3 Rules for Using a Headhunter for the 1st Time

Ken Sundheim, CEO of KAS Placement

1. You don’t have to take the call at work. There is a big misconception among younger job seekers that if they can’t take a headhunter’s call regardless of time, location or even convenience, they have lost the chance.

In all actuality, it could not be further from the truth. If that staffing professional thinks that you are good for the job, they will call you rain, sleet, shine or even in a hurricane. If you’re not comfortable, don’t take the call at work. Nothing good can come of a bad interview.

2. The headhunter does not have to be pleasant to work with. Here is another misconception because the recruiter is the one helping you find a job even if they are paid by the employer. You wouldn’t trust a distant, cold stranger trying to give you free anything would you?

A recruiter‘s demeanor towards you says a lot as to how positive their intentions are for you and whether they have a vested interested in placing you at a job you will thrive in or simply placing you in a job.

Now, you don’t have to be best friends, but if you despise that recruiter, I would suggest to stay away.

3. The headhunter has to have some knowledge of the job and the industry. If you get on the phone with a recruiter who is simply reading off of a job description this means a few things:

 1) They probably don’t deal with the hiring director directly which puts you, the job seeker at a grave disadvantage.

2) They haven’t taken the time to research the position which, directly or indirectly says they really don’t care about the job.

3) They are simply not that good at what they do.

In the End:

In the end, don’t trust your job to anyone whether it be a headhunter or a friend’s advice, but if you are going to go with the former, make sure that staffing professional is legit.

Bio: Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement an executive search firm based out of New York City.  Ken has been published throughout major media over 400x as well as lectures at universities regarding job search techniques.  Ken’s blog is kensundheim.com