Associate Recruiter - Apprentice/Entry Level

About the company

Blue Ridge Talent is a Charlotte-based recruiting and talent consulting startup that helps companies find great people through flexible, practical, and personalized recruiting solutions. Founded by an experienced recruiting professional, the company partners with organizations of all sizes — from local small businesses to large corporations — providing recruiting expertise when and where they need it. Services range from traditional recruiting and executive search to embedded recruiting support and talent advisory. The company is in its early stages, building client relationships, developing processes, and creating the foundation for a growing recruiting firm.

About the role

This entry-level recruiter position offers hands-on experience working directly alongside the founder, learning recruiting fundamentals through coaching and real client projects. The role is not a traditional corporate recruiting position with rigid responsibilities; instead, it provides the opportunity to wear different hats, contribute ideas, help improve operations, and gain exposure to the business side of building a recruiting firm. Initial focus is on researching companies, identifying potential candidates, building talent pipelines, and supporting recruiting activities. As skills develop, responsibilities expand to conducting candidate interviews, managing searches, interacting with clients, and taking on greater responsibility. The goal is to develop a well-rounded professional recruiter while helping build the company.

Responsibilities

Candidate Research & Sourcing

• Research companies, industries, and job markets to identify potential candidates
• Use LinkedIn, recruiting platforms, online databases, and other resources to find talent
• Build and maintain candidate pipelines for a variety of positions and industries
• Develop creative approaches to finding people who may not be actively looking for a new job
• Learn how to evaluate professional backgrounds, qualifications, and career experience

Candidate Engagement & Recruiting

• Help develop and execute outreach strategies to engage prospective candidates
• Communicate with potential candidates through email, LinkedIn, phone, and other channels
• Conduct introductory conversations and candidate screenings as experience develops
• Support interview scheduling, candidate follow-up, and overall recruiting coordination
• Build meaningful professional relationships while providing a positive candidate experience

Recruiting Operations & Business Development

• Maintain accurate candidate information and recruiting activity in applicant tracking and CRM systems
• Assist with job postings, candidate presentations, and recruiting reports
• Track recruiting activity, pipeline progress, and market insights
• Support recruiting projects for clients across a variety of industries
• Research prospective clients, industry trends, and new business opportunities
• Contribute ideas and help develop the tools, processes, and systems that will support company growth

Requirements

• Naturally curious personality and genuine interest in people
• Strong communication skills, particularly written communication
• Comfort using technology, online research tools, and social platforms
• Self-motivated attitude and willingness to take initiative
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Resilience, persistence, and the ability to handle rejection
• Entrepreneurial mindset and excitement about working in a growing business
• Adaptability and willingness to take on different responsibilities as the company evolves
• Willingness to receive feedback, ask questions, and continuously improve
• Professional, dependable, and positive attitude

Previous experience in recruiting, sales, customer service, hospitality, or another people-oriented environment is helpful but not required. A college degree is not required but a plus. The company is looking for capability, character, and potential.

Skills

Through direct mentorship and real-world experience, you will develop skills in:

• Talent sourcing and candidate identification
• Professional networking and relationship building
• Candidate interviewing and evaluation
• Recruiting technology and AI-enabled tools
• Labor market research and competitive intelligence
• Client communication and relationship management
• Full-cycle recruiting and search management
• Business development and entrepreneurship
• Building and improving business processes

Exposure to different industries, businesses, and professional career paths builds a foundation for a long-term career in talent acquisition, human resources, or recruiting consulting.

Benefits

Joining a startup offers the opportunity to get in on the ground floor and make a meaningful impact in a small, growing business. There isn't always a perfectly defined playbook, and some days require stepping outside your comfort zone, but you'll have a front-row seat to building a company, developing client relationships, solving problems, and creating something from the ground up. You'll work directly with an experienced recruiting leader, receive hands-on training, and have the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility as you develop. The company values relationships over transactions, quality over shortcuts, and doing what's right for both clients and candidates.

Pay

Compensation is an hourly rate plus bonus, depending on experience and alignment.