The head hunter is responsible for finding the best “heads,” or skill sets in individuals, to provide to businesses, organizations, or institutions that need to fill some openings or find highly qualified individuals for new roles and new projects.
A headhunter may work directly for a corporation or may represent a headhunting company.
Some parts of the hiring process, including scouting, might be delegated to the “headhunter” to find prospects who fit the desired profile and are also open to changing positions or employers.
But the majority of the time, a headhunter looks for passive candidates—people who may be on LinkedIn or other professional social networks but aren’t actively looking for a job.
The headhunter’s job in this situation is to pique the passive candidate’s interest so that they might consider the idea of changing jobs and their entire way of life—by presenting the offer from the standpoints of both personal and professional growth.
Finding the top prospects on the market, either actively or passively, requires meticulous analysis and a strict selection process. Here is how headhunting can help you find the perfect candidate.
Headhunting Connects the Perfect Individuals and Businesses
A headhunter must have a crystal-clear understanding of the qualities the organization is looking for, the job description, and the necessary skills.
You can only “match” what your company’s needs are with the individual you contacted in this way. All of this enables the business to save time and have a resource that is already “prepared” and in possession of the necessary abilities.
Without waiting for applications, the headhunter conducts a proactive search and selection process, from the best talent available in Sweden and many other places around the world.
Driving Employee Retention and Performance Through Headhunting
Headhunters who work for a company also deal with other processes and have considerably wider duties if they decide to move into the area of talent research.
Headhunting is not just about hiring new talent; it’s also about internal recruitment, employee retention (i.e., keeping one’s internal talent and using all available tactics to do so), and employee attraction (selecting candidates thanks to the suggestions of those who already work in the company or to the actions that employees implement).
Headhunting Involves Searching for Specific Profiles
Headhunters frequently operate alone, in contrast to recruiters, who also participate in HR teams for major firms with various locations, continuing the theme of differences.
Teamwork enables recruiters to access research and thorough guidelines to make the best judgments, exchange ideas, gain relevant information, and have a wider perspective on the state of the position.
Additionally, headhunters put in a lot of effort to “fill” the open positions by searching for highly specific profiles, or the “hic et Nunc.”
Because of this, when they speak with a candidate, they begin with a form in which the talents that have been predetermined are input, and they check to see if the applicant in question possesses them.
Headhunters Often Use Current Connections
How does the headhunter operate? For scouting, a head hunter undoubtedly begins with their network of connections.
They may choose to “fish” in their network of friends if they are looking for high-level profiles and must emphasize quality over quantity. These are people they already know and trust and who may be able to suggest highly competent experts with whom they have had the opportunity to work.
The Headhunter Establishes a Connection With the Potential Applicant
Related to the aforementioned, it’s critical to establish a professional connection with prospects, as headhunters frequently work with people who are not looking for a new job.
And all of this occurs before even making a physical connection. In reality, the relationship is developed by conducting in-depth research in advance to determine that person’s skills and how well he or she fits the role.
Headhunting is an essential and sometimes mandatory step nowadays. Why?
Because if you want to find quality profiles, you need to communicate effectively with potential clients and speak in “their language,” while also avoiding wasting your time on those who falsely claim to have the necessary qualifications. This will save you a lot of time and help you find the right candidates.
HR Future Staff Writer