MAS Recruiting-Executive Search Blog

You are looking to find a new job, so how do you go about this?  One can look at various Internet job posting sites to find roles of interest and then apply online to them.  You can also network with friends and former co-workers to let them know that you are open to new opportunities.  Another preferred method is to identify and contact various executive recruiting firms to let them know that you are on the job market.

If using an executive recruiter (or as some people call them a headhunter) is appealing to you, then here are some key points to remember when identifying, contacting, and choosing the proper executive recruiting firm:

1. Executive Recruiting Is Generally Specialized
It is very difficult for an executing recruiting firm to be proficient in more than a couple industry verticals or job specialties.  What makes an executive recruiter stand out and more helpful to a job seeker is that recruiter's depth of network and contacts.  It is difficult to obtain this depth if the recruiter is spread over too many industry verticals or job specialties.  The stronger a recruiter's network is, the better it is for you to be placed in your area of expertise.  It is very important for you to ask the recruiter what his/her area(s) of expertise is.  For example, you would not engage a technology executive recruiter if you are looking for a role in education or healthcare.

2. Executive Recruiters Are Engaged By the Client
Many job seekers are under the false impression that an executive recruiting firm will take their resume and "shop" it around to various companies.  In a sense, those job seekers want the executive recruiter to function as their agent.  This is not how the executive recruiting process works.  Executive recruiting firms are almost always engaged first by a particular client to fill a specific role.  Companies do not want executive recruiting firms to send them unsolicited resumes if there is no specific opening available.  Once the recruiting contract is signed for that specific role, the executive recruiting firm will begin the search and start to research and then contact potential candidates.  It is at this point, the executive recruiting firm will reach out to you if the role is a good match for your skills.  So, it is wise for you to get your resume to the executive recruiter to be placed in their database BEFORE an opening comes up.  Most good recruiting firms will research their database and reach out to you at this time.

3. Executive Recruiters Are Paid By the Client Not the Candidate
Never, ever pay an executive recruiter to help you find a job.  There are firms out there that will charge candidates fees (both upfront and ongoing fees) to work with a candidate to find a job, but this practice is very shady.  As mentioned in #2 above, executive recruiting firms are engaged by the client to fill a particular role.  Because of this, the client is the one who pays the executive recruiting firms upon successful completion of the recruiting contract.  Reputable recruiting firms never accept fees from the candidates and receive 100% of their revenue for their base of client companies.

4. Local Recruiting Versus Nationwide Recruiting
It is important to align yourself with an executive recruiting firm that has the proper stable of clients to help you find your next job.  Some executive recruiting firms firms may only have a client base that is local or in a certain specific region of the country.  On the other hand, some firms have clients in all regions of the US and even international clients.  Depending on your flexibility concerning relocation, it is important to ask executive recruiting firms of how broad that their client base is.

Hopefully, you will find these points very useful during your process of engaging an Executive Recruiting firm to help you find your new role!

It is essential that you prepare well for your interview; whether it is a phone, video, or in-person interview.  Companies continue to look for top candidates.  Strong preparation ahead of the interview will put in you in the position to jump ahead of the competition and nail the interview.

Here are some key points to focus on with your preparation:

Preparation Prior to the Interview

• Do an in-depth analysis of the company’s web site, including detailed analysis of the product/services, press releases, management structure, company history, etc.
• If the company’s website has a section on its culture or guiding principles, make sure that you review and understand all this as these points will probably come up in the interviews
• Review the LinkedIn profiles of any individuals that you know will be interviewers.
• Prepare a list of questions on the company’s structure, culture, and products/services that you will ask each interviewer

During the Interview

• Show strong engagement with each Interviewer(s)-Ask Questions!!  Make the interview a two way conversation!
• During an in-person interview, look the interviewer in the eyes when talking, be confident!
• Show a sense of curiosity about both the company and the role and show an eagerness to learn
• Be prepared to answer in-depth technical questions; including brain storming and role playing type questions
• Please take notes in all interview sessions; including on-site
• Be confident; it will make the conversations flow better
• Be prepared to share information about yourself to the interviewers including hobbies and interests outside of work as cultural fit is very big with most companies.
• Make sure to ask for business cards or get the email addresses of each interviewer

Post interview

• Firm handshake at the end of each interview and show enthusiasm for the role and the company
• Send a thank you email to each interviewer which highlights specific parts of your conversation as well as show enthusiasm for the role and the company

 
Following the above steps may not get you the job, but it certainly will put you in top consideration for the role and make it a tough choice for the company to make.