When you hear the term “headhunter,” you may think of tribal peoples literally hunting for heads. In today’s job market, headhunting means a lot more. You may be wondering, in this day and age, what is a headhunter?
We’ve got you covered. In this headhunting guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about headhunting, plus give some headhunting tips along the way. Dive in.
What Is A Headhunter?
Also known as an executive search, headhunting is the process of pursuing candidates for high-priority roles within your organization. Unlike smaller roles where more applicants qualify, executive positions require years, sometimes decades of experience. Headhunting tracks workers that qualify before they even apply elsewhere.
The term “headhunting” itself is a double entendre. Headhunters indeed “hunt heads” in the sense that they actively track down and recruit candidates. All the while, the candidates they track typically qualify to be leaders, or “heads.”, within a company.
Another important aspect of headhunting is who headhunters target. For the most part, headhunters track passive candidates, or also known as candidates already gainfully employed. Headhunters entice these qualified candidates with offers to leave their current job and start anew.
Occasionally, headhunters search for people also on the job hunt, also known as active candidates. While less common than passive candidates, active candidates are often just as qualified, and can still fill your high-priority candidacy.
Should I Hire A Headhunting Firm?
That depends on the positions that you’re looking to fill!
As noted above, headhunting is most successful for high-priority candidates. If you’re looking to fill entry-level positions, there’s probably no reason to go headhunting, as dozens of applicants will already line up for the job.
If you already have a high-quality candidate in mind, you also likely won’t need a headhunter. The whole point of headhunting is to track candidates otherwise unattainable by traditional recruiting. Thus, if traditional recruiting works fine, you have no reason to headhunt.
That being said, high-quality candidates are just as likely to be recruited elsewhere. If your initial targets fail, a headhunting company becomes immensely useful.
All in all, if you’re struggling to find quality applicants for high-priority candidates, headhunting is the right choice for your business. If not, headhunting services might not be incredibly useful.
How Do I Choose A Headhunting Agency?
Hiring a headhunting agency can be a literal life and death matter for your business. You’ll want to cater to your search for an agency with the finest care.
Finding a great headhunter, such as the experts at Kerry Consulting, is easier said than done. Consider which industries they specialize in, user reviews, and past accomplishments before you lock into an agency.
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In summary, headhunters find the high-priority candidates your business so dearly needs. Hiring a headhunting firm can prove beneficial to all kinds of businesses, regardless of size or type. Hopefully, now you’re asking “what is a headhunter” no longer.
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