Job search question

[dave_lucas]

Anyone out there ever enlist the help of a headhunter to find a job?

My wife is starting the process of looking for a new job and was considering enlisting the help of a headhunter. Do the headhunters take into consideration the wants of the person or do they simply try to find the first job that comes along? Any idea of how much they get paid or how they get paid?

I personally do not think my wife will need one because she is extremely intelligent and very qualified but she is a bit nervous about finding a job.

BS in Chemical engineering
Minor in Environmental engineering
Minor in Chemistry
Black Belt
And on and on

Are Headhunters worth a try? Anything to watch out for?

 

[marc olivares]

dave,
my wife has them calling her quite often,
it's a pretty good deal from how she has explained it.
if i remember correctly, it works much like a realtor (sp?)
the company actually pays the HH "X" percent of the total offer package.
it is in the best interest of the HH to get the best offer, as their commission is tied to it.
and the HH does all the negotiations etc... to get the best deal.

"Black Belt"
you talking Six Sigma or Kung FU
i went through the six sigma Black belt program some time ago....

 

[andrewv]

Hi Dave!

Wish your wife good luck, first off. Having been in high-tech for 14 years, I've dealt with a lot of headhunters, and the first rule is to not use one that wants the employee to pay. Most successful recruiters are retained by the employer, and generally get paid 25 to 35% of the hired persons first year salary. The people I've dealt with are usually more interested in a good fit as opposed to a square peg in a round hole, as the people that pay them get really bent out of shape.

That all being said, has she worked for GE? With a black belt and all of those credentials, I may be able to help if she hasn't worked there before. I worked for GE and she sounds like a very strong candidate.

Let me know how I can help, and yes, my slider needs aren't too far away

 

[dave_lucas]

Six Sigma

If it were Kung foo I would have to watch my back

So maybe a HH is not such a bad idea, my wife hates negotiating and that might make the change a little easier on her.

 

[Alyssa]

Hey! Thanks to LR training, I now know what Six Sigma is! LR has started with it for the LR3 and going to continue with the rest.
Sorry for the sidebar.

 

[NorCalDiscoII]

Seemed to work for an old friend of mine. After 16 years in wireless industry the guy was ready for a change. He hired a head hunter and about 4 months later he got a job that couldn't been farther from his previous career: he went from systems director to a supplier of medical equipment (hi-tech gadgets for surgeries, etc.) in hospitals across US. Basically he started fresh in a business he knew nothing about. But, that was the idea and he's thrilled.

I guess it depends on the head hunter, but they supposedly take into consideration everything, and not just the education/experience, but personality and individual goals and needs. Good luck!

 

[dave_lucas]

?That all being said, has she worked for GE? With a black belt and all of those credentials, I may be able to help if she hasn't worked there before.?

She has not worked For GE, most of her professional career has been with Kodak and a company that made cancer drugs.

I am constantly in awe of her accomplishments, the ones listed above were just the ones I happen to remember off the top of my head.

Anyhow I will talk to Tammy and see what she thinks about GE and email you off list with more information.

thanks,

 

[syoung]

Many headhunters are just looking to make a buck off someone. Many years ago I was looking for something as I left the Air Force... Several HH's tried to place me by manipulating my resume- basically claiming certs I didn't have and stuff like that just to get me in the door. I'd go to an interview and they'd ask questions about stuff I thought was unrelated to what I applied for- I finally started asking to see their copy of my resume... I was shocked at the lowdown stuff HH's did to try to make a buck off me by changing my resume (fraudulently so) without telling me.
You also can't typically get sign-on cash etc when the hiring company has to pay the agent.
I'm sure some are good at the high-end... but many are scum suckers.

 

[Jaime]

Steve,

Everything is negotiable. I once got a sign-on bonus of 5k. It came out of the headhunter's checking account.

 

[Porter]

I've used headhunters before in the biotech field. There are plenty of companies that will help your wife look for a job. A lot of companies in fact like to use headhunters, because they hire you for a set amount of time (6 months) and evaluate you before hiring someone full time with benifits. This is becuase the acutual contract is generally between the headhunter company and the company you interview for. They pay the company a cut for the service of finding you. Generally, in my experience they don't pay benifits, but the pay is pretty good.

Just find one that suites your needs, and they'll do their best to fit you there. They basically set up the interview dates and you show up. If for what ever reason you don't like the position interviewed for - its totally up to you. Like I said, there are plenty of headhunters out there, just find one your comfortable with and listens. Its also a good way to "shop" around for jobs within your field because of the general 6 month contracts.

 

[Ron]

Head hunters tend to price people out of some markets (jobs). Personally, I would look for one month without one. And then ask around and get a good one.

Ron

 

[dave_lucas]

?Its also a good way to "shop" around for jobs within your field because of the general 6 month contracts?

Hmmm, I am not sure I like the idea of a 6 month contract That might cut into my play money if she were bouncing between jobs.


?I would look for one month without one. And then ask around and get a good one.?

That?s what I was thinking, she currently has a job and is in no danger of being let go.

 

[ducati]

My personal experience with them has been negative. I had a similar thing happen to Steve Young, in that the headhunters "modified" my resume to fit particular jobs. My favorite was one interview where I was supposedly interviewing for a developer spot. I kept getting asked SQL questions. I was answering them all, but finally asked the interviewer "why are you asking me so many SQL questions?" Then I found out I was interviewing for a SQL DBA. Funny thing was they offered me a job, at 1.75x the salary I made at the time. When I called back to decline the offer they raised it. I was a developer...! Apparently I did so well in the interview they wanted me anyway.

The problem is I didn't want to be a DBA. I ended up firing that headhunter because she kept sending me on these interviews...

Now, in counterpoint, my stepmom used a headhunter to great effect. She had worked at one company for 15 years and wanted out of the secretary mold. She contacted a headhunter, told her she wanted X type of job, within 5 miles of her home, with flexible schedule, tuition reimbursement and lots of job advancement. 6 mos. later the headhunter called with her perfect job. She's been at it now for probably 10 years, has 2 degrees, and is really doing well.

If I ever decide to leave my present company I will most likely network to find a job, and if one doesn't come up that interests me within 2-3 months, I will try a headhunter with specific instructions (similar to what my stepmom did).

 

[DiscoJen]

How to find one?

This thread came at a perfect time! Sorry to hi-jack, but maybe my question will also help others. Where do you locate a headhunter?

Thanks and much luck to your wifey Dave,
Jen