What Is Headhunting and How Does It Differ From Recruiting?
What is the difference between headhunting and recruiting?
Headhunting and recruiting seek to solve the same problem—employing the most highly qualified candidate for the open position. While the two approaches have the same goal, their methods are pretty different.Headhunting
Headhunting, also known as an executive search, is the process of finding the best possible candidate for a position. In most cases, businesses use a headhunting strategy, rather than traditional recruitment, to identify and hire high-level employees. Headhunters typically only approach employed professionals and not actively looking for another job, known as passive candidates, who would be ideal considerations for the job. Headhunters present job offers to these targeted candidates, usually leaders in their field or industry, to entice them to leave their current positions.How does the headhunting process work?
- Determine the need for a new employee
- Establish the necessary skills and experience
- Identify passive candidates
- Consider active candidates
- Review and vet
- Interview and assess
- Extend the job offer
Recruiting
Recruiting is the most common practice for identifying potential candidates and hiring new employees. These candidates might apply directly for the position, or the recruiter may speak with them at a job fair or meet them through a professional contact. Jobseekers typically find the job opening through a job search rather than the recruiter finding, or headhunting, the candidate. Recruiters may work for an agency but often work in human resources for the company with open positions.How does the recruiting process work?
- Identify open positions
- Create a job description
- Post the vacancy on job boards
- Seek other applicants
- Interview and assess
- Extend the job offer
Although the goal of both recruitment actions is the same - to find the right candidate for a vacant position, the processes of both: recruitment and headhunting, are slightly different. After assessing the needs, each company decides which way is most suitable. The best option to find out is to try both a recruitment and a headhunting service and evaluate the best and most effective ways to search for employees.
