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6 secrets for being short-listed by a top headhunter
Headhunters are scouts on the lookout for the top talent for their clients at senior levels. The client will ask the headhunter to search the market for a long list of candidates who are ideally the best in the market for a particular role. This long list will be assessed and then a short-list will be presented to the client, writes Judith Beck.
Judith Beck
Headhunters don’t advertise, they are well connected in the industry they search in, and one day you may get a call from them. Take the call!
If you want to get approached by headhunters you need to have a good brand and reputation in the industry you work in. People will refer you if they respect you. A public profile will also help get you noticed.
Here are some quick tips to help get you on the radar and short-listed for a role:
1. Have a profile on LinkedIn that is professional and up to date – headhunters need to be able to find you
Even if you have been referred to them, the first thing they will do is check you out on LinkedIn. Ensure all your social platforms show you in a favourable light because headhunters will check you out on all forums.
They will also do a Google search to see if any articles have been published about you.
2. Keep your CV up to date so when you do get a call, it is ready to go
Make sure it is accurate with quantifiable achievements. Do not lie or overstate anything on your CV as it will be confirmed later. If you have anything on your CV that is inaccurate, you will be taken out of the process and won’t be approached by that headhunter again.
Always send information from a private email address.
3. Once you are asked by the headhunter to come in for a chat or via Zoom, do everything they ask
From the moment you take that first call the interview starts. Listen to what they have to say before you reject the position.
It never hurts to have a conversation. They will be assessing everything about you and comparing you with the rest of the long list.
4. If they don’t short-list you for the position, they initially call you
Take the news gracefully and keep the door open for the future.
5. If you do get short-listed, remember you still need to have them on your side for the full process with their client
When they ask you to call them after every interview you have with the client – do it. Some processes can take three to six months, so it is important not to drop your momentum.
Building a good relationship with them is important as they are the ones who will endorse you to the client as the preferred candidate. The client makes the end decision, but what the headhunter says will carry a lot of weight.
6. Be upfront with the headhunter about your requirements – surprises later will not be seen in a good light
After you have heard about the role, you may decide that it is not right for you – that is OK. It is better to be upfront and not lead them on because they may have other opportunities for you in the future.
If you are at a senior level and haven’t been called by a headhunter, find out who the respected headhunters are in your industry and reach out to them. Let them know that you are open to opportunities in the future and ask them to keep you on the radar.
Make sure that you let them know not to release any of your information or talk about you to any potential employers without running it past you first. This will ensure your confidentiality.
Judith Beck is the author of No Sex at Work (Major Street Publishing), which shares the dos and don’ts from her experience as founder of executive search firm, Financial Recruitment Group.
