Headhunter behavior

[krob]

I've now spent enough time in the financial industry to find myself on the radar screen of some headhunters. It so happens that I'm quite interested in changing employers, so I have met with a few and been to introductory interviews that they arranged. My early experience has me wondering if these headhunters are
necessarily working in my favor. In one case, I put a lot of effort preparing for an interview, and later discovered that the same headhunter had subsequently arranged for one of my immediate coworkers (who has a slight rivalry with me) to interview for the very same position later in the week. At other times, headhunters have asked me which people at which companies I have already met with, so as to reduce overlap, but now I wonder if they are just trying to discover openings so that they can pitch alternative candidates.

I have now become quite wary. As far as I can tell, these people merely contact the relevant heads of departments at various banks and ask if they'd like to meet someone with my profile. Will I seem desperate, or would I risk some indiscretion if I just contact these people directly without going through a headhunter? I wonder if it would improve my chances if my candidacy didn't come with some hefty headhunters' commissions attached.

[virago]

Sometimes there are always fors and againsts with head hunters. I suppose they are interested in how quickly they can place you than how your welbeing will be. They get paid for the placement rather than you paying for their services.

With the banking industry the way it is now it's it may not be an advantage to go through directly to the hiring heads but I really don't know if the recruitment agency is on retainer or commission these days.

If you know of the heads of departments then there would be no harm in contacting them and going through the motions. There seems to be alot of work out there in the industry and a frantic hiring of personnel occurring so it looks good for you guys at the moment.

[jimbo]

Good advice by Virago

I used to work in the industry so know a lot about the stunts they pull, The who have you spoken to is a classic line as they'll then know what other companies are potentially hiring then pitch to the businesses thus providing you with even more competition.

Recruiters/head hunters really don't care about your interests are as all they care about is the fee they can make off of you.

Your best option is to make the best use of your network and speak to dept heads etc directly.

[Char Siu King]

You should find out if the recruiters/headhunters work on a retainer or contingency basis. Try to understand how they make their money. Are they in competition with other firms to find the right person or are they on an exlusive contract? Do they make their money on 1 time commission or do they make a cut of your salary? Just ask them flat out - if they refuse to tell you their business model you know to avoid them in the future. They know everything about you through your CV - it's only fair you know exactly who you are trusting with your career moves. It's a 2 way street alhthough many of these firms would want you to belive otherwise and try to position themselves as people who are doing you a favour by getting you an interview.

[freeier]

ya. i always throw them questions that is hard for them to answer.

ask them straight out who is hiring.. who/where that mandate is from. if they refuse to tell you, then tell them forget about it you are not keen anymore.

i have met some even crappier ones.. totally non-professional and expects to go home at 6pm i.e. no business discussion after 6... (which essentially rules them out of business).

over the years when you deal with enough, you will get to know some that can become friends and these ppl will help you, give you the colour of the market.
ok maybe on front office side we do need such colours more than others..

and no to be fair you can't blame them for putting your colleagues up for the interview as well... remember they work more for the hunting company than for you... you are not the one paying them the dough...

[virago]

Also another point is generally the department paying the recruitment fees in HR and not the department or even sometimes the country that you will be working in. So if a Department Head was looking for someone they don't really worry about the cost if someone else is paying the bills!

[mid_gen]

Headhunters / recruitment agents are not interested in anything but their commission. Remember that, and that they need you more than you need them, and they are easy enough to deal with. Some of them are even nice people :P

[DutchOzzie]

Hi,
I am reading this forum to research the job market in HK. Ai Ai, not a lot of nice words on recruiters.
I must say not all recruiters work like this. I work for an IT recruiter in Australia and this absolutely not the way we work! We are currently placing Ozzies in Hong Kong because we can’t find the right candidates in HK !!
I can use some help, tips, advice!
Where can I find good IT project managers in HK or who wants to work in HK? We are targetting the expats now, Question for you, the expat, do you use the jobsdb site as main job board? Or do you also look on this site for jobs?
You advice is greatly appreciated.

[cinnamoroll52]

If a headhunter tells you that he will forward your CV to a job post that he thinks you're a good fit for, does that mean that you are guaranteed an introductory interview with that firm or can the firm refuse to meet you? Thanks!

[bibbju]

If a headhunter tells you that he will forward your CV to a job post that he thinks you're a good fit for, does that mean that you are guaranteed an introductory interview with that firm or can the firm refuse to meet you? Thanks!

It means exactly what it says. Your cv will be forwarded. No guarantee that they will consider it (although they'll probably have a look) and certainly no guarantee of an interview. You sound very green, you need to wise up.