Ok
one question I've always wanted to ask:
Do headhunters represent job seekers or job hunters?
That is, do you start the process after you get a good CV or after you get an opening from an organization?
If (as it usually happens) it is the latter then you probably need to get several resumes to the organization to shortlist from. So essentially you actually are the organization's extended pair of hands not the candidates.
Is my understanding true?
warm regards,
Gautam
sorry a typo...
I meant to ask:
"Do headhunters represent job seekers or job-fillers?"
Gautam;
Excellent question. In fact I should do an entry on it.
Simply put contingency firms represent the job seeker; retainer firms represent the client.
However the client pays the fee in both cases so even contingency firms are beholden to the client first and the candidate second.
When it comes to presenting your qualifications however both are "representing" you in that they both have to present you in the strongest possible light to the client.
That is why it is very important that they understand as much as they can about you.
Look for a longer post possibly on Thursday on this subject.
Yeah, Gautam. The recruiter might like you and want to help you but his main responsibility is to the person who is paying his fee and that's ALWAYS the client.
I don't think it makes a difference in practical terms. Because we are always interested in putting the best candidates forward. Problems arise when potential candidates think that we misunderstand their value. It's theoretically possible but, to be frank, I haven't seen it happen yet.
I have three candidates go around me this year - go straight to the client when they struck out with my project manager - and not one of them was called in for an interview. The thing is that they had some of what the client wanted - and they could have done the jobs at least to some extent - but they didn't have exactly what the client wanted.
Commenting by HaloScan
