Having worked in travel recruitment and headhunting for some time, I've learned a great deal about the way executive search agencies work. Even if you're not actively looking for work, an enquiring headhunter call can boost morale or prompt a wage boost by your current employer eager to keep you at the firm, and of course if you are looking for work, then letting headhunters do the legwork will save you an awful lot of time and effort. But just how do you go about getting noticed by recruitment companies without speaking to them directly?
Be the Best you can Be
This one may sound like a complete cop-out, but the truth is that headhunters go for the exceptional. Don't ever feel like you have no room to improve, and try to develop your skills as best you can. It's tempting to think that if you're not at one of the top companies in your industry, then you won't fall onto the recruiter's radar, but this is actually far from the truth - we know that there are skilful, talented workers at smaller companies just as there are overpaid, under skilled people working at the top firms. In short, headhunters look everywhere, so do your best to stand out no matter what level you're at.
It's all About Exposure
But of course, you can be super-talented and great at your job, but if you're unknown outside of your office cubicle then you're not going to get that call. The best way to do this is to give talks at conferences, write articles for industry publications and to be an expert in your field, but you may not be at a level where this exposure is possible. Start small - make your presence felt online. Increasingly, headhunters and recruiters are using the internet to find talented people whose names, for whatever reason, aren't on the tip of everyone's tongue. There are a number of places where you can upload your CV to be searchable, and equally being prominent on business social networks like LinkedIn can pay dividends. The only downside to this is that the less formal social networks like Facebook and MySpace are equally searchable - so make sure you maintain a degree of professionalism throughout your online dealings!
Let Your Clients Market You
It stands to reason that to have any hope of getting headhunted, you have to have an excellent reputation amongst your clients. Happy clients are likely to be vocal about recommending you to others. The effects of this are two-fold - firstly, more recommendations means word of mouth business for your company, raising your profile, and secondly direct word of mouth to headhunters and recruiters. Believe it or not, actually asking for suggestions of people to target is a big part of the headhunter's day, and if you can be the first name on the lips of your clients, you're that bit more likely to get the call from an executive search agency.
Network as if Your Life Depended On It
Don't miss an opportunity to get your name known in your industry. Attend formal and informal events, network and make contacts. I can't speak for all areas, but in my experience of travel recruitment, the community quite tight with everyone knowing everyone. Get into that inner circle, and you should instantly feel the benefit from good old fashioned 'word of mouth'...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Executive Search Firms Or Job Portals Best Way To Search Jobs
Are you in a dilemma where to look for his next job quickly, still retaining confidentiality?
Here we evaluate few common ways of searching a job i.e placements consultants, job portals and employee referrals. As we are a company in executive search in india, we understand ins and outs of these very well.
Search by forwarding your resume to few of the top executive search companies has its own advantages and drawbacks, while the same is also applicable to a search through job portals.
First let’s take executive search companies. Big task here is to first find out few top recruitment companies which actually handle successfully large volumes of hiring assignments at your level and in your kind of industry. Like for top level hiring few successful consultants are Mukul Consultants, Mafoi, Manpower etc. Google can somewhat help you in such a task. Once you find few big ones, try speaking to few of them if they have any relevant openings currently (answer will normally be yes, even if they don’t have it). Forward your profile to consultants which show interest in the same. There is no need to search and forward your resume to small consultants, it may just waste time. First advantage of going through placement agencies is that you can be sure of confidentiality. Second advantage is that many big corporates only depend on these search firms for their recruitment. Third and the most important is that major consultants can make a real difference to your selection chances, as they are trusted and relied by their clients and do influence decisions of the employers.
Job portals these days have become an excellent source to search jobs very quickly. The day you upload your profile on the portal you start getting job options. Though I represent a top placement consultant, i still suggest job portals as the best and the fastest way to make your job search at all levels. Be cautious to make it confidential as your current employer can always track your profile. While making it confidential, use nick names, alternate email id/ phone no. Your question would be how job portals can give numerous and immediate responses. Its simply because they are used by thousands of consultants and direct employers. These day all majors consultants (including the one’s you may approach directly) use job portals like Monster, Dice, Naukri etc. Major drawback here is that your resume becomes a public property, your current employer may see it, you may get too many calls for useless openings, your mailbox may become redundant due to flooding of job offers and you may keep getting calls even when you have found one and tried blocking your profile.
Third way of job search can be employee referral, especially in sectors like IT & BPO where employee referral is used extensively. So if you have a known person in your dream employer, reach out to him, and he would be more than happy to sponsor your profile (after all he will get the employee referral fee from his company). This is a highly preferred way of recruitment (for yourself and companies) as selection chances are high and cost for employer companies is low
So go hunting & Best of Luck
Here we evaluate few common ways of searching a job i.e placements consultants, job portals and employee referrals. As we are a company in executive search in india, we understand ins and outs of these very well.
Search by forwarding your resume to few of the top executive search companies has its own advantages and drawbacks, while the same is also applicable to a search through job portals.
First let’s take executive search companies. Big task here is to first find out few top recruitment companies which actually handle successfully large volumes of hiring assignments at your level and in your kind of industry. Like for top level hiring few successful consultants are Mukul Consultants, Mafoi, Manpower etc. Google can somewhat help you in such a task. Once you find few big ones, try speaking to few of them if they have any relevant openings currently (answer will normally be yes, even if they don’t have it). Forward your profile to consultants which show interest in the same. There is no need to search and forward your resume to small consultants, it may just waste time. First advantage of going through placement agencies is that you can be sure of confidentiality. Second advantage is that many big corporates only depend on these search firms for their recruitment. Third and the most important is that major consultants can make a real difference to your selection chances, as they are trusted and relied by their clients and do influence decisions of the employers.
Job portals these days have become an excellent source to search jobs very quickly. The day you upload your profile on the portal you start getting job options. Though I represent a top placement consultant, i still suggest job portals as the best and the fastest way to make your job search at all levels. Be cautious to make it confidential as your current employer can always track your profile. While making it confidential, use nick names, alternate email id/ phone no. Your question would be how job portals can give numerous and immediate responses. Its simply because they are used by thousands of consultants and direct employers. These day all majors consultants (including the one’s you may approach directly) use job portals like Monster, Dice, Naukri etc. Major drawback here is that your resume becomes a public property, your current employer may see it, you may get too many calls for useless openings, your mailbox may become redundant due to flooding of job offers and you may keep getting calls even when you have found one and tried blocking your profile.
Third way of job search can be employee referral, especially in sectors like IT & BPO where employee referral is used extensively. So if you have a known person in your dream employer, reach out to him, and he would be more than happy to sponsor your profile (after all he will get the employee referral fee from his company). This is a highly preferred way of recruitment (for yourself and companies) as selection chances are high and cost for employer companies is low
So go hunting & Best of Luck
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)