ALT-3 Drawbacks of using a Headhunter when looking for a Job
Headhunters are great to have as among your friends and acquaintances in growing your job network. They’re usually among the best sources of latest information (not posted on job ads) on what’s been taking place in the labor market. This is particularly true for job vacancies that call for certain particulars on background, depth and breadth of experience – even in a down market. Keep note of the following observations of the headhunting practice in your job search, that may work against you:1) HEADHUNTERS WORK FOR THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CLIENTS. Their clients are the ones who pay them their fees to keep their businesses going and growing. As such, they’re always on the look out for applicants to successfully place candidates for their clients. The faster they’re able to complete these assignments, the better. As such, they don't necessarily call you for an interview just to help you, but to earn from the specialized recruitment business they're engaged in.
2) SOME HEADHUNTERS SPECIALIZE BY INDUSTRY, OR BY LOCATION. The job hunter has to approach headhunters who may be specializing in industry/ies where the job hunter is targeting to get into. But in case you’ve known a certain headhunter, it’s best to approach this headhunter to introduce your credentials and background to him / her. The headhunter may give you referrals to their other contacts in their business.3) SOME ACCOUNTS ARE ON A BEST-EFFORTS BASIS. This means a “job requirement” in a client-company has been waiting for referrals from several headhunting groups, or even from the own recruitment being done by the client-company. As such, there may be several headhunters working to make a successful placement of a candidate. This makes the opportunity to be considered limited, as you are indirectly at the mercy of the client, through the headhunter who himself / herself competes head-on with other headhunters.4) WAITING TIME FOR THE COMPLETION OF RECRUITMENT PROJECT. The headhunting process may take a minimum of 4 weeks of processing before completion. Expect to spend time waiting before a job is offered to you, if you get the opportunity to be interviewed and shortlisted for a job.5) SOCIAL BACKGROUND OF HEADHUNTERS. Some headhunters and clients belong to the same “old boys network,” those who have the same (social) backgrounds. Members or insiders play “chummy-chummy” with each other, just like in other exclusive groupings. If you're an outsider, you may have to figure out how to penetrate their circle. This will be a key for you in getting access to high-level job opportunities usually available to those who are in-the-know.Don’t be surprised, too, if you’ll be asked to show up for interviews with several clients, even if you’re not that keen to get into a new job now. The headhunter may be seeing you as possessing great potentials to get placed (i.e. offered a job). Headhunters run a business, remember.
