Job Market

Advice For Those Wanting To Work With A Headhunter

Headhunters helps companies find and hire the most qualified people for positions. If you’re looking for work, consider using a headhunter. Don’t just hire any old recruiter. Instead, keep the below tips and advice in mind when you’re deciding on which headhunter you should work with.

1. Headhunters Work In Different Niches/Specialties
Not all headhunters work in the same niche or have the same recruiting specialties. You want to choose a recruiter that specializes in your area of expertise. For example, if you’re an executive chef by trade, then seek out a recruiter that helps those in your industry find work. By choosing a professional who deals with your line of work will increase your chances of landing a role you desire.

2. Ask Them How Many Clients They’ve Placed
Before working with a recruiter, ask them how many clients they have placed with a company over the last few months. This will give you an idea of what their success rate are. A headhunter that has a good success rate means you have a better chance of getting hired by a company they send you to.

Another way of measuring how successful a headhunter is, is by asking them when was the last time a client of theirs was taken on by a company they were sent to.

3. Companies & Positions The Headhunters Are Currently Recruiting For
When speaking to a headhunter you want to find out how many companies they are actively working with to find them employees. There might be a few companies you’re familiar with or they may be looking to recruit people for a specific company you have in mind.

Also, inquire about the positions they’re recruiting for. Find out what positions are opened and how long the headhunter has been looking to fill it. You want to get a general idea of how long the entire process from start to finish will take.

4. Ask About Updates
Before settling on a headhunter, make sure to ask how often you will be updated throughout the process. You don’t want to work with a recruiter who you will have to constantly contact to get updates, nor do you want to get the runaround. The best recruiter will tell you how they keep their clients in the loop and what avenues of communications (phone, email etc. . .) they typically use to interact with their clients.

5. Network Size
The top recruiters know the importance of networking and building relationships with businesses and industry experts. Choose a headhunter that has a decent sized network of contacts. This is important, especially if you are trying to land a high-level role. If you make a good impression on a headhunter, and they end up trusting you, then they will likely reach out to their existing network.

6. Social Media Presence
Another good tip is to see if the headhunter you’re thinking about using has a social media presence. More specifically, check to see if they have a Facebook profile/page and a LinkedIn page. If they don’t have either, then they should have profiles on other social media sites.

Recruiters know how powerful social media can be as both a recruiting tool and a networking tool to connect with prospective companies looking to hire highly qualified candidates. The top recruiters will have social media, so before you officially work with one you’ll want to follow them on social media or have a closer look at their social media profiles.

7. Inquire About Their Process
Different headhunters do things their own way. This is why it’s important to inquire about the process that your prospective headhunter has in place. They may want to make certain commitments, and if you’re not willing to fulfill all of those commitments, then you may not get the job you’re hoping to get; The most experienced recruiters know what they are doing, and if the process involves very specific steps and commitments, then there is a good reason behind it.

When you agree to become a client of a headhunter, then follow through with your commitments. This will keep you in the recruiter’s good books, and will boost your chances of being placed in a good job.

8. Negotiations
Finally, choose a recruiter that handles negotiations on your behalf. If you are a good fit for a position, then they should be able to negotiate your salary, benefits and things of that nature. However, there is a good chance you’ll know what to expect (salary wise) early on in the process.