Should You Use a Head Hunter?

Headhunter vs. Staffing Agency
vs. Going It Alone...

Head hunter, staffing agency, go independent? Which one is the right answer for you?

You've probably heard the term "headhunter." And maybe you know what it means. More likely, you think of it with a rather negative connotation... or you think of headhunters in association only with executive level positions. But nothing could be further from the truth...

One way to think about the concept of a head hunter is to compare it to engaging an agent. There is a real similarity between the effort to find your dream job and the process a football or basketball star athlete goes through in looking for his or her next contract with a professional league.

Like the aspiring pro athlete, you can use the services of an "agent" (read head hunter) to secure the job of your dreams.

But a Staffing Agency Is Only Temporary, Right?

Many people mistakenly believe that staffing agencies only hire temporary help... fill-in help to cover for ill or vacationing employees... or to fill in the gap between a departing and newly-hired employee. But nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, a staffing agency may hire contract (or temporary) help, but they may also fill "temporary" positions that have the potential to become permanent (contract-to-hire). And, in some instances, they'll even recruit directly to fill a position with permanent help.

In my years as a staffing agency director, I did all 3.

Some people use the terms head hunter, staffing agency, and headhunter interchangeably. In any case, anyone of that variety can boost your career search considerably.

And Here's the Good News...

When an athlete or actor hire an agent to find them jobs, they must agree to share 10% or more of their future income with the agent. But in the case of a head hunter or staffing agency, it's usually the employer who pays the fee. It's standard fare that the best employers are willing to compensate personnel agencies and staffing services for finding them qualified workers.

So, it's a WIN-WIN situation for you. You get expert help in finding a job AND you pay nothing.

One of the great things about working with a head hunter or staffing agency is that they often know about jobs that are not advertised in the places you're looking. Employers may go directly to the recruiter, so that they don't have to be bothered with all the screening and reviewing.

Another advantage for you is that the head hunter can help you figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and how to best present them to an employer.

And, if you ever decide to go the contract-to-hire route, it's a great opportunity to "try out" an employer before making a long-term commitment. Of course, the same holds true for them... they'll be trying you out at the same time!

Using a head hunter or staffing agency is not going to be right for everyone. But it is a strategy worth thinking about... especially if you haven't been having success on your own with finding the job you want.

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