.

Gaining autonomy

You independently lead multiple recruitment campaigns from defining the vacancy to candidate onboarding. You advise line managers, develop sourcing strategies, and can manage projects related to employer branding, training, or internal mobility. The average mid-level salary (based in France) observed in RSB internal data is €46,458 gross per year (based in France), including bonuses.

Advancing to senior positions

With several years of experience, you can progress towards roles such as:

Senior Recruitment Officer,
Talent Acquisition Manager,
Recruitment Manager,
Human Resources Manager,
HR Business Partner,
HR Development Manager,
or Human Resources Director.

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FAQs about the HR recruitment officer role

What is the salary of an HR recruitment officer?

The salary depends on experience, sector, company size, location, and job scope. Internal data from Rennes School of Business indicates an average junior salary (based in France) of €40,534 annual gross including bonuses for professionals with 0 to 2 years of experience. After 3 to 5 years, the observed average salary (based in France) reaches €46,458 annual gross with bonuses.

What training is required to work in recruitment or HR?

This career is typically accessible following studies in human resources, management, business administration, employment law, occupational psychology, or business school. At Rennes School of Business, the Bachelor in Management provides the fundamentals before continuing into the Master in Management (Programme Grande École), either full-time or via work-study schemes.

What are the main responsibilities of a Recruitment Officer?

The Recruitment Officer gathers hiring requirements from managers, drafts and publishes job adverts, searches for talent, and reviews applications. They conduct interviews, assess skills and motivations, and guide the process up to job offer extension and employee onboarding.

Which skills are needed to succeed in this role?

A Recruitment Officer must master interview techniques, direct sourcing, job specification drafting, and the usage of professional networks and recruitment ATS software. Knowledge of employment law basics is also required. Listening abilities, organisation, communication skills, discretion, objectivity, and persuasiveness are essential.

Where can a Recruitment or HR Officer work?

They can work within an in-house corporate HR department, a recruitment agency, a staffing agency, a consultancy, or a public sector organization. They can act as generalists or specialise in a specific industry, profile type, or function.

What is the difference between a Recruitment Officer and an HR Officer?

A Recruitment Officer focuses primarily on candidate identification, selection, and onboarding. Generalist HR roles cover a broader scope that can include training, personnel administration, skills development, internal mobility, or labor relations. Both roles work in close collaboration but fulfill different responsibilities.

Does RSB offer training for recruitment and HR careers?

Rennes School of Business offers several academic paths to prepare for these professions. The Bachelor in Management provides key management and business foundations. The Master in Management (Programme Grande École) then builds a career-focused path through internships, corporate projects, and work-study schemes. Students gain valuable initial experience in recruitment, HR management, or talent development.

Interested in recruitment and HR careers?

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