Who is a headhunter? Job description and salary

In today's dynamic business environment, where the job market is rapidly evolving, specialists in recruitment, commonly known as headhunters, play a crucial role. The task of headhunters is not only to connect talented professionals with attractive job offers but also to support companies in finding ideal candidates for key positions. They play a significant role for both sides of the recruitment process, benefiting both companies and candidates. 

Benefits for organizations that choose to enlist the help of an external headhunter include: 

• Access to niche skills: Headhunters have the ability to reach candidates with specialized skills that may be challenging to find in the open job market. 
• Time and resource savings: The recruitment process can be time-consuming and require significant resources. Headhunting enables companies to save time that would otherwise be spent independently searching for candidates. 
• Minimization of employee turnover: By finding a candidate fully suited to a specific position, headhunting helps minimize employee turnover within a company. 
• Enhancement of team competence: By hiring top-tier talent, companies can elevate the competence level of their teams, leading to improved performance and innovation. 

 Benefits for candidates resulting from collaboration with headhunters include: 

• Access to exclusive job offers: Candidates who are the focus of headhunters' interest gain access to job offers for positions at the highest levels of management, offers with attractive benefit packages, or proposals for positions in well-established market-leading companies. 
  
• Career development support: Headhunters assist candidates in understanding the career path that is most advantageous for them. They present job offers that often entice with higher salaries, professional development opportunities, or comprehensive benefit packages. 
• Confidentiality and discretion: Collaborating with a headhunter often ensures candidates maintain confidentiality. Candidates may feel more at ease sharing their career plans and ambitions, knowing that their information is treated discreetly. This is particularly crucial when they are engaged in a confidential recruitment process and are considering a change while currently employed. 

What sets a headhunter apart? 

Headhunters are specialists in searching and recruiting highly qualified professionals for specific positions in companies. They typically focus on recruiting candidates for key and high-level positions. Characteristics that may define an effective headhunter include: 

1. Understanding of the business environment and industry specifics 

2. Sales and negotiation skills 

3. Discretion 

4. Possession of an extensive network of contacts 

5. Technological knowledge used in recruitment and beyond 

Headhunters often actively seek candidates who may not necessarily be actively looking for new employment opportunities (known as passive candidates). To reach those whose skills may best fit a particular position, they utilize various methods, such as networking. The work of a headhunter requires not only knowledge in human resources but also skills in analyzing the job market, forecasting industry trends, and effectively building business relationships.

Becoming a Headhunter – How to Get There? 

Most often, graduates in fields such as human resource management, sociology, or psychology have the potential to develop their careers as headhunters. However, the most crucial factors in this profession are skills such as interpersonal abilities, labor market analysis, and relationship management. A key element of this profession is the ability to effectively identify and recruit highly qualified professionals. The first step in becoming a headhunter is understanding the industry and job market, which requires actively building a network of contacts. 

Finding potential candidates often requires looking beyond traditional recruitment paths, meaning using various sources of information and conducting discreet searches. Additionally, the ability to build lasting relationships with candidates and understand their skills and career goals is crucial for effective headhunting. Fundamental characteristics of a good headhunter include determination, the ability to recognize talents, and flexibility in terms of methods and approaches to searches. 

How much can a headhunter earn? 

According to the latest edition of the Antal 2023 salary report, an effective headhunter who is proficient in a foreign language can expect a salary in the range of 9,000 to 11,000 PLN gross. In terms of finances, headhunters typically work on a commission basis. This means that their earnings are largely dependent on their effectiveness in sourcing and hiring the best candidates. This motivates them to make intensive efforts and effectively meet client expectations. A headhunter's salary can vary and depends on various factors such as: 

• Professional experience, 
• Industry specialization, 
• Geographic area, 
• Reputation of the recruiter. 

Nevertheless, headhunting is generally a profession that offers attractive earnings. For many headhunters, professional satisfaction goes hand in hand with financial recognition for the effective completion of assigned recruitment missions. The chart below, depicting the average gross salary of a headhunter, is based on an analysis of three editions of the Antal Salary Report. 

Analyzing the above chart, it's important to keep in mind that it represents only the average value, and the level of earnings is strongly dependent on various factors, such as proficiency in foreign languages and industry specialization. A headhunter recruiting in a language other than their native language can expect a salary even up to 1,000 PLN higher.