Want to be a headhunter? Here’s what you need to know

The headhunting industry has been developing in China for more than a decade and it is an industry which is attracting more and more talent of different fields.

As a rapidly expanding field that has gradually been reaching its maturity, professional headhunting has become increasingly well-known and is an industry which is attracting more and more talent of different fields.

You can find plenty of articles on the secrets to becoming a headhunter, and basically, you need to be an expert in communication and coordination, be good at expanding your social network and have the ability to find the right professionals. I also want to share with others my thoughts and experience as a professional headhunter.   

1.You need to be strongly resilient

Many people have good communication and coordination skills and it’s not difficult for them to start a career as a professional headhunter. But the requirement of working under great pressure prevents most of them from developing further in this field.

Headhunting is not a 9–5 office job, and you may need to work overtime every day. Before most people start their working day, headhunting consultants may have already arrived at their office to plan their daily work schedule. And after others have finished a day’s work, consultants may still have to stay in their office to interview a few candidates. 

Secondly, there is a very understandable mental pressure since headhunting consultants deal with people all the way through, whether it’s the “products” or the “clients”, and it is their code of ethics rather than legal responsibilities that plays a predominant role in their daily communication. “Cases” in the headhunting business can thus be extremely changeable, which is why they cause a lot of mental pressure. In addition, consultants also have to consistently perform to a high level by taking every effort to meet their monthly targets. 

2.You need to be highly motivated

We have already talked about the great pressure of working as a headhunter, so for those who are able to succeed in this industry, it is internal motivations rather than external pressures of great performance that drives them to move forward. Such motivations vary from person to person. 

Some may be attracted by the high rewards. The annual income of a top consultant can be three times higher (or even more) than that of their peers. Others who want to establish their own companies in the future may choose to build up their useful social network by becoming a headhunter. Others who prefer to have a rapid career development may choose to be a headhunter because they hope to move all the way up the corporate ladder and become a director within 7–8 years. 

3.Self-discipline and fast- pace lifestyle

Every day, headhunters have to handle multiple projects simultaneously, searching for suitable candidates while looking for potential clients at the same time. They may feel overworked and even wish to have a “third hand” to deal with several more projects at once, and it’s unimaginable for them to stay in the office for hours without doing anything or have a rest by drinking tea or reading a newspaper.

 Being a recruitment consultant, therefore, means you have to enjoy a fast pace of life and be extremely self-disciplined. You should be able to plan well and to stick to your plans, or otherwise your cases may go stagnant.  

4.Credibility and responsibility

Headhunters are muck like sales professionals. However, we working with and developing talent rather than ‘sell’ goods and services, so the credibility of a headhunter determines a project’s success to a significant extent. We also provide, in other words, it is of great importance for recruitment consultants, throughout the recruiting process and in every possible way, to impress their candidates by their strong sense of responsibility and high levels of credibility.