A Brief History of the Recruiting World| CPS, Inc

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The history of recruiting as a profession probably dates to the early days of human civilization, when people were recruited for hunting, farming, and building, but particularly, for the military.

Modern recruiting as a profession launched in the late 1800s and early 1900s during the industrial revolution. Recruiting served a critically important role during the first and second world wars. Recruiters were tasked with finding workers for military production with a high percentage of men were away. Then they were tasked with putting those men back to work as the economy transitioned from the war effort.

Today, there are more than 227,827 recruiters in the United States. These professionals work in staffing agencies like CPS but also as in-house recruiters in companies all over the country. If you’re seeking a job, there’s a recruiter with your back who can represent you to top employers. But how did the profession of recruiting evolve? Where is it heading in the future?

What is the History of Recruiting?

When Did Professional Recruiting Start?

During the industrial revolution, the need for skilled and unskilled laborers rapidly intensified. This increase in jobs required more efficient ways to fill them, and thus the recruiting field launched.

During World War I and World War II, the need for many workers to support the war effort led to the creation of government-run employment agencies. After the war, many of these agencies were privatized, and the recruiting profession as private industry started to accelerate. Fred Winslow started one of the first private employment agencies in the United States in 1893. Katherine Felton founded another early employment agency just after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the rise of large corporations led to the development of in-house human resource departments, who recruited and hired new employees. This marked the beginning of the professionalization of the recruiting field, as recruiters began to specialize in different industries and job functions.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the advent of new technologies such as the internet and social media led to a new era of recruiting. This made it easier for recruiting agencies to reach a wider pool of candidates and for job seekers to find and apply for jobs.

Today, the recruiting profession continues to evolve and adapt to new technologies and changes in the job market. Recruiters use a variety of digital tools and techniques to find the best candidates. Companies increasingly turn to recruiting firms and headhunters to find the talent they need to an economy that is increasingly fast-paced and global.

What’s Next in the Recruiting Industry?

The recruiting industry is constantly evolving along with the tools we use to do this job. Watch for these trends to impact the recruiting industry in the coming years:

  • Artificial intelligence and computer automation
  • Remote work and virtual recruiting
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Candidate experience
  • Employer branding and recruiting marketing
  • Data Analytics

The future of recruiting hasn’t been written but it will likely be shaped by a combination of technological advancements, changes in the job market, and shifting societal values. Recruiting firms like CPS will need to be adaptable, innovative, and proactive to mee the evolving needs of our clients and the job seekers we serve.

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