Recruiter vs Headhunter: What’s the Difference and Which one You Should Choose?

If you’re trying to bring new talent into your business, you need to find the right person to help you out. The hiring process is tricky and you’ll be sifting through applications forever if you try to do it on your own. What’s the solution?

You’re going to want to seek out a recruiter or a headhunter to help you find the best people for your open position.

If you’ve never done this before, choosing between a recruiter vs a headhunter might seem tricky. Are they even different things?

We’re here to talk about it. Keep reading to learn all about the difference between headhunting vs recruiting.

What Is a Recruiter?

A recruiter is what it sounds like: someone who helps to recruit people for your business. They work with the hiring process, post job openings, and communicate with applicants in place of you or an on-site hiring manager.

This is helpful for small business owners who don’t yet have the funds for a hiring manager of their own.

Recruiters work in a variety of industries and they focus on helping job candidates get matched with the right jobs for them. This means that they don’t focus exclusively on your niche or business.

Most of the time recruiters are generalists, but they may specialize as well. Recruiters tend to wait for communication from potential hirees rather than seeking them out, but they do take care of a lot of the “behind the scenes” work which still saves you time during the hiring process.

What Is a Headhunter?

Headhunters are similar to recruiters, but there are a few differences.

A headhunter still wants to match potential employees to employers, but they work within specific industries so they’re able to specialize. Headhunters want to fill specific positions that employers have open so they focus more on scouting than waiting for people to contact them.

While recruiters work with job candidates at every level of employment, headhunters tend to focus on upper-level positions and “high quality” candidates for open positions.

Headhunters will reach out to candidates, but they won’t help with the hiring process. You or your in-house hiring manager will still have to manage applications, the screening process, and communicating with the potential employee.

Which Is Right?

Headhunters and recruiters both have their benefits. In short, you have to consider which one suits your needs.

If you’re looking to fill a void in your company with someone who fits within a specific niche, you should consider a headhunter. If you’re looking for motivated people who may not have as much measurable experience, a recruiter is a more effective option.

A Recruiter vs a Headhunter: Both Are Valuable

When choosing between a recruiter vs a headhunter, consider what your business and hiring goals are. Both are going to be great options that can help you find talented individuals for your workplace.

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