We’ve often been asked if we use headhunters for our job searches. Our standard response is that while we’ve worked with several throughout our career, there’s a pattern we’ve seen over and over again.
When a headhunter reaches out to you with an opportunity, they are quick to return emails and calls. You are a headhunter’s best friend, but with all best friends, there can be a falling out. It is important to remember that they are paid by the employer. If you reach back out to them at a later date to see if they have anything openings for you, there are crickets.
Short-sighted headhunters may treat you no better than an Application Tracking System (ATS) or corporate recruiter. They may be slow to respond or become completely unresponsive.
The best headhunters treat you like a human, provide honest feedback and take a few minutes to communicate the status of the opportunity throughout the process. There are two good reasons for the humane treatment of job seekers:
- Today’s job seeker can be tomorrow’s hiring manager, and a future business opportunity for the headhunter.
- A positive relationship can turn a job seeker into a source of good quality talent referrals, especially for those hard-to-fill roles.
These are the bread and butter of the external recruiting industry and it is always amazing when these opportunities are missed. Again, short-sighted.
So, even with the above caveats, there are many benefits from working with external recruiters.
Benefits of Working with External Recruiters
Collaborating with a headhunter during a job search can offer some invaluable advantages. These professional recruiters bring insider knowledge and industry expertise, connecting candidates with opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.
This last statement is key – they often are shopping opportunities that you otherwise would not find on websites and job boards. They serve as advocates, presenting your strengths to a potential employer, streamlining the hiring process, and offering negotiation support.
Unseen Job Opportunities
Headhunters often have access to job opportunities that are not publicly advertised. Because they maintain extensive networks they are privy to confidential job openings within companies, providing you with access to a broader range of potential positions that you wouldn’t find on your own.
Advocacy and Negotiation Help
A headhunter can also serve as an advocate for you during the recruitment process. They will present your qualifications in the best light to potential employers, highlighting your strengths and experiences. This can be particularly beneficial in today’s competitive job market.
When it comes to salary negotiations and job offers, headhunters can and should provide guidance and support. While it may be difficult to get salary ranges from a corporate recruiter, external recruiters don’t shy away from discussing salary in the first meeting.
They have no interest in wasting their time. And, it is such a great benefit to not have your time wasted either. Internal recruiters like to play the game of ‘how much are you looking for’ in hopes of finding someone who will take less or the lower end of a range. Who hasn’t tossed and turned at night trying to figure out the best way to bring up salary requirements in the first few discussions?
Discretion
Headhunters are discrete. If you’re currently employed while seeking a new opportunity, a headhunter can help maintain confidentiality. They can connect you with potential employers without compromising your current position.
Feedback
Headhunters (the smart ones) often provide valuable feedback from interviews and client interactions. Feedback is a gift and it can help you understand areas for improvement and refine your approach in future job opportunities. If you aren’t receiving feedback from the recruiter, don’t be shy, kindly ask for constructive advice on how to further position yourself.
Hidden Benefits of Relationships with Headhunters
Two not-so-obvious ways that external recruiters can bring value is to provide advice on how to prepare for a successful job search. When you maintain strong relationships with a recruiter you trust, don’t be shy about reaching out to them for help. We’ve tapped some of our favorites periodically for feedback and counseling on roles that they have coming down the pipe as well as council on how to prepare your talk-track.
The best recruiters are happy to share their expertise with you and make themselves available for a 30-minute call. We’ve even had them advise on industry insights, word-on-the-street feedback, and back-door connections with prior employees at companies we’re considering. It can be just as valuable to tap them for a reference on your prospective boss. Tap them in your due diligence process before you accept the next role.
How do you maintain relationships with recruiters? When they reach out, make it a practice to ALWAYS respond. Take their call. Reply to their LinkedIn inquiries. Even if you’re not in an active search motion, you surely know someone who is. Refer them. You never know they might have your next dream role in their sights.
Establishing a relationship with a headhunter can be beneficial throughout your career. Even if they don’t have an immediate match for you, maintaining contact can lead to future opportunities.
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