Written by Stella H. Kim
Published November 20, 2024
Going Beyond a Skilled Headhunter to Becoming a Trusted Headhunter
Identifying the Core Values and Anchors, Awakening the Calling and Potential
90% of global companies use search firms, and 100% of large conglomerates including Fortune 500s utilize executive search firms.
While recruiting is a well-known profession, headhunting is not, with many asking what it is that we exactly do as a headhunter. The term headhunter derives from the practice of primitive tribes and bounty hunters taking and preserving the head of a wanted criminal and has now evolved to referencing a recruiting expert who hunts, screens, and places top critical talent for the hiring organization.
Headhunting, or Executive Search, is a recruiting method of scouting and hiring top talent for critical roles that require strategic leadership, direct relevant experiences, or key expertise. Rather than having candidates apply for the company through public job postings, headhunters strategically identify and scout the identified top talent from competitors. Recruiters are often part of an internal HR team reacting to corporate hiring needs and screening from a large pool of applicants. On the other hand, headhunters proactively approach executive candidates identified as best-fit candidates to convince them to consider a new leadership opportunity. Headhunters utilize their wide network and proprietary databases, lean on their seasoned expertise to strategically assess candidacy and screen fit, and build meaningful long-term relationships with executive candidates. In essence, headhunting is the art of creating the best talent solution that meets the organization’s unique needs.
As such, headhunting services offer essential benefits to both hiring organizations and executive professionals. Because a strategic hiring plan reflects the company’s current business performance and upcoming investment direction, many organizations partner with search firms to ensure utmost confidentiality, poach their competitor’s talent, and discreetly plan for restructuring and succession planning.
Candidates idealize looking for opportunities that allow them to truly unlock their expertise and leadership, while organizations hire to effectively expand their existing businesses and invest in new markets. HRCap, a Top 10 Global Executive Search & HR Consulting firm, takes pride in our understanding of both our clients’ unique businesses and the evolving industry trends, which have allowed us to not only successfully place best-fit critical talent that matches the job description but also proactively recommend technical experts and transformative leaders who will futureproof their business.
Therefore, a skilled headhunter continuously hones their search ability to find the best-fit candidates, their sales and marketing skills to engage both clients and candidates, and their commitment and persuasiveness to successfully drive the case to close. With each placement, headhunters are offering opportunities for executive candidates to pursue a greater package, prestige, and authority, and for hiring organizations to achieve greater success through higher revenue and market share.
But it takes much more to go beyond a skilled headhunter to become a trusted headhunter. Headhunters who know how to co-create and unlock opportunities work with client groups and executive candidates to help identify their core values and anchors so that they are not only focused on achieving success. We help them set their anchor in times of turbulence and unexpected change and gently bring them back to their corporate mission and vocational calling so that they can build greater resilience to move forward to their ultimate goal.
The best headhunter is a strategic business partner and career advisor who can simultaneously unlock the potential of their clients and candidates, continuously challenge them to grow and give back, and solidarily walk with them in their transformational journey.
Stella H. Kim, SPHR
HRCap – SVP, Head of Americas & Chief Marketing Officer
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