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HEADHUNTERS:  Who are they – what do they do – are they for you?

Simply said, headhunters are recruiters, but not all recruiters are headhunters.  Another term for the work headhunters do is “Executive Search” as headhunters literally search for candidates who are usually, but not always, executives.  The Executive Searcher’s client is always an organization or a company, never an individual.

Headhunters are paid by clients on either a contingency or on a retained basis.  Firms accepting contingency searches get paid only when a search is complete and the hire is on board.  Contingency fees are, generally, for lower level positions.  Conversely, companies that work on retainer usually get the bulk of their fee before the search is complete.  Retained fees are typically for higher level searches.  According to industry standards, fees, contingency or retained, range from 25 to 33 percent of the hire’s first year compensation which includes the sign-on bonus (if any), base pay and applicable estimated bonus or commission.

As you look at the many paths available to attain your ideal position, getting an interview with a headhunter is the least likely to move you closer to your goal.  Even if you should talk your way into a courtesy interview, it is not likely to be a fruitful exercise as these recruiters are focused on finding candidates who exactly match the qualifications specified by their clients and not on finding jobs for even the most talented people.

So, how do headhunters find candidates?  One way, which is how you are most likely to find your next position, is by networking.  Advertising is another.  Research, through a variety of methods including the internet, trade associations and other directories, also plays a major role in locating candidates.

People feel flattered when the headhunter calls.  And, there is a valid reason for that: these folks fill many of the world’s most prestigious positions.  On the other hand, if you are not called, it doesn’t mean you are not the best in your field.  It just means either that your qualifications are not needed for a position right now or that they haven’t heard of you … yet!

by Lois L. Lindauer, Director, Lois L. Lindauer Searches, 
www.LLLSearches.com

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Last updated on September 27th, 2011 at 05:29 pm

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