5 Reasons You Should Work With a Headhunter
Thanks to Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake and the writers of Friends with Benefits, people think that headhunting is a glamourous job where we get to lunch with clients, take candidates on awesome adventures around the city, and play Wii into the wee hours of the morning. For some that may be the case, but for the team at Collaborative Talent we take a different approach.
We spend our hours working WITH you and making sure that you have all that you need to successfully find a job, nail an interview, and accept the best offer for you and what you bring to the table. Read on to find out why you should work with a headhunter!
1. Salary Negotiation and Market Expertise
We know the market, we know your worth, and we know what the client can pay. As part of our job, we work to make sure you are receiving the best offer possible for your skills and expertise. Sometimes that means having an honest conversation with you as a jobseeker to make sure you understand your skills and the value you can bring to a company, sometimes that means having a conversation with a company to make sure they realize the skills and value you can bring. Be prepared to have open and honest communication with your headhunter and what you WANT to make, and we will do everything in our power to make sure the offer you receive is a mirror of your value.
With knowledge in the market, we’re able to work with you to find the best role. We know what companies just received funding and we know what companies have roles that are not knowledge to the public. We know where the market is going from a compensation standpoint and we know what skills are hot and deserve higher compensation.
2. Open Communication and Feedback
As a headhunter, we work closely with you to identify the right opportunities for you. We know the ins and outs of your life and what it is you are looking for. We can only find you the perfect role if you tell us what truly matters to you. Maybe you’re just after the big bucks, maybe you want a better work/life balance, maybe it’s parental leave and flexibility, whatever it is, be open and honest with your headhunter when discussing what you are looking for and why you are leaving your current role.
After the interview, be prepared for the feedback from the client – no more “We found someone who better fit our needs.” We are honest with why the client didn’t move forward and work to coach you on how you can do better in your next interview.
3. Coaching
Consider us career coaches of all things – we may critique your resume, prep you for some difficult interview questions, and offer advice when it comes to who you are interviewing with and what they are looking for.
4. Confidentiality
You don’t want to post your resume up on one of the job boards knowing that one of your internal recruiters may find it? No need to when you’re working with a headhunter!
5. Skip the Application
It’s an old saying, but very true: Men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of the criteria, and women if they meet 100% of the criteria. But why? Well, that’s because of a good old tool we like to call ATS (Applicant Tracking System). Did you know companies use them to “weed out” candidates if they don’t meet certain criteria (years of experience, education, skills)? Of course you did – and that’s why you didn’t apply for the job in the first place! Who wants to spend 30+ minutes completing an application when you’re going to get rejected because a computer doesn’t think you’re the right fit?
As headhunters, we have direct relationships with hiring managers – we show them what the computer can’t show them. Maybe you don’t “meet the criteria” of the role, but you have something else they need – the passion and ability to make a difference. When you work with a headhunter you don’t fill out an application, you have a real person talking to a real person about you and what you bring to the table. Don’t get me wrong, a certain bit of automation is great, but let’s not always rely on it.
We also are speaking with you because we have a plethora of roles that may pique your interest – maybe you saw a posting and didn’t apply because you didn’t fit the skills needed, but we know the hiring manager and know what they’re really looking for. We’re able to talk to you about several different roles and get you interviews for several different companies all off of one conversation that dives into what you want, what you can do, and where you want to take your career.
Interested in learning more about working with a Headhunter? Reach out to the Collaborative Talent team.