When you start a career as a headhunter nobody knows who you are, they don’t know your offerings, you are staring from ground zero and believe me it’s a marathon not a sprint. It’s almost like a Doctor, Dentist, Lawyer, Financial Planner etc you are staring a practice from scratch.

I’m a 360 degree recruiter meaning I work both sides of the desk. I do Business Development and I also recruit to fill those requisitions. Some firms have just Account Managers doing Biz Dev and Recruiters assigned to them to specifically fill those roles.

Back when I started who do you call? Who is the Head of Engineering? Sales? I.T.? Today with computerised databases LinkedIn etc we most times come up with the name, a contact a point of entry.

The people we wish to contact, the Managers who have the pulse of what their department needs, well they are coveted by their employer. Pick up the phone call a Software Development firm and ask to speak with their Project Manager I dare ya!. Once the receptionist gains consciousness from laughing so hard they may squeak out “what is the nature of this call?”

We had to “rouse” or fish for a way in bypassing reception to hopefully get through to the Hiring Manager and believe me I've heard some crazy things. Things that Headhunter lore is made of.

Here is an oldie but a goodie. “Hello ABC Software, Accounts Reciveable Please”  receptionist will put you through to the department as they think that you are a deadbeat that owes them money.

“Accounting, Mary how may I help you?” I’d say “Accounting? Holy Hannah Mary seems I am in the wrong department the lines must have got crossed. I’m looking for Software Development specifically the Manager, who would that be?” Then I get a name and extension hit the Manager with an Introduction and try to pick up an order, a lead, or recruit them.

More “confessions of a headhunter” soon.

confessionsofaheadhunter.ca