Each year, over 300,000 young men and women enlist in the military, making it the country's largest employer of youth. The services recruit young people with the kinds of talent needed to succeed in today's military. Recruiting managers plan and direct the activities of recruiting specialists who provide information to young people about military careers.
What They Do
Recruiting managers in the military perform some or all of the following duties:
- Plan programs to inform young people about military careers
- Direct staff in local recruiting offices who carry out programs to inform the public about military careers
- Speak with local civic groups, schools, parents, and young people about military careers
- Prepare reports and brief commanders on recruiting goals and results
Helpful Attributes
Helpful fields of study include personnel management, communications, and public relations. Helpful attributes include:
- Ability to speak effectively to large and small groups of people
- Interest in working closely with people
Training Provided
No initial job training is provided to officers in this occupation.
Work Environment
Recruiting managers usually work in offices.
Civilian Counterparts
Civilian recruiting managers work for human resources or personnel departments for a variety of organizations in areas such as business, government, and the health care industry. Civilian recruiting managers develop staffing plans and manage efforts to hire people with the right skills for the work that needs to be performed. They may also work for search firms that specialize in finding employees for other companies.
