Who Ya' Gonna Call? Headhunters

If you've gone down the path of checking out the 'usual suspects', then you've already opened up the newspaper to the ""Help Wanted Section and searched local openings on one of the many job boards on the internet. It's likely time to engage the services of someone who might have an inside track to openings that aren't listed. So, who are all these people listed under that vague category, ""Employment Professionals""? Who ya' gonna call? Are they all the same? The answer is an unequivocal, ""No"". If you are a conducting a job search, knowing the differences and what they mean will save you a lot of time and get you better, more focused results. They will have access to current opportunities with employers that choose to list their openings with that agency. Private agencies The term ""employment agency"" is a catch-all phrase, but actually defines a very specific kind of employment service as it applies to the private sector. They have what is normally considered a ""generalist"" approach, meaning that they handle a variety of industries and functions. One is Employer-Paid Fees (EPF) meaning that the employer is responsible for paying the fee for the agency's services once the candidate is hired. With an APF agency, you as the applicant will be charged an amount agreed upon prior to the agency representing you which is usually a percentage of your first year's income. Should you call an employment agency, it is important to ask if they are EPF or APF before you schedule an interview with them so that you know if you will be responsible for a fee should you find a job through them. However, there are other kinds of employment professionals for whom the focus is quite different. Recruiters Corporate Recruiter Corporate recruiters are not third-party entities. Their job is to identify and screen potential candidates for positions within the company. Search Consultants AKA Headhunters Search Consultants, also known as Head Hunters, work to fill specific openings for companies. Their job is to target, isolate, and recruit candidates for specific openings based on a pre-determined list of skills and qualifications as outlined by the employer they are representing. A great many Search Consultants are specialists, either in a specific industry or in specific job functions. They fill openings for companies. Contingency recruiters are only paid when they have identified a candidate the company ultimately hires and offer a replacement or sometimes a refund within a short period of time should a candidate leave or be terminated. There may be several contingency recruiters working on a specific assignment at any given time when companies want to have a broader approach to uncovering available talent. Alte ately, especially at executive levels, recruiters might work on a retained basis. The remainder of their fee is paid at various levels of search completion. There are many contingency search recruiters who function in a similar manner to retained search recruiters and may have relationships that give them the same level of exclusivity with their clients. The qualities you should look for in that search consultant and tips for finding and working with your recruiter will be covered in an upcoming article. This is where Contract, Temporary, or Temp-to-Perm agencies come in. For instance, contract recruiters are often utilized in the IT sector when a project requires several people with particular skill sets who might be hired for that project alone or by startup companies who lack an H. department. The Contract Recruiter is a consultant to the company and his fee is paid by that company. If you take a position through a temporary agency, then you will be paid by that agency which is responsible for your salary and all associated expenses. Temp-to-perm is similar to Temporary. Outplacement Consultants Outplacement Consultants or Agencies are hired by a company that is going through a downsizing to aid and help secure employment for displaced workers. Resume Referral Companies These companies strictly function to provide resumes of subscribers to client companies. Career Counselors Career Counselors provide advice, skills assessment, and training and generally do not engage in matching candidates with specific opportunities.