Executive Headhunter
What is an executive headhunter?
An executive headhunter, also known as an executive recruiter, is a specialised role at an executive search firm in which an individual focuses on finding and placing candidates in high-level executive positions at key, or even listed, corporations.
When did the term “headhunter” originate?
The term 'headhunter' originated from the practice of hunting and collecting human heads as trophies, but today refers to a specialised recruitment service. Within this service offering, recruiters actively seek out and target high-level talent for well-remunerated executive and C-suite positions.
What does an executive headhunter do?
Executive search consultants generally knock themselves out attempting to recruit the ideal candidate for a role, often on a retainer basis. Executive headhunters, on the other hand, are required to do less follow-up, and/or to provide a less comprehensive service to the corporate client, than that demanded from an executive search agent or firm.
What can go wrong for the executive headhunter?
Individuals in this profession may face challenges such as:
• difficulty finding and retaining talent;
- trouble in managing the expectations of high-calibre clients;
- inability to maintain the degree of confidentiality that’s required;
- a lack of financial predictability.
What movies are there to watch about executive headhunting, to boost inspiration for the job at hand?
The Undercover Recruiter suggests eight movies that everyone in recruitment should watch. These are:
- Wolf of Wall Street – explores recruitment-related themes through the lens of sales and building a team within a sales-driven environment;
- Boiler Room – about a music platform that hosts live music sessions, streams them online, and archives them for later viewing. The platform is known for showcasing emerging artists,
and championing grassroots scenes from around the world;
- Pursuit of Happyness – highlights the importance of perseverance, determination, and a willingness to learn in the job-search process,
even when facing significant obstacles;
- The Internship – explores recruitment through the lens of competitive internships, and the process of landing a job in a high-demand field. It focuses on the challenges and
strategies involved in attracting and securing a coveted internship, showcasing the competitive nature of the recruitment process and the skills that are needed to stand out;
- Moneyball – story of how Oakland Athletics made use of data analysis to find undervalued players, effectively revolutionising their recruitment strategy.
The team, facing budget constraints, couldn't afford traditional scouting methods and relied on statistics to identify players who were performing well, despite these individuals
being overlooked by other teams;
- Tommy Boy – explores themes relevant to business and leadership, including the importance of understanding people, building trust, and adapting to change, all of which are
crucial for successful recruitment efforts;
- Jerry Maguire – story about a sports agent who prioritises personal connections over financial gain, leading to a shift in how he views his work and his clients.
The film highlights the importance of human connection in a field often driven by money, showcasing how prioritising relationships can lead to both personal and professional success;
- Glengarry Glen Ross – highlights the desperation and cutthroat competition within a sales environment, showcasing how some individuals may resort to unethical practices
to secure leads and make sales, which can be seen as a parallel to the intense competition and pressure within certain recruitment agencies.
What sayings can you make use of to encourage candidates who are making, what could be construed as, a huge leap of faith within their career trajectories?
According to Indeed, the following five quotes should offer all the career inspiration that an ambitious professional may require:
- "You miss 100 personal of the shots you don't take" – Wayne Gretzky, former professional hockey player and head coach;
- "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat! Just get on" – Sheryl Sandberg, business executive;
- "There will be obstacles. There will be doubters. There will be mistakes. But with hard work, there are no limits" – Michael Phelps, Olympic swimmer;
- "The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to show us how badly we want something" – Randy Pausch, educator;
- "Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn" – Harriet Beecher Stowe, author.
What lessons should a newbie in the industry take on board?
Founder and CEO of Clockwork Recruiting, Christian Spletzer, shares the top five biggest lessons he learned in his first year of executive headhunting in an article on LinkedIn Pulse:
- it’s a highly stressful line of work. You need to operate to a high level of professionalism;
- you’ll need a strategy to work from. This will show your clients what to expect, and will provide proof of the sort of value you’ve promised them;
- align with a client from the outset. If you establish specific and mutually agreed-upon goals and next steps with your clients, it will be easier to present them with candidates
whom you feel confident about;
- get involved in all aspects of the search. Truly great recruiters are able to accomplish everything with aplomb, from getting contracts signed, to paperwork preparation,
formatting CVs, doing research, communicating process and expectations with clients, and speaking to candidates – no matter
what their initial role entailed or what AI may take over in the future;
- you don’t have to know all the answers. It’s ok to go away, do your research, and return to the client with accurate information.
This shows professionalism, integrity, honesty and prudence in a headhunter; i.e. that you have an approach that’s likely to provide sustained and continuous success.
What reading material will keep me thriving in this career?
To stay ahead of the competition, you’re advised to dip into the following four good reads
- The Executive Recruiter's Playbook: Winning Strategies for Finding Exceptional Leaders & Building a Sustainable Executive Recruitment Strategy (2023), by William J Sheweloff;
- Headhunters: Matchingmaking in the Labour Market (2002), by William Finley and James Coverdill;
• The Right Leader: Selecting Executives Who Fit (2009),
by Nathanial C Stoddard;
- Heads: Business Lessons from an Executive Search Pioneer (2012), by Russell S Reynolds and Carol E Curtis.
Which firms should I research, to keep front and centre within the executive headhunting niche?
To learn about prominent executive recruiters, you could research international firms such as:
In South Africa, the top executive search firms currently are the likes of:
