
Some people might think headhunters and recruiters are the same thing. But they’re actually very distinct roles. It’s a good idea to understand the differences between them before you start looking for either a headhunter or a recruiter.
It’s true that headhunters and recruiters do similar jobs, so it makes sense that people get them confused. The difference is subtle but distinct, and they both play important roles in the hiring process.
At the end of the day, both headhunters and recruiters are responsible for getting people hired, but the way they each do that is a little bit different. So, what exactly are these differences?
What Do Headhunters Do?
Headhunters tend to be freelancers or work as part of an agency. Companies take them on for short-term jobs finding and screening potential employees. Essentially, headhunters are like talent scouts. They look for possible candidates for open positions in a company and suggest ones they think might be a good fit.
It’s common for companies to use headhunters when they’re looking for employees with highly technical skills. A lot of headhunters specialize in niche markets where it’s hard to find prospective employees. This has plenty of advantages for them since it makes it easier to vet resumes and figure out who is qualified for the kind of position they’re looking to fill.
When they find someone they think would be a good fit, they pass the information along to upper management. Then, their job is done. It’s not their role to hire employees – just to find the people who could become them.
What Do Recruiters Do?
Recruiters have a slightly different role. Headhunters work on a personal level. They have to find candidates and reach out to them. Recruiters, on the other hand, have the task of finding good candidates and figuring out where they would fit in a company. They are much more involved in the hiring process; they might even conduct interviews. On top of all this, they might help a candidate apply for a different position if they’re not a good fit for the first one they applied for.
Recruiters don’t usually work in niche or specialty industries. They might work for a specific company, usually in human resources, and double as a recruiter. Their whole job is about getting the right people into the right jobs.