Getting Headhunted
Be so good they can't ignore you
- Steve Martin
What is it?
Headhunting (also known as Executive Search) is the process of locating and recruiting individuals for senior boardroom positions in organisations.
Potential candidates will be contacted directly and the approach is much more personal and in-depth than for lower-level positions.
The recruitment company may conduct an interview of its own before the business meets and interviews the candidate, and may also start first-stage negotiations over remuneration and responsibilities.
This mode of recruiting may be undertaken by an organisation's board of directors, or HR executives, or by external executive recruitment agencies known as headhunters.
If you are approached by headhunters, you are in the enviable position of being pre-selected for a certain role. Recruiters work slightly differently.
Here are some of the key differences:
- Recruiters advertise job opeinings and wait to be contacted by potential candidates, or approach a wide network of potential candidates. Headhunters approach a select few candidates, and only the ones that fit the brief.
- Recruiters typically serve both candidates and clients equally, while a headhunter is primarily interested in fulfilling their client's brief.
- Recruiters actively try to match their existing pool of candidates to the vacant roles, sometimes regardless of sector or specific talent requirements. Headhunters would instead focus on the role first and then scout for the right candidate for their client.
The same recruitment process may also be utilised for highly specialised and technical positions where the right candidate is crucial, and the pool of potential candidates is limited.
What is the Value of it?
- Headhunting firms will not charge job seekers.
- Some secret and unpublished jobs only visible for headhunting firms
- Candidates can get higher salary or better benefits with the help of headhunting services
Key Principles
- Playing it cool
- Finding out more
- Silent power
- Being impervious to flattery
- Assessing the offer
- Checking yourself
Self-Coaching Questions
- Am I currently engaged, performing well, and feeling challenged?
- Is my career on schedule?
- Can the headhunter tell me why I am a good fit for the role?
- Is the headhunter the employer’s exclusive recruiter?
Free Online Resources
- 10 Top Tips for being headhunted
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heG0HjrLc-0
- Top 5 LinkedIn Tips: How to be Headhunted? | Venari Partners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5PIjyJxXtk
Academic & Industry Articles
10 Secrets to Getting Yourself Headhunted
https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/10-secrets-getting-yourself-headhunted/
How To Be Headhunted: The Dos And The Don’thttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-headhunted-dos-donts-richard-triggs/
4 Ways to show you’re ready to be headhunted on LinkedIn http://www.inspiringinterns.com/blog/2019/04/4-ways-to-show-youre-ready-to-be-headhunted-on-linkedin/
How to get headhunted for your next executive rolehttps://www.cv-library.co.uk/career-advice/executive-careers/get-headhunted-next-executive-role/
This Is How You Get On A Headhunter's Radar (And Find Awesome Jobs) https://www.forbes.com/sites/dailymuse/2017/10/23/this-is-how-you-get-on-a-headhunters-radar-and-find-awesome-jobs/#3be9e9c972bf
How to ensure you're headhunted on Linkedin!https://www.fleetcoruk.co.uk/employee-blogs/how-to-ensure-youre-headhunted-on-linkedin/
Being Headhunted: 5 Ways to Cope with Being Approached by Other Employers
How to Increase Your Chances of Being Headhunted https://www.pageexecutive.com/advice/region/global/how-increase-your-chances-being-headhunted
The ultimate guide on how to get headhunted for your next job https://www.siliconrepublic.com/advice/how-to-get-headhunted-jobs
7 Steps to Getting Yourself Headhuntedhttps://www.jobsite.co.uk/worklife/7-steps-to-getting-headhunted-7499/
Top 10 tips: How to get headhuntedhttps://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/top-10-tips-how-to-get-headhunted/
GET HEADHUNTED ON LINKEDIN!https://energipeople.com/get-headhunted-on-linkedin/
How to get headhuntedhttps://www.careers.govt.nz/articles/how-to-get-headhunted/
How to Handle Getting Headhunted (and Take Your Career to the Next Levelhttps://interview-coach.co.uk/handle-getting-headhunted-take-career-next-level/
How do I get headhunted?https://www.monster.ie/career-advice/article/how-do-i-get-headhunted
How to Get Noticed by Headhuntershttps://us.experteer.com/magazine/get-noticed-by-headhunters/
Top tips on how to get headhuntedhttps://bramwithconsulting.co.uk/top-tips-on-how-to-get-headhunted/
Tips for getting headhunted on LinkedInhttps://bigtreerec.co.uk/tips-for-getting-headhunted-on-linkedin
Executive Headhunters, and how to be headhunted! https://www.talentis.global/insights/headhunters-find-a-job/
How to be Headhuntedhttps://careerconsultants.co.uk/books/how-to-be-headhunte/
Executive Search Experts Reveal Top Tips to Get Headhunted in Uncertain Times
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