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Meaning & use

recruiting

verb, noun, adjective·Everyday

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UK/rɪˈkruːtɪŋ/
US/rɪˈkruːtɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    The present participle of 'recruit', meaning to find and hire new people for a company or organization.

    Grammar: As a verb, it takes an object: 'recruiting new staff'. As a participle, it can form continuous tenses or act as an adjective.

    Patterns

    • recruiting someone
    • recruiting for something
    • recruiting someone to do something

    The company is recruiting new engineers for its London office.

    She spends most of her time recruiting for the sales team.

    We are recruiting volunteers to help at the event.

  2. noununcountable

    The activity or job of finding and hiring new employees or members.

    Grammar: Used as a noun, it is uncountable: 'Recruiting is expensive.' Not 'a recruiting'.

    Patterns

    • recruiting is ...
    • do the recruiting
    • recruiting for something

    Recruiting is one of the biggest challenges for small businesses.

    She works in recruiting for a tech company.

    The university's recruiting efforts have increased this year.

  3. adjectivebefore a noun

    Relating to the process of finding and hiring new people.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: 'recruiting manager', 'recruiting drive'.

    Patterns

    • recruiting manager
    • recruiting drive
    • recruiting process

    The recruiting manager will contact you next week.

    They launched a recruiting drive to attract more nurses.

    The recruiting process can take several weeks.

Common combinations

recruiting manager
The recruiting manager interviewed ten candidates yesterday.
recruiting drive
The army launched a recruiting drive to increase its numbers.
recruiting process
The recruiting process includes several rounds of interviews.
recruiting agency
She found her job through a recruiting agency.
recruiting efforts
Their recruiting efforts have not been very successful.

Synonyms and how they differ

hiring
Often used for the specific act of giving someone a job; 'recruiting' focuses more on the search and attraction stage.
staffing
Refers to the overall management of employees, including recruiting, but also scheduling and retention.

Opposites

firinglaying off

Word family

recruit verb
To find and hire or enlist someone.
recruit noun
A new member or employee.
recruitment noun
The process of finding and hiring people.
recruiter noun
A person whose job is to find and hire new people.

Commonly confused: recruiting or recruitment?

recruiting vs recruitment

Both relate to hiring, but 'recruiting' is often used as a verb form or adjective, while 'recruitment' is the noun for the whole process. You say 'recruiting manager' but 'recruitment process'.

Practice

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