Recruiting Insights
On the hunt for the next career move: What to do when a headhunter gets in touch?
A headhunter contacts you - your chance?
A headhunter contacts you - your chance?
Your current job is a pleasure and yet it is time for the next career step. Here a headhunter can support you and increase your chances to realize a new challenge. If you are contacted, we recommend that you briefly screen the headhunter's website and the respective person (website, LinkedIn, etc.). If you like the appearance, then answer briefly and to the point. If confidentiality and seriousness are ensured, you can already send your current CV in the first mail exchange and make appointment proposals for a first telephone conversation. On the other hand, if you are not interested in a change at the moment, you can also state that you are looking for a career change at a later date, for example in a year's time at the earliest. This goes quickly and the headhunter can better assess the current status and show you suitable opportunities at a later date.
A first telephone exchange
Who, what, when, how, where, how much? A headhunter will usually briefly inform you about the position, main areas of responsibility, classification, location, etc.. It is not always possible to name the client in the first interview, so you should be understanding: Especially in the private capital / family office sector, discretion and confidentiality are paramount. Make sure that the headhunter has understood your specific situation correctly. Signal genuine interest by asking specific questions.
Describing your academic education and work experience in concrete terms, highlighting areas of focus and strengths, and briefly outlining future plans will show the headhunter whether you are a suitable candidate to introduce. Problems at the current employer can be discussed; "blasphemy" is, of course, to be completely refrained from. It is important and correct to be self-confident about your own skills and knowledge. However, arrogant or pushy behavior is counterproductive. Clearly, the private capital sector in particular is a people's business. The ticket to the small, select circle is initial work experience in investment banking or at a strategy consultancy. However, the equation "top grades + top brands = top prospects" alone is not enough: Personal fit, soft skills and small special features that score points for applicants are also decisive for success in recruiting processes. At the investment associate level, for example, you are competing with 200 to 300 potential, highly qualified candidates. What do you offer that others cannot?
Preparation and next application steps
Once you have agreed with the headhunter to pursue the application process, send him or her all the necessary documents quickly. Always communicate via a private, reputable e-mail address whose mailbox is checked regularly. Always keep your appointments, cancel only if absolutely necessary, and make new proposals immediately in writing.
Remember that even in Germany, a photo on the CV is expected less and less often, but it can be quickly researched in social media such as LinkedIn or Instagram. It is by no means about beauty or lifestyle, but simply about the way of presentation, about how serious and appealing an applicant appears. You should take into account the improvement tips that the headhunter strongly recommends with regard to the design, structure and content of your written CV. He does this neither for fun nor out of harassment.
If your CV does not meet current standards, the application process could end unnecessarily prematurely for you. Discuss in detail with your headhunter before appointments with potential employers - is there an agenda, which people will interview you, is it primarily about expertise or personal fit, is there a case study or lots of brainteasers, etc.? Even if not everything is known in detail or can be shared, you should get an idea of what to look for. Show interest and initiative at this stage as well.
Get advice from professionals
A headhunter will be happy to answer basic questions about your future career path. After all, it is in their interest to work well with candidates in the long term and to introduce and place suitable candidates with their clients. If an applicant has a need for more comprehensive coaching, he should signal this. By the way, candidates who are fundamentally resistant to consultation already stand out negatively in the first telephone conversation. If you were a headhunter, would you introduce and recommend such candidates to a client?
Giving and getting updates
It's legitimate to follow up to see approximately how long it takes to get feedback, whether you'll be considered further in the application process, where you stand in general. The duration can vary greatly depending on the position, the company and the decision-makers. For this reason, a binding indication is rarely given. Also, it could be that you have been shortlisted into one of the final rounds, but the client would like to see one or two candidates again. This is usually not considered tactical delay, after all, you want to be just as sure as your potential new employer that you are making the right decision. You can assume that a professional headhunter will inform you without asking if there is anything new. Pushing the potential employer increases your chances - but only of getting yourself kicked out of the process.
However, if you need a decision at a certain time, for example because you would otherwise accept another offer, discuss this openly with the headhunter. Then he has the opportunity to discuss this with his client.
Next Round: Continue or cancel?
Everything is going great, you are still interested after the first round, but there are still questions, doubts, sticking points? Discuss this with your headhunter and give qualified feedback about your conversations and impressions before the next round. And if it is not your dream opportunity, give the real reasons. This way the headhunter can better assess what is important to you and why. Maybe it will work out for you at the next opportunity. After all, there are great jobs, even if they are sometimes hidden in a kind of grab bag.
Changing your mind at short notice and not wanting to move to sector X or area Y, even though you had previously formulated this as the most urgent career step, does not promote long-term cooperation with your consultant. Keep in mind that especially changes of location might not only affect you personally. If you live in a partnership, the relationship cards should be open on the table. For all parties involved, the question of priorities arises faster than you can make a career. A late cancellation for the reason that you suddenly don't want to move is an absolute no-go - for everyone involved.
Keep in touch
You get an interesting offer and accept it, congratulations! If you don't receive an offer, it is important not to see this as a defeat. It cannot be stressed enough as a headhunter: Don't take it personally. So many factors play into the decision for a candidate, not everything is up to you and within your sphere of influence, not everything is immediately objectively comprehensible. However, if you have made a competent, positive impression based on your documents as well as in the discussions with the headhunter or during interviews and case studies, this can be a big plus for you later on.
Other doors will be open to you. Stay in contact with the headhunter if you felt adequately informed and taken care of. Injured vanity is out of place in the application process. Sometimes a more suitable job offer will arise after a short time. Even if you don't expect it, it happens that an employer comes back to an exiting applicant on recommendation of the headhunter, even if it is for another position at a later date. After all, it's not just once that your current job is enjoyable and yet it might be time for the next career step.
Constantin Theodor Trapp is Managing Partner of THRONSBERG Human Capital GmbH