If you're looking for work, that may or may not be a good thing. Headhunters often have direct lines into desired positions, but also serve as gatekeepers who reject candidates they don't feel fit the bill. The key is finding out how to work with one of these job recruiters so that you can be considered for the position you want.
First, remember that a headhunter, or recruiter, works for the employer. That means that you don't get to set the rules and must find a way to make yourself a desirable candidate to the headhunter. Come across as arrogant, difficult or lacking the proper skills, and the recruiter will quickly close the door and move on to other candidates. However, if you are professional, possessing valuable and up-to-date skills, then the headhunter will keep you in mind for all sorts of job openings.
Jeremy Lappin, CEO of BountyJobs, an online hiring marketplace geared to companies looking for employees, says that too many people are unprepared and uneducated about how to work with a recruiter effectively. (Join the blog discussion about job recruitment at www.anitabruzzese.com.)
''Some people call a headhunter and say, 'Find me a job.' That's not the way it works. You've got to position yourself so the headhunter wants you," he says.
Some other tips for working with headhunters include:
* Practice your elevator pitch. This means that in the time it would take you to promote yourself to a company CEO on an elevator ride, you should be able to clearly and concisely explain to a job recruiter why you would be a valuable employee for an employer. Don't worry about job titles and dates of employment. Talk about how you saved your company money by implementing a new system, or you're often brought in as quality control on important projects or how your creative energies led to several industry awards.
* Don't lie. Headhunters are savvy enough to check up on your background and they will catch you in untruths, whether it is exaggerating your contribution to a company's bottom line or what university you attended. They will not recommend a less-than-honest candidate to any employer.
* Do your homework. It's fair to ask the headhunter about other clients and how much expertise they have in your area of interest. You can even ask to speak with someone with whom they've worked.
* Be realistic. Do your research about salary norms in your area so that you're not making unreasonable demands to the headhunter.
* Trust your gut. Do you communicate well with the headhunter? Face-to-face meetings may not be possible, but you should develop a rapport with the recruiter so that you feel comfortable with their knowledge of you and the industry. Even though the recruiter is working for the employer, you need to feel comfortable that you will be treated fairly and professionally throughout the process.
Finally, if you choose to work with multiple headhunters, let them each know what you're doing. Otherwise, they may each promote you to the same employer, and that can be a problem when it comes time for them to collect their fees.
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* ANITA BRUZZESE can be reached c/o Business Editor, Gannett News Service, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va. 22107.
"Some people call a headhunter and say, 'Find me a job.' That's not the way it works. You've got to position yourself so the headhunter wants you."
JEREMY LAPPIN
CEO of BountyJobs, an online hiring marketplace
