What is a Headhunter?
A headhunter, also called an executive recruiter, is a professional, often external to the hiring company, who proactively identifies and recruits candidates, typically for senior or highly specialized roles.
Why does a Headhunter matter?
For hard-to-fill or confidential executive searches, a headhunter’s dedicated sourcing network and time often succeed where an internal recruiter juggling many open roles cannot.
How does a Headhunter work?
A headhunter is retained or engaged on a contingency basis by a client, then sources, vets, and presents a shortlist of candidates directly, often approaching passive candidates who were not looking for a new role.
Frequently asked questions
Is a headhunter the same as a recruiter?
Headhunters are typically external, often specialize in executive or highly specialized searches, and proactively source rather than relying on inbound applications; internal recruiters may do both.
How are headhunters typically paid?
Common models include a contingency fee (paid only on a successful hire, often a percentage of first-year salary) or a retained fee paid upfront regardless of outcome.
How BrightMove helps
BrightMove’s Power Search gives internal recruiters the same kind of deep, direct candidate-sourcing capability a headhunter relies on. See Power Search in action.