Headhunter for mid-level people (homes, employment, versus)

[coolwaters]

Hi! I'm looking for another job and have looked into local headhunters. Most of what I'm seeing are headhunters for people at the executive level. I have a B.S. in accounting and a B.S. in business management. I don't have a CPA or any other certification, so I'm not exactly CFO level.

I have BTDT with the Robert Half/Accountants One-type recruiters and had no success. I don't mind paying and know headhunters can be expensive. I was just wondering if anyone had knowledge of someone who specializes in placing those who are neither entry-level nor executive level.

Oh, I'm also watching and applying to jobs online (and I'm looking at individual company websites and Indeed), so I'm trying to search on my own. But, I want to try another avenue and hoped to find someone with knowledge of positions that may not always be posted. Also, I don't have to have a job specifically in accounting. I'm open to other possibilities.

Names for IT headhunters would be appreciated too as my husband is eyeing different jobs as well. He has a Master's in computer science and has experience in tons of stuff I don't understand. ;-) He has about 10 years experience, but not exactly management material (stereotypical computer geek - brilliant but not the best social skills). :-)

Thanks!

P. S. I did do a search, but a lot of people sent DM's with names, so I wanted to start a new thread for fresh responses.

[luv4horses]

I thought that headhunters 'hunted', not looked for homes for strays.

Not trying to be fresh, but it has been my experience that business clients who need a special position filled go to a headhunter, then the headhunter contacts experts in that field and asks for recommendations of people who are already working and doing a commendable job. Then the headhunter contacts those folks and tries to lure them away from thier existing employer. Otherwise if you are looking for a job for yourself, you go to an employment agency, or even a temp agency to get started.

Am I totally out of date?

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by coolwaters

Hi! I'm looking for another job and have looked into local headhunters. Most of what I'm seeing are headhunters for people at the executive level. I have a B.S. in accounting and a B.S. in business management. I don't have a CPA or any other certification, so I'm not exactly CFO level.

I have BTDT with the Robert Half/Accountants One-type recruiters and had no success. I don't mind paying and know headhunters can be expensive. I was just wondering if anyone had knowledge of someone who specializes in placing those who are neither entry-level nor executive level.

Oh, I'm also watching and applying to jobs online (and I'm looking at individual company websites and Indeed), so I'm trying to search on my own. But, I want to try another avenue and hoped to find someone with knowledge of positions that may not always be posted. Also, I don't have to have a job specifically in accounting. I'm open to other possibilities.

Names for IT headhunters would be appreciated too as my husband is eyeing different jobs as well. He has a Master's in computer science and has experience in tons of stuff I don't understand. ;-) He has about 10 years experience, but not exactly management material (stereotypical computer geek - brilliant but not the best social skills). :-)

Thanks!

P. S. I did do a search, but a lot of people sent DM's with names, so I wanted to start a new thread for fresh responses.

If he has a strong profile on LinkedIn, people should be contacting him. They contact me and I'm not even looking for a job.

Just a thought.

[coolwaters]

No, I know what you're saying. I believe that's true too. When I've asked people if they know about any jobs, I've had a few ask if I've tried a headhunter. Maybe recruiter is a better term, but I think of Robert Half and the like. Although, I guess they do the same thing. They work for the companies who ask for their help, but jobseekers go to them too.

I'm thinking of a person or small company versus the larger recruiting agencies. There are people who do this from what I've seen online, but they're usually for a higher career level than mine. :-)

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by coolwaters

No, I know what you're saying. I believe that's true too. When I've asked people if they know about any jobs, I've had a few ask if I've tried a headhunter. Maybe recruiter is a better term, but I think of Robert Half and the like. Although, I guess they do the same thing. They work for the companies who ask for their help, but jobseekers go to them too.

I'm thinking of a person or small company versus the larger recruiting agencies. There are people who do this from what I've seen online, but they're usually for a higher career level than mine. :-)

Well, I'm not a director (nor do I want to be one). My level is around the professional to managerial level and I get calls and emails just from LinkedIn. I would encourage brushing up the LinkedIn (and if you don't have one, I would create one immediately). You can also see recommendations on there for jobs that might be a fit, based on your profile.

