What should you do if you are perfectly happy and fulfilled in your current position and get a call from a headhunter? Even when you are satisfied with your current job it never hurts to at least listen to what the headhunter has to say. For one thing, it is wise to never burn your bridges since it is highly likely that at some point over the next 3-5 years you might well be considering a job change. This is especially so if you are seeking a higher-level position which most headhunters have the inside track to. Another consideration is that, as we have seen in the current economy, job security is not a given and it is best to be open and flexible to new opportunities. Other factors such as a new CEO or corporate takeover can also change a satisfied employee into a passive job seeker, someone who is not actively seeking a job but who is open to hearing about opportunities.
At the outset of the headhunter’s call you will need to determine the reason for the contact. Is the headhunter hoping for a referral from you for one of their an open positions or are you the target of the call? Keep in mind that many times a headhunter may tell you that they are seeking a referral so that you don’t hang up immediately and listen to what they say. What they are hoping is that when they describe the position to you it will peak your interest. Once you establish the intent of the call it does not harm to ask a few questions to further determine if this might be an opportunity worth exploring further.
Always keep in mind that you are in control when the recruiter contacts you. You can choose not to take the call, to have your secretary take a message, or take a few minutes to determine the nature of the call. While the headhunter cannot disclose the name of the company they represent, a few strategic questions can lead you to getting a good sense of the overall size of the company, the industry it is in, title of position, reason that the position is open, as well as salary (or at least salary range)and benefits. Speaking with a headhunter can prove to be a valuable education and enable you to accurately weigh your options in deciding whether a career move might be in your interest. At the least you will gain a clearer understanding of your options for any future career change.
It is usually best to keep the call form the recruiter confidential and not disclose the contact to your supervisor or co-workers. Although you have every right to be proud of being sought after, advertising this to others in your company may result in both suspicion on the part of your supervisor and perhaps even jealousy on the part of your colleagues. For example, your supervisor may begin to question your dedication to your current job if you are actively fielding calls from headhunters.
Even if you are not currently in the market for a new job you may well know of a colleague who is and who would be a great match for the opportunity, as described. By providing the headhunter with this referral you have accomplished two things: 1) you have given your colleague the opportunity to apply for a position for which he/she might not otherwise have been aware; 2) you have done a big favor for the recruiter who will be very likely to remember your helpfulness should the day come when you are seeking new employment.
Overall, by taking recruiter calls and displaying courtesy and helpfulness you will be building a highly valuable business network which could well lead to a higher level position when you do decide to change jobs.
A good post however I dont agree with handing over your friends or colleagues details to a recruiter or headhunter without their consent as this is a breach of their privacy. Also, if they are a good headhunter or recruiter, one would hope that they don’t have to spend their time milking potential candidates for referrals.
Kelly,
Can you offer some suggestions as to how a “good recruiter” can come up with passive, qualified candidates for specific positions by a means other than referrals?
Fact is, a “good recruiter” works 90% (or more) referrals. “Good recruiters” don’t look at job boards like Monster, careerbuilder, etc. They are talking with people, establishing relationships, gathering referrals, etc..
I take offense to your statement about spending time “milking potential candidates for referrals.” If you are a “potential” candidate, that means I am not actively presenting your background to prospective companies. Why should I not ask you if there is anyone you know who may be interested in the position I am currently recruiting for?? Surely if you’ve been in the industry for any amount of time, you either know someone that is looking, or you know someone who knows people that are looking.
See, the relationship with a “good recruiter” goes both ways. I have many candidates that I have placed (some multiple times) that call me at least once a month just to see who’s doing what, where and why. They understand the “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” mentality and this makes it a mutually beneficial relationship.
It depends. If I know someone who is currently unemployed and looking, I always give referrals. If I am not sure, I ask if I can pass the recruiter’s contact info to someone who may be a better fit.
One thing that some recruiters do is to ask “if you know somebody who may be a good fit” when in reality, they are asking you of you could be interested.
I typically do not bother to respond to blind solicitations from people asking me to fill out another profile. If they looking to fill a position, I’ll talk to them. If they are looking to fill their rolodex, I’ll pass.