executive search

When and how to use a headhunter are common questions and good ones to ask early in your career.  Before we can talk about when and how to use a headhunter, it is important to understand what are headhunters and the different types that exist

What are headhunters?

• Headhunters (aka recruiters) are independent recruiting professionals that contract with companies to help them source, screen, and hire good candidates.
• Headhunters work for the company and NOT you, as they are paid by the company.  This is not obvious to many.  One senior recruiter friend told me that he had this one MBA candidate come in and basically started grilling him about what he will do for her in the next week and what is his plan in finding her a job. This is not a good way to make a first impression about your business sense with a recruiter.

Two general type of headhunters

• Contingency headhunters are opportunists and are paid ONLY when a hire is made by the company AND they found the candidate hired;
• Retainer headhunters are trusted recruiting advisers to a company and usually have a longer term contract with a company or department.  They are paid a regular fee every year to act as the company’s outsourced recruiting department.  A retained headhunter can be paid even if no hire happens.

These types are not mutually exclusive.  The same headhunting firm can be a retained one for one company and a contingent one for another company.  It all depends on the level of relationship they built. ...  read more