Hope that helps. Most recruiters do seem to seek out people, not people seeking out recruiters.

And if your husband is basically a programmer or some such, just applying to companies (while trying to work a professional network like LinkedIn), should land him at least some phone calls.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

I thought that headhunters 'hunted', not looked for homes for strays.

Not trying to be fresh, but it has been my experience that business clients who need a special position filled go to a headhunter, then the headhunter contacts experts in that field and asks for recommendations of people who are already working and doing a commendable job. Then the headhunter contacts those folks and tries to lure them away from thier existing employer. Otherwise if you are looking for a job for yourself, you go to an employment agency, or even a temp agency to get started.

Am I totally out of date?

No, not really. That's fairly accurate, but the internet has added new ways of 'hunting' people.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook - all these avenues are sources for new applicants.

Under NO circumstances should an applicant (a potential employee) EVER EVER EVER pay somebody to find them a job. Those deals are all scams. No exceptions. Sometimes an employer may pay a firm to help layed off employees find jobs - that 's a different thing.

The single best method of finding a new job is networking. Through industry groups. Through business acquaintances. Through LinkedIn.

Headhunters typically find prospects for employers. They do not typically find jobs for applicants. (read that again if you don't see the difference.) There are certain industries/specific job fields where there is some overlay between the two groups, but general business degrees like you have are not one of them. (If you had your CPA and some experience, you might be in that group.)

[coolwaters]

Thanks RedZin. I'll ask him about his LinkedIn profile. He has one, I'll ask if it's updated (I could look at it myself, but I wouldn't know if it's complete with everything).

He has been on dice before but seems to be contacted mostly by out of state firms. (I'm definitely aware he's not exactly a unique candidate in this area and there are many more like him looking now).

He's not feverishly looking like I am, though. I thought it would be kind of a nice-to-know type thing if anyone knew of a name for headhunters or recruiters for IT folks.

[coolwaters]

Looks like I've messed up with the terminology. Maybe a career counselor? I thought they helped people with resumes and gave direction after looking over a person's skills.

JK Gourmet, I absolutely see the difference as far as a headhunter "hunts" vs gets hunted. But, like the recruiting agencies accept candidates I wasn't sure if headhunters do too.

Thanks for the responses though! Maybe what I'm thinking of doesn't exist outside of the (admittedly) few I've researched in this area.

[danmcb26]

Originally Posted by Jkgourmet

No, not really. That's fairly accurate, but the internet has added new ways of 'hunting' people.

LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook - all these avenues are sources for new applicants.

Under NO circumstances should an applicant (a potential employee) EVER EVER EVER pay somebody to find them a job. Those deals are all scams. No exceptions. Sometimes an employer may pay a firm to help layed off employees find jobs - that 's a different thing.

The single best method of finding a new job is networking. Through industry groups. Through business acquaintances. Through LinkedIn.

Headhunters typically find prospects for employers. They do not typically find jobs for applicants. (read that again if you don't see the difference.) There are certain industries/specific job fields where there is some overlay between the two groups, but general business degrees like you have are not one of them. (If you had your CPA and some experience, you might be in that group.)

I own a headhunting/recruiting company in healthcare. This poster is correct. If someone is charging you to get you a job, its a scam. However, you could be contracted out at a rate while the company bills your services at a higher wage.

[Francois]

Originally Posted by luv4horses

I thought that headhunters 'hunted', not looked for homes for strays.

Not trying to be fresh, but it has been my experience that business clients who need a special position filled go to a headhunter, then the headhunter contacts experts in that field and asks for recommendations of people who are already working and doing a commendable job. Then the headhunter contacts those folks and tries to lure them away from thier existing employer. Otherwise if you are looking for a job for yourself, you go to an employment agency, or even a temp agency to get started.

Am I totally out of date?

I think the word OP was looking for is "Recruiter". Many times they are paid commissions, so they cast something of a wide net. And yes, update your LinkedIn profile. I heard from someone just last week that way.