What is a headhunter?

Finding a professional who meets the requirements for a particular job and who also fits in with the team is not always an easy task.

As we live in a society subject to constant change, in which digital transformation is affecting practically all sectors and all companies, it is normal for organistions to put more and more effort into finding professionals who know how to adapt to these new environments.

This is part of the mission of what we know as headhunters, a profession that we will talk in this article, and that is studied more in depth with modules on human resources in the Bachelor in Business Administration and the Business Management Degree. If you are interested in headhunting, keep on reading.

Headhunter meaning

We can define headhunters as those professionals, independent or belonging to an agency, who specialise in looking for profiles that fit certain positions and have the necessary skills to carry out a specific job.

Their main objective in companies is, therefore, to find the most competent candidate on the market to fill a specific vacancy.

Depending on the role they are looking for, headhunters are also referred to as executive recruiters, who may be tasked with finding more niche profiles or for more senior roles only.

How to become a headhunter?

Although there is no specific training to become a headhunter, there are some university degrees that are more relevant to the job. For example, all those related to the Human Resources sector would be a good option for those who wish to train as headhunters. Some options are the following:

• Labour Relations
• Business Studies
• Business Administration and Management
• Labour Sciences
• Psychology

In addition, and as we have mentioned, the digital transformation has brought about a real revolution in the business market. That is why a person specialising in technological skills, who can use these to identify the best profiles, is also highly valued in this field.

Characteristics of a good headhunter

To do a good job as a headhunter, in addition to technical knowledge, you need a series of interpersonal skills (or soft skills) that we present below:

• Being a good listener: the best way to get to know a candidate in depth and to know if they are the right choice for a particular job is to pay attention to what they say, which will allow you to get to know their skills and abilities better.
• Be observant: it is not enough to listen; you also need to observe. It is equally important to pay attention to the small details and to study the candidates' profiles well before presenting them to the company.
• Possessing good negotiation skills: knowing how to construct solid arguments and negotiate, as well as facilitating the flow of the conversation, can help to achieve better results.

Other important skills that a good headhunter should possess are: self-confidence, leadership skills, initiative, persistence, ambition, strong verbal and written communication skills and a pleasant personality, all accompanied by a high level of empathy. You should also be prepared to work as part of a team.

What is the job of a headhunter?

In order to achieve the task of finding the perfect candidate for a given position, the headhunter will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Meet with the HR managers to understand the functions and requirements of the vacant position.
• Based on the data and his or her own portfolio of candidates, the headhunter will have to search for those who they believe fits the job requirements.
• Be in charge of publishing the job offer on job search portals or social networks.
• Contact the candidates.
• Another of their tasks is to attend job fairs to expand their network of contacts.
• Contacting industry professionals in case references need to be requested from candidates.
• Negotiate the terms and conditions of employment with potential candidates.
• Preparing and presenting reports with recruitment proposals to his/her clients.

In today's ever-changing labour market, more and more companies are interested in standing out through innovation. As a result, the demand for professions such as headhunters has multiplied in recent years. If you don't want your company to fall behind the competition, don't hesitate to hire a headhunter.