| Resume writing services will create the document | | | | a candidate. Follow the law of karma - good deeds |
| needed to appeal to your ideal employer. But there's | | | | get rewarded - and be as helpful as you can. |
| another professional service firm you may encounter | | | | These calls will come unexpectedly, at work or at |
| on the way. Many of the companies you want to | | | | home. Brush off any surprise or annoyance and |
| work for may retain an executive recruiting firm - a | | | | exploit the chance to build rapport. Recruiters work |
| headhunter - to fill the most crucial jobs. These | | | | for their clients; nonetheless they also form |
| professionals act as both recruiters and hiring | | | | professional relationships with candidates and may |
| consultants, and they can get you a foot in the door | | | | maintain them for years. Don't react defensively by |
| at some top companies. So when they call, it's usually | | | | asking how the caller got your name. If the |
| worth chatting with them. | | | | headhunter hasn't already told you, you probably |
| However, it's generally not in your interest to spend | | | | won't find out. It also makes you sound surprised to |
| time seeking them out. These recruiters are busy on | | | | get a recruiter's call. |
| specific searches, and if you call, they just won't be | | | | You are within your rights to get some information |
| able to focus on your concerns. Most have websites | | | | from the recruiter. Learn the name of the search |
| and make it easy to submit your resume. Until you | | | | firm. Ask if the call is part of a specifically retained |
| receive a call from the search firm, that's about as | | | | search or just a general feeler for good job |
| much effort as you should put in. | | | | prospects. If the caller has found you at an |
| Companies retain executive search firms under | | | | inconvenient time, explain that you'd like to have the |
| contract to fill specific open positions - typically, ones | | | | conversation but you need to reschedule it. Try to |
| paying at least six figures. Frequently, the search firm | | | | do so for the same day or the next. Rescheduling |
| works on an exclusive basis and gets a designated | | | | also gives you time to investigate the search firm |
| consulting fee, whether a hire results or not. | | | | and prepare for the phone interview. |
| Sometimes, companies reward headhunters instead | | | | When First Talking to a Headhunter: DO |
| with a contingency fee, usually in the case of less | | | | Check their firm's reputation at aesc.org before |
| senior openings. In either case, companies spend | | | | having an extensive conversation. Make the |
| between 20 to 40 percent of a job's annual salary | | | | appointments so they don't interfere with your |
| just to fill the position. Of course, they also defray | | | | present job. Request confidentiality until you have |
| travel costs of bringing in candidates from across the | | | | authorized the recruiter to present your name and |
| country for interviews. You can bet that these | | | | background. Prepare as thoroughly you would for any |
| business relationships only last if some good hires | | | | job interview. Make sure your resume is at its best. |
| result. | | | | Ask about the skills that the recruiter is looking for in |
| Headhunters are experienced talent scouts adept at | | | | this job search. Ask about promotion opportunities at |
| discerning what the hiring firm is looking for. If | | | | the firm. |
| retained repeatedly, they get to know a company | | | | When First Talking to a Headhunter: DON'T |
| and can identify not only the right person for a given | | | | Don't exaggerate your resume or your work history |
| job, but also a candidate with potential to be a | | | | during the conversation. Don't expect a quick job |
| long-term leader. | | | | offer. This is a long process. Don't ask questions |
| You probably have already received calls from | | | | whose the answers you'd know if you had read the |
| headhunters, whether or not you are job hunting. It | | | | company's corporate backgrounder. Don't ask |
| means you have achieved a certain status in your | | | | personal questions of the recruiter. Don't bring up |
| field, or perhaps someone has recommended you as | | | | salary. There's plenty of time for that. |
| a potential job match, or as a possible aid to identify | | | | |