HN Explorer

Ask HN: Should I get a headhunter to intro me?

4 points by rajacombinator ↗ HN
When doing a little LinkedIn reconnaissance on a company I'm interested in approaching about job openings, I noticed a headhunter I have a good relationship with is connected to the CEO. I'm wondering if I should ask the headhunter to intro me to them. (I have no other connection to them.) I've never done it this way before (usually headhunters bring the opportunities to me) and there seem to be some potential downsides compared to cold contacting them myself. I have no idea how strong the hh relationship with this person is, and involving them introduces a costly layer of friction (their hh fee), which could end up shooting myself in the foot if the company doesn't want to pay the fee. (Or simply reduce the amount they're willing to pay me.) So is the possibility of a warmer-than-cold intro worth it ...?

5 comments

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 19.4 ms ] thread
ryanmercer
Just contact the company or CEO... the recruiter is just going to go "hey CEO give me some money 'casue this guy wants to talk to you but I want my taste of the action if you hire him'.

If you can't find their direct contact email I'd simply send them a connection request on LinkedIn with a short message "Hi, I really like thing about company and wanted to see if we might be able to chat about potential opportunities for me there".

Worst case they ignore the request.

rajacombinator
Thanks all for the input. Decided this is the best approach.
zunzun
In order to get repeat business and a good reputation with businesses - who pay the headhunter -they must find the best people at the lowest price to the business. So for the lowest salary let the headhunter do your negotiating! If you tell the headhunter your target salary range, they will pass on your lowball range number.
sloaken
OMG have I got stories for you - short answer YES.

Back in the day I recall searching for a job and having little success. I found one job with a company I thought was perfect. I submitted a resume. A month late their HR called me up and told me 'I found your resume searching online and I think you will be perfect for a job at my company'. He described the job I had applied for. I agreed and explained it was the same job I had applied for ... never heard from them again. Why? They get paid to find YOU. The HR department does not look o brilliant if you find them. I know this is a very negative opinion of HR, bit it seems common.

For some reason HR departments are mystified by IT requirements / resumes. So they pay services to filter your resume. But they trust the headhunter who bought them lunch / dinner to know what they are talking about. Also if you do not work out they can blame the headhunter.

You have nothing to lose by using a headhunter, unless they try to charge you.

Once again, especially since I just reread your story, it is an obvious YES.

JSeymourATL
> I have no idea how strong the hh relationship with this person is...

ASK Him - do you really know this CEO or is he just another one of your 10,000 Linkedin connections?

ASK The Headhunter to foster an appropriate introduction. Give him say 10 business days to line-up something up. Be transparent about this so there's no misunderstanding.

If he can't or won't -- then, practice courage and email/call the CEO directly.

Surprisingly, they often admire people with the chutzpah to say -- here's why you & I should talk.