The best recruiters are engaging, approachable folk – people want to work with them, people buy from them. They ask lots of questions to get to know their candidates so they can identify the right people for their clients. This means it is often very easy to open up to them. But watch out! Your headhunter is not your career coach.
Not here in the UK anyway, where the model is that clients pay the executive search firm to conduct a search for them. Their client is their customer. As a candidate you are not their customer.
Sure, all candidates have the potential to be a future client and may have been in the past, but when you proactively contact a recruiter because you are now looking for a new role, be mindful of this relationship and the dynamic.
Tempting though it might be to meet them for a cuppa and tell them (warts and all) why you want to make a move, and brain dump all your musings about potential future career avenues, this is not what they are there for, and not what they want from you.
You aren’t paying them for their time. The clients who have retained them to run a search are. Their time is scarce and precious.
When I worked in executive search, every time I looked at my email I would have more emails from potential candidates sending me their CV and wanting to meet for a coffee and a chat. They all wanted to feel like they were getting a great service from me.
In the nicest possible way, headhunters haven’t got enough time to be your listening ear about your career challenges to the depth you might want or need.
So here are two tips for you:
1. Get a career coach if you aren’t already completely clear on specifically what’s important in your next role and able to articulate it concisely and with impact.
2. Be diplomatic about the detail you choose to share with recruiters. Be professional.
When you meet with a headhunter be clear about:
- Your ideal next role – specifically what you want to do next.
- Your unique strengths and achievements.
- Your reason for looking (the professional version)
Leave them in no doubt that they can trust you to do a great interview if they shortlist you for a role and put you in front of their client.
Even more than ever, when the market is tough and competition is high, it’s important to treat interactions with your headhunter like you would with a potential hiring manager.
So even if you have known a headhunter for years and you have a friendly working relationship, don’t miss the opportunity to impress them when you are next looking for a role and you drop them that note to meet for a coffee and catch up.
My earlier blog shares more job-hunting tips – Looking for a job? Here are 13 tips.