There are common misconceptions about what headhunters actually do to find the perfect candidates for businesses, ranging from strange rumors to outright lies and everything in between. The term headhunter comes from methods old-school headhunters used to operate – they were accused of ‘poaching’ clients from their jobs or agencies and luring them away to a competing company or corporation that needed an employee. This is simply not the case anymore as it’s an outdated method. The fact is headhunters implement a effective system that has proven to be superior to the tactics of regular recruiters, and produces results in a much more timely manner for those needing immediate results.
Headhunters act as a medium between candidates with skills in a specific area and companies that need like-minded people, and works to gain a relationship with both companies and prospects in order to determine that both have their needs met. Each headhunter has a wide range of connections, local and/or national, and usually focuses on a wide area of expertise with broad knowledge of what companies are looking for. Headhunters are constantly expanding their business relationships by out-calling and outsourcing to ensure both sides are successful. Those with a broader skill set and exceptional track record tend to have more connections and clients.
Matching up employee and employer starts with finding qualified candidates. Whether the company needs someone to fill open positions or employees are looking for work within their skill set, the headhunter will always start with a simple phone interview to determine if a candidate matches what the company may be looking for. This is done by placing continuous ads, phone calls, and an extensive amount of online and offline research. Once a substantial amount of prospects have been contacted and reviewed, a more thorough interview evaluation will be conducted.
Face-to-face interviews are where headhunters are able to weed out the bad candidates with sub-par skills or experience. A headhunter is especially careful and aware of everything the candidate says or does. Applicants will also submit a written interview that is further evaluated. In the end a headhunter will narrow it down to the one candidate that is sure to excel in the open position, with salary, previous employment, education, expertise, and likelihood to succeed taken into account. It’s important to remember that a headhunter will do everything in his/her power to match up clients and businesses that mesh well, as this gives the headhunter a better track record and a better chance of retaining the business of companies.
Once the prospect is chosen and contacted for the position, the headhunter will then negotiate a fair salary, benefits, and bonuses that suit both the company and the employee. By using a headhunter, companies and prospective employees can easily find work without the extensive leg-work involved in finding the right match. Headhunters handle everything from placing ads, finding the right potential candidates, interviewing each candidate and performing a screening process to assure that the candidate meets all the expected criteria, making life for both employees and companies a little easier.
The Secret Life of a Headhunter
