If you’ve been searching for your ideal sales job to no avail, it might be time to find a headhunter to help you out. Headhunters or recruiters are there to help connect talent to open positions, and working with a sales recruiter might be your best bet.
First things first, you need to know what exactly a headhunter is, what they do, why you should work with one, and how to find a headhunter that can find you the dream job you’ve been looking for.
Let’s get started.
What is a Headhunter or Recruiter?
A headhunter or recruiter is a contractor that is brought into a company to help find top talent for specific roles. Here at Sales Recruiters Chicago, we specialize in helping companies build top sales teams by connecting candidates with the perfect role for their expertise.
Typically, a headhunter is contracted by the company looking to fill roles. However, recruiters are also there to help candidates by setting up interviews and coaching them through the process. When candidates are successful, recruiters are successful.
Now that you know what headhunters are there for, let’s talk more about what they do.
What Does a Recruiter Do?
Recruiters often work as an extension of a company’s HR team, helping to fill urgent roles quickly. This is why recruiters tend to have large networks and are known for being able to fill top positions with the best fit for the job.
To get this done, recruiters will often connect with candidates on sites like LinkedIn or via email to see if they’re interested in the roles they’re trying to fill.
Some recruiters, like Sales Recruiters Chicago, also accept resumes from candidates who are actively job searching so we can select from that available pool first.
Headhunters want to ensure they’re connecting the right people with the right companies, so finding a headhunter that can help you find your next dream job is a great idea.
To learn more about why you should work with a recruiter, read on.
Why Work With a Recruiter?
Headhunters and recruiters focus day in and day out on connecting candidates and companies, so if you’re struggling to find a job or get an interview for positions you’re seriously interested in, working with a recruiter can be a great way to get your foot in the door.
Furthermore, working with recruiters can get you the assistance you need for acing your job interview and negotiating the salary you deserve.
Sometimes headhunters and recruiters even have access to jobs that aren’t publicly available, so working with one of these professionals can be key to finding the job you’ve been looking for. Recruiters have a skillset that’s unique and can make a difference in your job hunt.
How to Find a Headhunter
Ready to get serious about finding your dream job? We’ll walk you through the necessary steps to find a headhunter and get access to jobs at companies you’ve been dying to work at.
1. Create and optimize your LinkedIn profile.
The first step is all about being accessible. Do you have a LinkedIn profile? If your answer is no, then you need to create one yesterday.
Being active on LinkedIn is a great way to catch the eye of recruiters who might be looking to fill jobs in your niche.
And if you do already have a LinkedIn profile, great! Your job isn’t done yet, though. You need to optimize your profile so that sales recruiters know you’re looking for a sales job and so that it’s obvious you’re actively searching for a position.
Of course, if you don’t want your current company to know you’re searching for jobs, that’s fine – but let’s talk about how you can still optimize your profile for LinkedIn search.
First, make sure you have a professional headshot as your profile photo. Make sure it’s high-quality and work-friendly. Next, you want to also upload a LinkedIn banner to your profile that has your job title or the job title that you’re looking for.
Go through your work history to double check that everything is accurate and up to date. Rewrite your summary to explain your biggest achievements and what kind of role you’re looking for.
Finally, update your headline with your job title or industry. If you’re comfortable sharing that you’re looking for a position, be sure to include this in your headline. Write something like, “Searching For Sales Positions” to let recruiters know you’re interested.
2. Ask around for a referral.
Optimizing your LinkedIn profile helps recruiters come to you. But to be more proactive, you should also start asking around for referrals. Has anyone in your network worked with a recruiter before?
Knowing that someone has had a good experience with a sales recruiting firm can be a great way for you to find a headhunter that you’ll trust right off the bat.
3. Do a Google search for sales recruiters in your area.
Another great way to find a headhunter that could help put you in the perfect role is by searching for sales recruiters who specialize in your area. If you’re not looking to relocate, finding a recruiter who has great connections right where you are is the perfect solution.
Just conduct a quick search for “[niche] recruiter [location],” and see what comes up!
4. Join trade groups online.
When you’re looking for a specific niche, sometimes joining and posting in online groups and forum surrounding your niche can be a great way to get recommendations for a recruiter.
Additionally, many recruiters are active in these types of groups, so posting that you’re looking for a job can be a great way to grab their attention.
Just be sure to keep online forum etiquette in mind. Always be polite and avoid being promotional in any of your posts.
5. Use a directory.
Our last tip for finding a headhunter in your niche is to use an online recruitment directory. Recruiters will list their services on these types of websites to expand their network and reach candidates who are interested in finding a new job. This can be a great way for you to find a recruiter in your niche and your area that you’d like to work with.
How to Use a Sales Recruiter
Now that you know how to find a headhunter, it’s time to understand best practices for working with one. You need to do your part in order to find your dream job, and while your recruiter is there to help every step of the way, we’re here to help guide you further.
1. Refresh your resume.
While you should try to keep your resume as ageless as possible, it’s important to do a quick refresh when you’re preparing to start looking for a new job. Make sure your most recent role is fully up-to-date and has all of your accomplishments included.
You also want to work in keywords relevant to your industry for applicant tracking systems so your experience stands out among the crowd.
And of course – never lie or exaggerate about your experience. You don’t want to find yourself in a pickle mid-interview because you said you have experience in something you’ve never done before.
2. Find a recruiter that specializes in your niche.
We’re a sales recruitment firm because that’s what we know – sales. And we know how to find and vet the best salespeople out there for top sales positions in our area. This is the importance of finding a recruiter that focuses on a single niche. You want to work with a headhunter who knows your industry as well as you do.
3. Reach out to the recruiter.
Once you’ve selected a sales recruitment firm, you’ll need to reach out to get the conversation going. There are a few different ways to do this.
- Send a connection request alongside a message on LinkedIn.
- Find their email address using a tool like RocketReach and reach out to them directly.
- Submit your resume to our database or search for open jobs you might be interested in. An experienced recruiter will be in touch shortly after receiving your resume.
4. Ask a lot of questions.
This process is important. It could determine where you’re going to work for the next several years of your life.
This means you want to be as informed as possible about the process and how your headhunter will work for you. Additionally, you want your headhunter to be as informed as possible about the kind of job you’re looking for as well as what you’re definitely hoping to avoid.
Ask questions about what to expect and be sure to provide as much information about yourself and your career goals to the recruiter you work with.
5. Stay in close contact with your recruiter.
Make sure to follow up regularly and stay in touch with your recruiter during the full hiring process at the company they connect you with. Your headhunter is there to help you if you have any questions or concerns about the company and its interview process.
6. Thank your recruiter.
Love the job they helped you get? Be sure to thank them! You can do this by sending them a thoughtful email, but it’s a good idea to go one step further.
Consider leaving a LinkedIn recommendation so other candidates know this is a trustworthy and helpful headhunter. Refer them to others in your network once they start job hunting.
And be sure to keep a good relationship with your recruiter. Down the road, you may decide to start looking for another job, and they could be a big help in connecting you to your next big career move.
Ready to Find a Headhunter?
At Sales Recruiters Chicago, we’re happy to help connect you to the best recruiter for your expertise and the career move you’re looking to make. Submit your resume today and we’ll have someone contact you shortly to learn more about what you’re looking for.
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