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Working with headhunters

If you want your head hunted, here's how to make it happen.

Headhunters sound great in theory. Rather than looking for jobs in the newspaper and sending off applications – so old-fashioned, really -- you just relax in your swish office and wait for your headhunter to call you with details of exclusive opportunities. In practice, it’s a bit different. First, they have to think you're a marketable commodity.

Here's how to get a headhunter interested in you:

1. Have a good job to start with. Headhunters primarily recruit for senior, highly sought-after positions, and there's nothing they relish more than enticing someone away from their current (good) job. You want to be able to negotiate from a position of strength and cherry-pick the best opportunities. It’s also worth bearing in mind that headhunters track people’s careers through contacts, the papers, trade press and also keep their ears to the ground for news of any up-and-coming bright sparks. They watch out for people too junior to be key players at the moment because they might well become so in the future. If you’re not in a position to be poached just yet, work towards it by excelling at work and networking.
   
   
2. Contact headhunters before you need them. It could take a year or two before the right opportunity comes up, so it's wise to develop relationships early. Find out which consultancies specialise in your industry and job-type. If they are interested, they will want to build a strong relationship with you so that they fully understand what opportunities will interest you. So keep them up to date with any major changes in your job or outlook.
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