5 Tips You Didn’t Know About Head Hunters
Head hunters have the edge on recruitment consultants because they are sector specialist, who frequently freelance or work alone and are able to pitch you to a firm that may not even realise they have a recruitment need. They charge very high fees and commission, sometimes as high as 30% of the annual salary for a job they have helped fill. Companies use head hunters because they deliver the talented ‘difference maker’ individuals, whether for marketing jobs or for other executive jobs. Since there are fewer head hunters compared to recruiters, not many people know about how they work. Here are five tips to help you get on to a head hunter’s radar.
Head hunters are specialists
Most head hunters specialize in specific industries or skills. For example, a head hunter may recruit only for accounting firms. Another may only work to fill positions in Information Technology companies. Therefore, if you wish to get the best results, contact a head hunter who specializes in your industry.
Connect to Head Hunters using Mutual Contacts
A head hunter has to go through hundreds of CVs and online profiles to find a shortlist of candidates for single positions. This makes it hard for them to tell one good candidate from another, with the result that you might be overlooked even when you are perfect for the job. This can be avoided by using a mutual contact to forward your name and CV or cv to the head hunter. Head hunters maintain a lot of contacts, especially in the industry in which they work, so they almost always respond positively when someone they know introduces a candidate.
Use Social Networking to reach Head Hunters
If you are not on Linkedln, or on other professional networks such as Guardian Sustainable Business, or Tweeting about your industry you will miss out on opportunities. Many head hunters source candidates by searching on professional networks, and checking Twitter and other business news blogs to see who is commenting on sector changes. Sites like Linkedln are a great way to find mutual contacts and to build a reputation.
Head Hunters Look for Updated Profiles
One important aspect of professional networks and your online profile is CV currency. This means you regularly update your profile. Most head hunters make split second screening decisions, and if they see that your profile was last updated in 2009, they won’t believe that you are a valuable contact.
You do not have to call Head Hunters
If there is a motto for professional head hunters, it must be, “Don’t call us, we will call you”. This is because head hunters, by definition, are recruiters who make contact when they have a requirement to be filled. You can send your cv or CV to a head hunter, but most likely you will only hear from them when they have a suitable position for you. It follows that even when you are not actively looking for a job, you should send out your cv to as many head hunters as possible to stay front of mind with them.