Difference between Headhunter and Recruiter
In the fast-paced world of recruitment agencies, two terms seem connected yet actually differ significantly in words of their functions: the headhunters and recruiters. It can create a little bit of confusion for job seekers out there who are entirely unsure whether they are dealing with a recruiter or a headhunter during application.
But take note that even with differences, both these two are vital in searching for the right people for the right kind of job. On its core, both do the same job though with slightly different specifics and areas of concern that each of them handles.
To give us a more simple yet defined definition between the two, here are the facts that you must know about these individuals who serve the vital forces of the recruitment industry.
Who Are The Headhunters?
Their name might sound quite scary, and sometimes even people become suspicious of them. Yet headhunters are a legitimate firm, company, or freelance individuals that work on behalf of another agency to look for job seekers who can fill in a specified role in a company. The catch though is that most of the positions being passed to headhunters are often those that are badly needed by a company or in short, urgent. Unlike recruiters, some of the jobs being offered by headhunters are not always put into public.
In a basic sense, headhunters are considered as a type of recruiter whose target market is narrowed down. They usually employ and develop connections to different groups and individuals who can be a possible candidate for the positions that they offer. It is a great misconception that headhunters search only for individuals to fill in executive roles. Headhunters do also seek for anyone who can fit into any levels of position in a particular company.
All in all, a headhunter’s common denominator is that they all worked on behalf of other agencies or companies.
Who Are The Recruiters?
Recruiters, in general, are the people who carry the duty of finding candidates for a vacant position in a company. The primary task of recruiters starts from seeking out candidates to screening them before the final decision of the hiring manager will be made.
Unlike headhunters, recruiters work closely with hiring managers of the company. This means they are working as part of the company and not as an outside entity which is why sometimes they are referred to as internal recruiters. The advantage of dealing with a recruiter is that they can fill you in all the necessary details and information that you must know about the position you will take, your functions and responsibilities, and even about the company that you will be working to.
But there are recruiters also who, like headhunters, work on behalf of another company. These are usually recruiters from a recruitment agency that works closely with a company. This shows too that recruiters are more or less flexible as compared to headhunters.