Headhunting is the undercover arm of the recruitment world. The head hunters may not be quite James Bond with a tool bag of gadgets and a girl in every city but the good ones definitely know how to discreetly gather information on people.

Do not be surprised if you find that a head hunter knows far more about you than you would imagine (although we may not always let you know this). Much of the work of headhunting / Executive Search requires "stealth networking". Our clients often do not want to alert their competitors, employees or sometimes even their shareholders (at an early stage) to their intentions. It is often known for the shareholders/partners of a company to instigate a search to identify potential replacements for a senior position, usually the General Manager, CEO or MD type roles, when their company is performing below par.

Headhunted candidates are carefully handpicked after extensive research, so it is a costly and time-consuming business, generally reserved for positions that pay a basic of £100k upwards. Quality not quantity is the name of the game and much of it comes down to personal contact and recommendation. This is not the same game as the typical 'job shops' which fill a multitude of positions; in headhunting the positions to be filled are usually business critical.

Headhunting often involves looking for candidates outside the circle of people who are already known. Alternatively, a discreet approach to a well-known executive is sometimes required. These candidates are not necessarily on the marketplace or actively seeking work; using a head hunter thus, gives you access to a totally different market.