Ask a Recruiter: Do You Work for Employers or Job Seekers?

P.S. has this question:

Is executive recruiting putting clients in front of employers or is it a method for clients to use a program to find employers?

Who does an executive recruiter work for: the job seeker or the company client?

Dear P.S.,

Thanks for asking this question because it’s one that recruiters field a lot and it’s connected to a general misperception about how the field of recruiting is defined.

Executive recruiters, also known as ‘headhunters’ colloquially, harness their networks and expertise to help client organizations find and attract high-level executive candidates for key positions.

The primary focus of executive recruiting, therefore, is to identify and connect qualified candidates with employers who are seeking to fill executive-level roles.

How executive recruiters work with clients

• We work closely with the client organization to develop a candidate profile, in other words, that blend of skills of skills they have identified as being pertinent to an open position.
• We conduct active and passive searches, through our database of contacts and our knowledge of platforms such as LinkedIn.
• We work with the client to winnow a pool of qualified candidates to a shortlist tailored to the specific opening.
• We advise on the job interview process and compensation package.
• We frequently consult with our client on how to set a strategic salary range, which in the past few years has demanded a lot of careful planning and willingness to be adaptable to changing market conditions.

And while we do interact with many job seekers during this process, our primary focus is on our client’s needs. Therefore, the core function of executive recruiting is focused on connecting clients (employers) with qualified candidates rather than assisting clients in finding employers.

How job seekers can improve their visibility to recruiters

There is some good news in this for you, P.S. There are ways of enhancing your visibility to executive recruiters.

• Make sure your LinkedIn is fully filled out and up to date. Recruiters search by job title and organization among many other keywords, so make sure we are not missing you in our searches.
• Commit to sharpening your skills. We are always looking for candidates that combine professional experience with up-to-date digital and e-commerce skills so if you’re knowledge base needs boosting in that area, there are numerous resources to help your up-skill and advance your career.
• Understand what recruiters can and can’t do. We can keep you in mind and in our network of candidates when we are looking to fill roles. We cannot find you a job with a specific company, and we cannot individually advise you on your career. If you need that kind of help, an executive coach or career coach is your best bet.

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