In my last blog post I wrote about how to manage being headhunted, specifically looking at whether or not it’s a good idea to accept a counter offer for your current employer.
This time around I’d like to address the headhunting process and how you get headhunted in the first place.
There is no doubt about it most of us dream of the day the phone rings and a voice introduces themselves as an executive recruitment consultant saying they they have been researching the market for a position that they have been retained to fill and you appear to be a possible candidate.
Should this kind of call come through to you, be assured that there is nothing random about it. Before any conversation takes place, your background will have been researched, your successes measured and your career progression examined to be sure it was upwards and without blemish.
When organisations require a person of a particular calibre they will retain an executive recruitment consultants and present a very detailed list of requirements in respect of career history, recognised skills and successes along with other specific requirements in respect of the job on offer.
A fee will be agreed usually a percentage of the first year’s salary including anticipated bonuses and or commission and all payable in three tranches. The first payment is on agreeing the assignment, the second on production of a shortlist and the third on completion.
This whole process is carried out through careful research, checking and identifying individuals with the required attributes. A selection is made, a shortlist is presented and a final three or four are approached and introductions made. The three becomes two and two becomes one. Job done!
It is important to remember that appointments of this nature can be unadvertised which is why you need to insure that you can be found by searchers, so ‘optimise’ your CV and any other on-line information.
In the event that you do get that call and an invitation to meet, you will be most likely asked you produce a CV. Bear in mind that the employer in this case will be paying a very large amount of money and will expect a full and thorough background check on any candidate. This check will be very detailed and exacting and can go back to your College days and confirmation of Diplomas, Degrees and any other qualification you claim to have.
Double check your CV, your LinkedIn profile, and your references; in fact, every detail of your background and carer to date. Ensure it’s correct, accurate and you can stand by every word.
Your meeting with the recruitment consultant will be just the first of a few. They will decide if you are a suitable candidate and refer you and maybe two/three other candidates on as their chosen shortlist for the employer to consider and meet.
So if the knock comes to your door, click into action and reappraise every word you have ever written in the course of your career whether that is content from your CV, a presentation, a quote in the newspapers or anything you have said or done that can be found and could be to your professional detriment.
Headhunters are very professional people and treat their work very seriously and take their instructions from Directors and CEO’s. They are ‘picky’ in the extreme and their final choices are usually the best because they have been there themselves and are fully familiar with corporate administration at the highest level; they know exactly what is needed.
Your availability should be low key and subtle but I stress that this only works provided it is supported by many years of exceptional success in your area of endeavour.
Colm Cavey has over 24 years’ experience in helping people change careers and find the kind of job they want. Colm can review your CV, help you organise your job hunt and provide one to one interview and presentation coaching or all of those elements together in a full Career Change programme. To find out more about Colm you can contact him directly on 086-3017207 or via his company Professional Career Consulting