Reply to: FAO Dodgy and other agents here...

[cojak]

Isn't RH permie?

A lot of contingency agents and candidates like to think that they have either headhunted or been headhunted simply because they have been approached "out of the blue". However usually this is because a name has been given to an agent in order to get rid of an unwanted colleague/employee.

SShhhhhhhhsh....

[TheFaQQer]

Someone is probably trying to get rid of you- no one headhunts contractors. Good agents will use headhunting techniques to identify names of suitable people in suitable companies but that is as far as it goes.

Isn't RH permie?

[MrMark]

I was joking

Heh. Stupid me again - believing what an agent said...

[DodgyAgent]

Surely if someone wants rid of a contractor, they merely fail to renew the contract (or cuts short the existing one)? Seems pretty far-fetched (and possible ineffectual) to have a contractor head-hunted in order to get rid of him/her?

I was joking

[MrMark]

Someone is probably trying to get rid of you- no one headhunts contractors. Good agents will use headhunting techniques to identify names of suitable people in suitable companies but that is as far as it goes.

Surely if someone wants rid of a contractor, they merely fail to renew the contract (or cuts short the existing one)? Seems pretty far-fetched (and possible ineffectual) to have a contractor head-hunted in order to get rid of him/her?

[DodgyAgent]

I think usually a headhunter is used when a company is trying to poach a particular individual from another company. It doesn't really apply to the usual tulip we go through with agents.

A lot of agents use the term to describe themselves because it makes them feel superior and more importantly makes the candidate feel special.

If you are being headhunted, the interview should be a bit of a shoe-in because they came looking for you, not the other way round.

Companies use headhunters to find the very best/most suitable in an entire skills market. Or they use them to pick out certain individuals as you say that they know about but wish to put an agency between themselves and the candidates.

The only "shoe-in" is an interview with the headhunter as the hunter will deliver a short list of the best candidates to be interviewed by the client.

[EternalOptimist]

Someone is probably trying to get rid of you- no one headhunts contractors. Good agents will use headhunting techniques to identify names of suitable people in suitable companies but that is as far as it goes.

you b@stard. you bursted his bubble.

ignore him RH

[DodgyAgent]

Yep. A few have over the last few months. Just wondered if these were jumped up little barrow-boys, but they know their stuff. The last chap who rang today has a clear understanding of my skillset and the market. More than most.

Someone is probably trying to get rid of you- no one headhunts contractors. Good agents will use headhunting techniques to identify names of suitable people in suitable companies but that is as far as it goes.

[realityhack]

Why RH?

Has someone 'been in touch'?

Yep. A few have over the last few months. Just wondered if these were jumped up little barrow-boys, but they know their stuff. The last chap who rang today has a clear understanding of my skillset and the market. More than most.

[Bunk]

I think usually a headhunter is used when a company is trying to poach a particular individual from another company. It doesn't really apply to the usual tulip we go through with agents.

A lot of agents use the term to describe themselves because it makes them feel superior and more importantly makes the candidate feel special.

If you are being headhunted, the interview should be a bit of a shoe-in because they came looking for you, not the other way round.

[DodgyAgent]

Head Hunter is a term used to describe themselves by people who want to big up their role at kelly services.

HTH

A headhunter works only on a specific assignment entirely on behalf of the client.

An agent/contingency agent works for both the candidate (finds him a job) and the client.

The headhunter is always paid a retainer "up front" an agent isnt paid (unless running an advert -which is called "selection") until the candidate either signs the contract of employment or his/her bum is fixed to the seat.

Headhunters are supposed to explore the finite ends of an entire skills market which is done by "mapping" the structures of competitor employers and then taking the job opportunities directly and personally to the most suitable candidate (the identification of which is quite a skilled job)

Contingency agents deal only with candidates that are active in the job markets and therefore never know how a candidate compares with the remainder of the market.

A lot of contingency agents and candidates like to think that they have either headhunted or been headhunted simply because they have been approached "out of the blue". However usually this is because a name has been given to an agent in order to get rid of an unwanted colleague/employee.

There is indeed a fundamental difference between the two.

[pzz76077]

Head hunters are folk who go out and persuade you to leave your current role and work for their client.

Agents are the general dogs bodies of the recruitment and do whatever comes along, generally less strategic than head hunters.

PZZ

[cojak]

Is there any real difference between an agent and a headhunter? Is headhunter not just a posh term for agent?

Should the approach be any different in dealing with either in respect to hearing about/being submitted for/interviewing for roles?

RH

Why RH?

Has someone 'been in touch'?

[Pondlife]

Head Hunter is a term used to describe themselves by people who want to big up their role at kelly services.

HTH

[Mich the Tester]

Is a headhunter someone who makes a tulipload of money by placing one very highly paid person per week, while an agent makes a tulipload of money by placing one moderately paid minion per day?