6 tips for working with headhunters

Looking for a new job and considering working with a recruiter or headhunter? Have you been approached for a new position, whether you intend to change jobs or not?

Working with recruitment companies as well as headhunters has become a standard way to find new opportunities around the world, and in recent years it has gained more and more popularity in our country because of the many positives it brings.

What is a headhunter and how can it help you?

Headhunters and recruiters are responsible for finding the right people for a specific job position. They are often part of or employed by the recruiting company to lead the overall recruiting process. Whether you are actively looking for work or not, they can contact you with job offers that can help you build your career.

Working together with headhunters and recruiters helps you find more positions than you would find on your own because they have access to unpublished ads and a large network of contacts who can help. Additionally, they can help sift through mediocre job openings and find the job you want based on your qualifications and expectations. You can expect honest dialogue and feedback from them, as well as help with salary negotiations.

In the following lines, we share useful tips for successful cooperation with these specialists.

Be easily discoverable and recognizable

Develop your professional online presence. LinkedIn is a great way to stay connected to your professional network and showcase your skills and experience, regardless of whether you are active in the job market or in which industry. Make sure you've updated your profile, optimized your skills list, and incorporated the right and most searched keywords by recruiters in your field. Depending on your area of development, consider whether you should also work on your profiles on some of the other social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok and YouTube. Don't forget to keep your CV up to date as well, so you have it ready to send when needed.

Be professional

Remember that the recruiter is hired by the client companies, not you. Any communication with him may be part of the selection process, so remain professional at all times and treat every phone call, email or private message on LinkedIn as if it were an interview or part of the screening process.

Be proactive

You don't have to wait for headhunters or recruiters to find you and contact you. Research for yourself the popular companies and people who specialize in recruiting. Choose who to contact according to your professional experience, the position, and the field in which you want to develop.

If you are wondering how and where you can contact headhunters, here are some suggestions:

• LinkedIn - Connect with the specialist directly via a private message to see if you have common contacts and if someone you know can help introduce you.
• Company site – You can find the contact details of the specialist on the company's HR site or submit your information through a standard form on it.
• Career and business events - You are extremely likely to find recruiters and headhunters at these types of events. They can also help you connect with other professionals in your field.

Be honest and direct

Whether you were discovered by a headhunter or you initiated the communication, be honest and direct about your interests, the time you have available, what exactly you are looking for, whether you have any concerns or not, what you would put up with and what not, what you expect from the selection process.

Don't forget to ask questions too – what company they represent, what their individual selection process is, what experience they have in the industry, how they found you, etc.

Do not contact the employer directly

Once you are in the process of working with a headhunter hired by a client, contacting the client directly could be to your detriment. This could be perceived as a mistrust of the specialist and affect your relationship with them, and it could also make you look desperate in your job search for the particular company. Trust the professional you work with to guide you through the process from end to end.

Connect with them

Recruiters can be strong allies in your career advancement, both with finding positions and with helpful interview tips, industry trends, and employer information. Even if there isn't an opening for you at the moment, this may change in the future, so keep in touch with the headhunter and make the relationship two-way - helping each other. This means that you can be helpful by recommending an acquaintance for a position that isn't a good fit for you and that they keep you in mind when a suitable role for you pops up.

Finding the right HR professional to work with you can seem complicated at first, but when you find the right person, they will not only help in your job search but can become the biggest asset to your career success. you.
If you have additional questions or need a consultation, you can contact us at [email protected]