Drawbacks of using Headhunters
Registering with a headhunter can seem like an excellent idea if you find yourself suddenly unemployed. Under certain circumstances, it may be the right answer, but in many cases your time would be better spent elsewhere. Consider the following points before taking the plunge.
They don't work for you
Headhunters, like temp agencies or recruiters, work for the company that has hired them to find someone. They do not work for the job hunter, because the job hunter is not the one paying them. It is crucial to keep this idea top-of-mind when talking to a headhunter. They really are not interested in your career goals, likes, dislikes, and preferences; if you need help sorting through these issues, turn to a career exploration service instead.
You will be checklisted
The headhunter is looking for someone who fills all the requirements of a company's order. Just like online dating, it is unlikely that you will have every single one of the attributes, qualifications, and experiences that the company is asking for. The current global economic downturn means that it is a buyer's market, meaning that there are far more people looking for work than there are jobs available. Consequently, unless you exactly match or exceed the stated profile, you will not get a call.
Only lateral moves
If you are looking for a job that is almost exactly the same as your current job or last job, contacting a headhunter is a smart move. However, most people would like an opportunity to stretch and grow into a more senior position with a higher starting salary. A great resume and interview can get a job seeker up one more rung of the corporate ladder, but a headhunter won't even put your name forward for that type of position
Only senior positions
Headhunters are not interested in lower-level jobs, although they may take on a few orders to service an important client. This is because their fee is usually a percentage of the starting salary of the hire. A lower starting salary for a junior position means more work for less money. If you have experience in middle management or above, headhunters may be a useful tool in your job search kit, but entry-level workers should spend their time on other contacts.
Yet another rejection
Job seekers are likely to be rejected multiple times by companies before actually landing a job. After four or five interviews without a job offer, you can feel very discouraged, and desperate enough to try anything, including contacting headhunters. Unless you have experience in senior positions and you want a job very similar to something you have done before, those headhunters can just be another depressing dead end.
