Totaljobs.com > Career Advice > Careers in... > Careers in Recruitment Sales > Head Hunter job description
Job description: Head Hunter
A good eye for skill. Your Head Hunter role would involve finding talented people that would be the best to work for your clients.
Research would be vital. You'd have to totally understand who your client is looking for, the job role and what they expect of the person. It's your job to then find the best individuals for the job.
On a daily basis you'd be talking to your clients and a number of people that you feel would be right for the role. Your work would involve negotiating fees and salaries between your client and the individual, and interviewing the top candidates.
You could work for various kinds of employment agency that deals with a wide range of office based and commercial jobs, or for a more specialised organisation. You'd be dealing with permanent or temporary work at all levels for many industry sectors.
Hours/Environment
Most Head Hunters are employed by job agencies, working Monday to Friday from 9 to 6. Many Head Hunters start off working in an industry and then, once they're familiar with it, become Head Hunters for that sector, seeking out talent using the contacts and knowlegde they've acquired..
Your work would be mainly desk-based, but travel would be needed frequently in the search for the best talent. Meeting with employers is also likely and so a driving licence would be needed for most jobs.
Skills and interests
To be a good Head Hunter, you must:
- have good communication skills
- have a great eye for skill and judge of character
- be able to gain people's confidence and put them at ease
- be persuasive, persistent and patient
- be of smart appearance
- be able to cope with pressure
- be flexible and adaptable
- have a mature personality
- have good organisational and administrative skills
Entry
Academic qualifications won't be necessary to become a Head Hunter, but having GCSEs/S grades would give you an advantage. More and more employers that deal with executive placements are now taking on graduates.
If working in a specific sector then a detailed knowledge and experience of the field would be extremely important and help stand you in good stead.
Experience would be a great advantage to you, as this is how many people enter the role. This can include work in personnel, sales or office work. And there is no upper age limit for entry. Personal qualities would also be greatly important, particularly 'people skills' and your judge of character.
Training
If you join a large agency it is likely to run in-house training programmes lasting up to 12 weeks. These programmes will include on-the-job training and courses run by the agencies' own staff. Other agencies could send you on external courses run by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).
The REC offers two awards, available through distance learning:
- The Foundation Award in Recruitment Practice. This would be appropriate in your first two years in the industry, or if you wish to refresh basic knowledge and skills. If you want to embark on a career in recruitment or set up your own agency, you could also take the Award.
- The Certificate in Recruitment Practice. With at least one years' experience, this would be useful for you, or if you have less experience, but have studied for A levels/H grades, a degree or equivalent.
The REC also offers a range of professional development short courses covering subjects such as sales, interview techniques, employment law, finance and management.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development offers the Certificate in Recruitment and Selection, available through distance learning, plus a range of professional development short courses in interviewing techniques, employment law and psychometric testing.
NVQ/SVQ Level 3 is available in Recruitment Consultancy.
Opportunities
There are thousands of recruitment agencies in the United Kingdom. Most deal with office workers, but if your interests or expertise lie in a specific area, there are many specialist agencies also. If you work in a general agency, it is possible to transfer your skills over into a specialist placement.
With experience, larger companies with a defined promotion structure may offer opportunities to move into business development or management. Alternatively, you could choose to set up your own agency.
Annual income
As a Head Hunter, your basic salary would range between £15,000 and £18,000 a year, plus commission. Once experienced, your salary would increase to between £20,000 and £40,000, depending on the organisation, plus commission.
Jobs in Recruitment sales
Other Careers in Recruitment Sales
