What Is the Role of a Headhunter?
Headhunters are the matchmakers of the labor market. They work on behalf of business organizations seeking to fill vacant positions, typically at the senior or executive management level. Headhunters research and recruit job candidates. They present candidates with compelling offers to persuade them to consider other career opportunities. Although the responsibilities are similar to staff placement managers, headhunters usually work on behalf of the organization with a vacancy to fill rather than the job seeker.
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Job Role and Related Duties
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Headhunters help companies staff open job positions. They profile the labor market and match highly skilled candidates with job vacancies. They interface with all parties involved in the recruitment and staffing process. Many companies hire headhunters for their sales and marketing skills. Headhunters woo and persuade prospective applicants to consider alternative employment opportunities. They search for and pre-screen job candidates, review résumés to validate qualifications, perform reference checks and coordinate the interview process.
Core Competencies
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The core competencies required to perform the duties of a headhunter include excellent communication and people skills, as well as advanced knowledge of labor relations statutes, behavioral interviewing techniques, recruiting and sourcing concepts, and staffing strategy execution. Good headhunters also have an in depth understanding of the clients they represent, the job opening and why the job is available. Their success in the personality-driven labor market largely depends on their persuasiveness, negotiation abilities and people skills.
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Education and Experience
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Employers seeking staffing managers typically prefer candidates with bachelor's degrees in personnel administration, human resources or labor relations. Some organizations may require specialized training or experience in engineering, science, technology, finance or law. Qualified individuals with expert knowledge of industrial relations and law are ideal candidates for headhunter positions. Headhunters with advanced degrees in human resources, labor relations or business administration with a concentration in human resources management are highly desirable.
Work Environment
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Headhunters may work for private businesses, recruiting firms or as independent consultants. Travel is sometimes involved and depends on the staffing needs of the client and the physical location of a potential hire. Headhunters maintain an extensive professional network; they spend a lot of time meeting and interacting with recruits, hiring companies, staffing managers and job seekers.
Compensation
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Executive and management staffing positions in the United States average annual earnings of $64,277 to $92,364 as of 2010, according to national income trends from SalaryWizard.com. The average expected salary for a headhunter in the United States is $77,902. Comparatively, the median salaries of occupations with similar or related titles, such as staffing manager, recruitment placement specialist and senior technical recruiter, are $36,452, $37,174 and $48,239, respectively.
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References
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