Recruiter
- This is about the synonym of recruiter. For other uses, see Headhunter (disambiguation).
Headhunters: a colloquial term for recruiters, employment agencies or executive search firms that broker human resources. Like real estate, stock brokers and sports agents, headhunters are in the middle of an employment sales transaction: they solicit customers (companies with job openings willing to pay a fee) and they seek talent (people with specific skills).
Contingency fees, typically paid by the hiring company, vary depending on the position and quality of the applicant. Normal agency fees are 10 to 30 percent of the applicant's first year salary and are paid after the applicant is screened, hired and performs successfully for a few weeks or months.
High-end executive search firms, such as Korn/Ferry, get an up-front fee of US$30,000 or more to perform a specific search for a specific manager, officer or executive. Unlike recruiters and agents, executive search fees are not contingent. They collect search fees in advance and are paid irrespective of whether or not they fill the position.
Headhunters tend to either be generalist or specialize in a particular niche. Niche headhunters are typically boutique firms dedicated to a small area of expertise, such as Sano Bioscience, which specializes in clinical develoment positions (regulatory, clinical, medical) within the biotechnology industry.
