November 30, 2021
You’re in the office and you’re coming out of a meeting. Your phone rings. You do not recognize the number and you take the call. The person then identifies as a headhunter. You know this term but are not sure what exactly it is about. This call is a bit out of the normal framework of your daily activities and you even wonder if you should not hang up… What to say to this headhunter?
The first thing to do following a headhunter’s call is to listen to what he has said. A headhunter by direct approach, that is, by phone call, is distinguished by its discretion. The person must follow a code of ethics to practise a profession recognized by a professional order. In Quebec, this is the Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines (CRHA). So you have nothing to fear in terms of the confidentiality of this call. On the contrary, it means that your talent, achievements and skills stand out and you deserve a call! Think of it as a compliment.
What if it’s not the right time?
If you feel that the headhunter is calling you at the wrong time and especially in the wrong place (you are in the middle of a long day of work, working in an open area or next to a colleague who is always reaching out to your conversations, etc.), you can ask your interlocutor to remind you at another time that you have chosen yourself.
A headhunter will always ask you if they are getting in touch with you at a good time. His first concern is to put you at ease and start a discussion at the time that suits you best. Do not hesitate to ask to be contacted after working hours, at home or at another number.
Think about building a relationship
Whatever happens with the proposal presented by the headhunter, take the time to chat with him. Being part of a headhunter’s network means increased chances of improving your career, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Eventually, he may be able to help you find your next dream job. What your situation will look like in a year, two years or more, you don’t know.
The headhunter builds databases of talent and companies. The more information you give them about who you are, the more you will improve your employability. First, he wants to know your skills, achievements and career aspirations. But even more, he wants to know if you would like to work in the city or in the region, perhaps in your home region, in a large or small company, what your salary expectations are. In short, its analysis of profiles and applications goes much further than the curriculum vitae, a tool that has its limits you will agree.
Building a lasting relationship with a headhunter will allow you to increase your chances of finding a position that matches your talent and in which you can flourish because it corresponds to your values. Think long term.
What does the headhunter want to know?
This exchange between headhunter and candidate could be done by email but we would lose the human side. There are nuances that only a conversation can be found. The intonations of the voice, a state of mind, the choice of words, hesitations, finally all the richness of a conversation can allow him to know you better.
Good. What kind of questions could a headhunter ask you?
The conversation that the headhunter starts with a candidate is at the beginning of the recruitment process. His questions are similar to those that a future employer or his human resources department could ask you during a job interview, but in a much more informal way. Think of it as a practice.
Our article 10 strategies for a successful job interview will allow you to take stock of the most common questions asked by an employer in preparation for a job. Use these typical questions to take stock of your career. In short, it is by talking openly with the headhunter in a more informal way that you can best prepare for a future job interview.
In fact, there are no good reasons not to start a conversation with a headhunter who calls you for work. If the position he presents to you does not interest you it is not more serious than that. There will be other opportunities. Many things could change.
A headhunter works with his candidates in the medium term and is committed to building a relationship of trust with them. Don’t hang up!
