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The Advantages & Disadvantages of Headhunters

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Finding a job can sometimes be a simple case of being in the right place at the right time. For others, it's when preparation meats opportunity. If your job search hasn't been successful, it might be time to seek professional assistance. A headhunter is skilled in finding the appropriate candidate for a job opening. Both employers and job seekers alike can use a headhunter's services to find that perfect match that has been eluding them.

Connections

If you are looking for a new job, the key is finding the one that fits you best. Not every position is advertised publicly. Headhunters work with employers and may have access to information about positions within a company that are not advertised. The headhunter can use her connection to arrange an interview for this position that you would not otherwise have been aware of through traditional means such as newspapers or professional publications.

Specialized Opportunities

If you are looking to find a very specific position or an employee to fill one within your company, you don't want to waste your time with searches that don't match your needs. Additionally, position titles can have significantly different job responsibilities across various companies. For example, an administrative assistant position can range from an entry level receptionist position to an upper level executive position. The headhunter can research the position or candidates further to ensure they match with the duties of the position, not just the title. This can save valuable time in your search for a job or for an employee.

Existing Employees

If a company hires a headhunter, they are trying to find the best employee for the position available. Sometimes that perfect match is not "on the market" at the time and has a job. According to Wharton.com, a headhunter is trained in the ability to lure someone who already has a position into making an employment change. If the headhunter can find someone that is already succeeding with another company in the role you need to fill, it can help reduce the time and expense you need to invest in training the employee.

Attachment To The Employer

Some headhunters work for specific employers and will guide an employee to those employers as a priority. The job candidate should inquire about any relationships the headhunter has before hiring him. This will help you avoid a headhunter that might miss better opportunities outside of the companies he is working with. It would be a disadvantage to hire a headhunter and find that he has a conflict of interest and fails to identify a potential employer because he does not have a direct working relationship with that company.

Payment

Before you hire a headhunter, find out how the headhunter is paid. Some headhunters are paid by the employer, while others require a fee from the candidate. According to the EasyJob.net, the headhunter may receive a percentage of the employee's pay for a specified amount of time as compensation for matching the employee to the position. This can mean that you would receive less pay than someone who found the position without using the headhunter.

References
Writer

Alan Kirk has been writing for online publications since 2006. He has more than 15 years' experience in catering, management and government relations. Kirk has a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Maryland.

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