u/biker_rider707

I’m curious to hear from people currently working in recruiting, especially agency/staffing recruiters, about what the industry actually looks like right now.
For context, I’m in my early 30s and have spent the last few years working in a warehouse environment. Before that, I worked in medical collections/customer service, where I handled inbound and outbound calls, difficult conversations, payments, goals/metrics, and communicating with different types of people. I’m also bilingual in English and Spanish.
I don’t have a college degree, so I’ve been looking at career paths where experience and transferable skills can actually give someone room to grow. Recruiting recently came onto my radar, particularly staffing for light-industrial/warehouse positions since that’s an environment I understand firsthand.
One thing I’m especially curious about is the performance side of agency recruiting. I understand there can be quotas, placements, calls, and other metrics involved. I worked with quotas in collections several years ago and didn’t always hit them, although I was also much younger and less experienced professionally than I am today. I’m trying to understand how recruiters are actually measured and what realistic expectations look like for someone new.
I’m also curious about the long-term outlook. Even in the warehouse where I currently work, we’re seeing more automation and robotics being introduced. Recruiting seems to be changing quickly with AI and automation as well, so I’d be interested in hearing how people already in the field think the profession will evolve.
For those currently working in staffing/recruiting:
What does a realistic first year look like?
How difficult are agency recruiting quotas/metrics for someone new?
How secure does the industry feel right now?
How much are AI and automation actually changing your day-to-day work?
If you entered recruiting from an unrelated field, what surprised you most?
I’m not looking for advice on a specific application or whether I’ll get hired. I’m mainly interested in hearing directly from recruiters about the realities of the industry before deciding whether it’s a career I want to pursue long term.
Thanks for any insight.

Hello everyone. I’m a 31-year-old husband and father, and I usually never post here. I mostly just read posts from time to time.
I feel like I’m currently stuck with my employer, a medical warehouse near Sacramento, CA. I’ve been here for almost three years, coming up this August. I’ve been trying to leave for quite a while now, but I’ve had absolutely no luck.
I was raised without much guidance when it came to careers or long-term planning. I completed two years of college back in 2017, and since then I’ve mostly worked what feel like dead-end jobs. Nearly everywhere I’ve worked has been a difficult experience.
I’m currently an order picker at this warehouse, but I’ve also taken on responsibilities in several other departments. It’s my first warehouse job, and I sincerely hope it’s my last. I’ve consistently met or exceeded expectations in my role.
I’ve tried moving out of production and into other departments within the company, but it feels like my supervisor somehow blocks or influences my applications whenever I apply elsewhere within the organization. At the very least, my attempts to move up seem to be ignored.
On top of that, I have more debt than I can comfortably manage, and I feel stuck. Sometimes it feels like I have nothing ahead of me. My son is getting older, and I worry about our future.
I’m sorry if this comes across as venting, but I’m honestly at a loss when it comes to my career. I don’t know where to go from here. School and training programs cost money, and money is already tight. I’ve submitted applications like crazy, and I’m coming up on my third year of applying on and off without much success.
What career paths, certifications, trades, or opportunities would you recommend for someone in my situation who has limited time and money but is willing to work hard?

Just got back into gaming and I’ve been hooked on Arc Raiders since launch (around 170 hours and still going strong). I’m more of a casual player—not super big on PvP—but I’m open to it if the vibes are right.

I’m also down to try other games. Really just looking for some long-term gamer friends to squad up with, laugh, and enjoy the game without taking things too seriously.

I’m pretty laid-back, got a weird/funny sense of humor, and don’t get offended easily (unless you hate pineapple on pizza… then we might have problems 😂).

I work at a warehouse, so my schedule can be a bit random during the week, but I’m usually on late Fridays and Saturdays for sure.

If you’re chill, consistent, and just trying to have a good time, hit me up 👌