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