Headhunters are recruiters who identify and approach candidates who are already employed to secure vacancies within their organization.
Headhunting is professionally referred to as executive search and is usually undertaken to secure senior-level and executive roles.
But what makes a successful headhunter and what tips can you follow to become one?
What is a headhunter?
A headhunter is typically a human resource executive, organizational director, or external recruiter who identifies and approaches desirable candidates who are employed elsewhere to fill an open role.
The challenges of recruiting become increasingly difficult when hiring senior-level talent due to refined and smaller talent pools.
It is their job to find potential applicants who are qualified to fill high-level and advanced roles even though the passive candidate is not an active job seeker. Passive candidates are professionals who are considered for a position that they did not actively apply for or search for.
Executive search firms commonly recruit from a pool of passive candidates in the same manner as individual headhunters.
What makes a successful headhunter?
Headhunters and executive search professionals who use their niche experience to fill executive positions for their clients or organization.
Successful headhunters have clear communication with clients and candidates, research competitors and the marketplace, have access to exclusive talent pools, develop sustainable client strategies, and identify potential candidates using a variety of channels.
Tips on how to become a successful headhunter
Recruitment is a tough and challenging industry but carries the potential to be a successful and rewarding career. For tips on how to become a successful corporate headhunter for companies, keep reading.
Attend industry meetings and events
Attending industry meetings and events where premium and specialist potential candidates gather is a great way to build up exclusive and niche talent pools and pipelines.
By actively meeting and engaging with industry leaders you are able to build genuine lasting relationships with professionals you may wish to recruit in the future.
Meetings and career fairs allow you to interact and meet your target market to build up a network of relevant talent.
Use social media
Social media is a powerful tool that also allows you to forge relationships with industry specialists and leaders.
Headhunters can utilize social media within the recruitment process by accessing sites used by professionals such as LinkedIn. Searching profiles of professionals on social media can help get exclusive access to passive candidates.
Search competitors
When identifying potential talent for a senior-level or executive role it can be beneficiary to search your brand or client's, competitors.
Hiring executive positions can be challenging due to a reduced talent pool so identifying talent at competing companies can make the process much easier for the headhunter.
Those employed in similar roles at competing companies are likely to have the desired qualifications, skills, and characteristics required in your open role.
If you are an executive search industry professional seeking a new opportunity, take a look at our live roles here.
If you are an organization looking to hire niche talent, get in touch with us today.
