Headhunter

A headhunter is a recruiter who proactively targets specific candidates for roles, rather than waiting for applications. The term is most commonly applied to executive search firms and agency recruiters working on senior or specialized positions. **How headhunters work:** A company engages a headhunter (either on retained or contingency basis) to fill a difficult-to-hire role. The headhunter builds a target list of candidates based on title, company, experience, and skills — often sourcing people who aren't actively job searching — and approaches them directly. **The candidate experience:** Being headhunted is generally flattering and low-risk. You're not applying; they're approaching you. This gives you natural leverage in any subsequent compensation discussion. **When to engage:** Being passive doesn't mean being unresponsive. If a headhunter reaches out about a role that's not immediately of interest, taking the call costs little and: - Tells you what the market is paying for your profile - Builds a relationship that may be relevant in the future - Gives you a sense of your perceived market positioning **Retained vs. contingency:** Retained headhunters are paid upfront and run exclusive searches — they're typically more thorough and represent more senior roles. Contingency headhunters compete with others for the placement fee and move faster. **Warning:** Some recruiters who call themselves headhunters are actually contingency recruiters submitting as many CVs as possible. Ask about their process and whether they've spoken with the hiring manager directly.