How to work with a Professional Recruiter or Headhunter

Posted on: 2010-12-29

How to work with a Professional Recruiter / Headhunter

Working with a headhunter or professional recruiter is a lot like an actor auditioning with a director. Have you ever heard of the old cliché where the director tells the actor after the audition, “don’t call us we’ll call you”. The relationship between a candidate and a headhunter works the same way.

If your headhunter / recruiter knows anything about their business chances are they already know who you are. They more then likely know more about you then you might think. Chances are they know what your colleagues and counterparts think of you and what your boss or former boss says about you. I can assure you that every director in Hollywood has the inside scoop on every actor they audition.

There is no need to contact your recruiter / headhunter every other week and tell them you are looking for a new position. If a recruiter or headhunter contacts you directly they are making two assumptions. Number one they believe you might have the right qualifications for the job or two you might be able to refer them to someone with the right qualifications. If you are interested in working with a recruiter establish rapport with them. Contact them via phone or email and tell them your career objectives and the opportunities that might interest you. Most importantly, offer to be a resource to them. If a recruiter knows they can rely on you for information the more likely they will interact with you. The more they interact with you the more likely they are to contact you for opportunities.

The key to working with a recruiter is to make the relationship a two way street. You are both relying on each other for information. They best way to contact a recruiter that works in your field is to go to your local book store and find a book published by Kennedy Information. You should be able to find the book in the reference section of any major bookstore. The book lists all the major recruiters and recruiting firms. It also lists the specialties of each recruiter/ headhunter.

Brian A. Kirk Jr.

LC KIRK