Who are Headhunters? - A Guide for the Job Seeker

Headhunters: Real Job Recruiters?

Headhunters are a dime a dozen. The recruitment industry is overflowing with various companies and individuals all intent on capturing your professional talent. But how can you tell which ones are real and which aren't?

Headhunters a.k.a. Professional Recruiters

It would be so easy to recommend a headhunter (or, professional recruiter, as is the industry norm) if it weren't for the simple fact that it doesn't work that way. The headhunter recruits you; you don't select them.

Knowing this bit of information will help you then identify which recruiters to approach, whose job is to find a job for you, if your resume and credentials are what they're currently looking for.

Before approaching a headhunter for possible job opportunities, here are some basics that you should keep in mind:

Know exactly what job you're after – the cost of services for recruiting are too expensive to do trial and error. Remember, you're out of a job or are probably unhappy about your current occupation. You don't have money to splurge.

Polish your resume – The professional recruiter needs to be impressed with your professional experience. If your resume is skeletal or fails to provide substance on what you're like as a worker, your chance of getting a job through this medium is slim.

Research – There are thousands of recruiters; you'll have to do plenty of research to know which of them are legal or qualified to handle the type of position you're after. Many are categorized by specialty – salary, profession, level, etc.

Search Out Recruiters Who Match Your Credentials

At this point, you can already begin searching for recruiters who can match your credentials with any available openings. You'll need to contact a good number of professional recruiters if you're to find any success in seeking a job this way. You're going to need at least 3 recruiters on the look-out for a quality position for you, and if the success of finding one is 1⁄25, you'll need to go through 75-100 firms. How do you know if you've succeeded? Just keep in mind the phrase, “Don't call us, we'll call you.” Once they've established contact, keep in touch with the recruiters frequently. Don't be a stranger! Remember, visibility helps them remained focused on YOU, not on their other 499 clients.