Job Search Guide: Should I work with headhunters?  

As a jobseeker or an employee, associating yourself with headhunters or executive search firms (or consultants) can give you an additional dimension in shaping your future career and diversifying your job search strategy. Many top executives realize this fact and as a result they mix themselves with the headhunters, not mainly looking for jobs, but looking for opportunities.

The opportunity may come next week, next month, next year or next couple of years.

It's always good to engage yourselves with headhunters, but don't keep the impression that you soon will be offered a much better position by other organization through this headhunter.

However, sometimes working with certain headhunters can make you frustrating. Many headhunters out there throw empty promises and sweet words to you, only to realize that they have nothing to offer. 

For example if a headhunter promises to call you back next Tuesday 10am does he call you as promised? Is he responding to your unanswered calls? Did he return your messages? Did he reply your recent emails?

Good headhunters know the value of keeping their network alive; in fact many of them have their own circle of network among executives where they arrange a periodical networking sessions with other people. They also tell their fellow networkers in good spirit that they might involve in "his next big transaction" but give no guarantee on that happening.

One thing for sure, a good headhunter is trained to get what they want, and they can do it quick. The faster the assignment finishes, the faster the case can be closed, and the faster the can claim their fees.