Positioning yourself correctly to be spotted by a headhunter is more of a choice than a skill requirement. But what precisely is headhunting? Headhunters search, on behalf of multiple companies, for people who fit a certain job opportunity.
Working with a headhunter comes with a number of potential benefits, which could include a clear path to a hiring manager’s inbox. In addition, this person can give insight into what the company’s looking for, tips for a successful interview, and even advice on salary negotiation. Headhunters work on commission, which means the more money they get you, the more they’ll receive in turn.
Often headhunters will track you down in a highly purposed manner, based on your qualifications. You may receive an email or a call seemingly from an unknown caller. Headhunters are the kind of people you want buzzing your phone every minute or so as these could mean that you’re highly valued in the industry.
But just how does a candidate get spotted by these people they’ve never interacted with before? Christopher Taylor, a career advisor from the Muse agrees that this process is both fun and demanding. As you shoot up the corporate ladder, your visibility increases and this raises your chances of falling into the headhunters’ radar. Now, to maximize this visibility, consider the following;
1. Make your presence known
Headhunters find people who’re willing and ready to be found. They scour job sites with public professional profiles to get ideal candidates. How about you make yourself visible in the places they frequent? Attend forums/conferences where recruiters are present and interact with people, give out your card, if possible. Also, remember to update your profile on sites frequented by headhunters to ensure your profile gets recommended to recruiters and employers when they type certain industry-based keywords.
2. Extensively research on the headhunter’s agency specifics
Does the agency specialize in one particular industry? What’s the uptake mode – is it temporary, full-time or entry-level? Remember to get information about its operational levels- nationwide, local or regional
3. Reach out (vigorously)
Once you’ve found the appropriate agency that suits your industry, location, and level, assemble your portfolio and reach out. This could be via LinkedIn – where their profiles should be well-developed or their website’s career section where job seekers can upload a resume for consideration. This step gets you into the company’s candidate management system for future considerations, thus eliminating the need for repetitive applications.
