Recruiters and Headhunters

"Headhunter" has a savage connotation, and "recruiter" might suggest Uncle Sam summoning you to military service, but don't overlook these two approaches to job searching.

Recruiters tend to be internal company employees. They often attend career fairs to attract job seekers to their company. Their goals are to promote their company, collect resumes, and possibly to search for candidates for specific openings. Recruiters aren't necessarily the most direct route to finding a job, but it doesn't hurt to meet someone who can answer your questions, take your resume, and possibly who can act as a contact within the company.

A headhunter is a person or agency hired by a company to find candidates for a specific opening. In the past, headhunters were typically called upon to find high level executives and were known as "executive search firms," but nowadays they place people on all levels.

Many headhunters specialize in particular industries or job types. Does that mean they won't place you? Not necessarily. You can approach a headhunter and explain what you're looking for, and they may either add your resume to their database or refer you to someone who handles jobs at your level or in your field.

Every industry, including career management, has its share of unscrupulous types who prey upon the unsuspecting. Beware the person asking for an upfront fee in exchange for finding you the job of a lifetime. Though some placement firms may charge you for placing you in a suitable job, most firms are paid by the hiring company.

Page 4 of 6: Search Strategies

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