Headhunting in Cambridge Wireless-The New rock and Roll?

I love headhunting. I love its challenge and lack of apology. In a world of recycling, electric cars and “save the seals” headhunters stand aloof, beacons for the anti-establishment. Guns for hire dressed in pin stripe.

Like most dark arts headhunting attracts an idiosyncratic breed. Charming enough to be listened to, perceptive enough to size up candidates and decisive enough to seize half chances of opportunity. A good head-hunter is part investigative journalist, part salesman. He can be your best friend or the bastard who tempts away your chief exec.

However, good headhunters know that they’re only as good as their network of (potential) clients and passive candidates, influencers and VC’s. Going for a short term placement which tramples on a long term relationship is a one way ticket to the poorhouse. Balancing the need to make placements while not shattering hard won connections is the difference between driving a Ferrari and a Mondeo. Walk the tightrope with charm and confidentiality and life really can be a bowl of cherries. Illegally imported cherries of course. I’ve got my rock and roll image to look out for, don’t you know?

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Comment by Paul Alfred on March 13, 2010 at 1:12pm: I love your post Rob ... I was trained in the "Way of the Headhunter" - to use old martial arts language :-) I think Headhunters are a dying breed ... I think these skills are necessary to have in your repertoire if you want to be a Successful Recruiter ...

Comment by Rob on March 13, 2010 at 2:57pm: Hi Paul, I appreciate it. I think there is little value in just posting a job advert and collating CV's. HR can do that. Heahunting is an art- one that I am only just starting to learn. But's its fun and challenging. I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.