How do I get in contact with 'head hunters' or talent placement agencies?

Question

Recently, a number of friends of mine have changed employers much to the improvement of their career paths. Most have credited the help of 'head hunters' in finding new positions to facilitate the advancement of their careers.

Wanted to throw the question out to this community to see if any here have worked with them. More importantly, wanted to know if anyone could make a good referral.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Recruiters and executive search firms are very industry-specific. So a recruiter that might be perfect for a retail manager, would really suck for a CPA.

Your best bet would be to ask friends and acquaintances in the same industry, to recommend someone. Or, you can do a search online for recruiters that specialize in your field.

Remember that the recruiter doesn't get paid to find you a job. He gets paid to find an employee for an existing job opening. He doesn't work for you -- he works for the employer. If he doesn't have anything that's a good match for your skills right now, he won't spend time looking. So, contact as many recruiters as possible.

Recruiters also prefer to work with people who are already employed, rather than those who are between jobs.