Headhunters

Understanding headhunters

Headhunters, also known as executive recruiters, are assignment driven. Their first priority is to obtain a top role from their clients and find the best person in the market who can deliver on all the qualities on their clients’ list of requirements.

Search or headhunting actually means picking up the telephone, talking to employed executives as a result of researching employers and their current senior executive teams and asking something along the lines of “do you know somebody who…”, to build the firm’s own network and feedback relating directly to their current or potential assignments. The targeted candidate is seldom the one that has received this approach. Some real time is invested by the headhunting firm in researching and validating candidate’s capabilities and a shortlist of possible candidates is presented and the best of those candidates are chosen by the employer.

Learn how to work with a headhunter and land your dream job with these tips and preparation strategies.

Update your resume so that you can begin your job search with the right information. This will also help the headhunter gain an accurate understanding of your specific skills, strengths and experience as they help you find the right job.

Write your ideal job description. It can be as simple as a few paragraphs, and help you determine what’s most important to you. This can help you with your job search overall so you can look at prospective positions with these key points in mind.

Consult with the headhunter for interview preparation as not only are they trained to keep an eye on the job market, they also help candidates prepare for their interview. You can set up an appointment to run through a mock interview so you have the right skills and confidence to meet with prospective employers during your search.

A professional headhunter will give you his or her contact information after they have set up the interview with your employer. You can contact the headhunter after the interview to learn about your successes and mistakes since they will communicate directly with the employer to handle the next steps.
Salary Negotiation  Resignation