The benefits of using a headhunter for your next job search are many, and they’re particularly heightened in the life sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries.
For employers in this space, finding the perfect fit is tough, and often, standard recruiting methods just won’t cut it. The industry is competitive, and its players are intelligent, dedicated, and (for better or for worse) not easily swayed. It takes a special opportunity—and often a trained headhunter—to nail down the perfect candidate when the search demands a specialized skill set and/or an experienced executive.
Contrary to popular belief, headhunting is a completely different process than recruiting in many ways. In this post, we’ll walk through some of the key differences between headhunting and recruiting. We’ll also discuss the benefits of utilizing a tailored, precision approach to finding your next executive or star employee. Lastly, we’ll show you where to turn if you’re ready to get serious about finding the perfect fit for your organization’s open role.
1. While Recruiters Use Passive Search Techniques, Headhunters Use Active Search Techniques.
If you’d like to post a job opening and wait for a candidate to apply, you have two main options: you can either do it yourself for little to no cost, or you can pay a recruiter to do it for you. Recruiters utilize passive search techniques, like posting job descriptions on employment boards, to find candidates for open roles. While these basic recruiting strategies have their place in the world, that place is likely not with an executive-level search or a search for a specialized industry (like life sciences, biotech, or pharma).
Unlike recruiters, headhunters use active search techniques to find the perfect fit for a position. Essentially, this means that instead of letting candidates come to them, headhunters go directly to the right candidates and position the opportunity in the best possible light for the candidate.
Headhunters rely on tactics like networking, industry event attendance, and trustworthy referrals.
When you work with a recruiter, you’ll get a higher quantity of candidates. When you work with a headhunter, you’ll get a higher quality of candidates. As you’re making your decision, consider which option—between quantity and quality—works best for you.
2. Experienced Headhunters Actually Know the Candidates You’re Looking For
When you post a role on an open job forum, you receive applications from candidates in an active job search. While this can sometimes garner you the perfect fit for the role, the chance of this aligning the way you intend becomes slimmer and slimmer as the open role becomes more specific or requires higher seniority, more specialized experience, or other hard-to-find non-negotiables.
Alternatively, when you use a headhunter in your job search, your search shifts to a higher proportion of passive candidates. Passive candidates are those who may not be actively looking for new roles. They may be perfectly content in their current role but would consider making a switch for the right opportunity and for the right firm.
In essence, recruiters use passive search methods to find active job seekers. Headhunters, however, use active search methods to find passive job seekers. Flipping the dynamic on its head produces more tailored results that garner the highest quality of applicants available for the role.
3. Industry Specialist Headhunters Understand Your Business’s Needs and Culture
You need a candidate who brings the highly specialized skills and competencies you’re looking for to the table, and who has the experience required to carry out the duties of the role with wisdom. Have you considered, however, how important a culture fit will be to your latest hiring decision? A great culture fit is essential to making sure your new hire folds seamlessly into your organization and can hit the ground running.
Headhunters take the time to understand your business’s unique needs and culture. From here, they can introduce candidates who have not only the tangible skills and competencies you’re looking for, but also the correct ethical and decision making abilities, personality type, emotional intelligence, and cultural fit.
4. Headhunters take an Efficient Precision Approach, Saving You Valuable Time and Resources
Headhunters use a precision approach to candidate sourcing, favoring the quality of the applicant pool over quantity. The precision of a headhunter’s approach is an essential time-saving factor for busy organizations, boards, and departments.
When you rely on a headhunter, you won’t have to sift through tens of unqualified or uninteresting applications. Rather, viable candidates will be introduced to you and your executive search consultant will be able to speak to the individual’s experience personally. This approach often saves busy companies money, and it almost always saves them significant amounts of time.
5. Headhunting Allows Greater Confidentiality than Standard Recruiting Practices
When recruiters post open opportunities to job forums, the role, its details, and—depending on your geographic location—the salary information is all public information. Whether you’re making a replacement hire, seeking to avoid disclosing your information and needs to the competition, or would just like to maintain confidentiality throughout the candidate selection process, a headhunter can offer you a far greater degree of privacy and discretion in your applicant search.
Cornerstone Search Group: Your Partner for Life Sciences Industry Headhunting
Cornerstone Search Group is an experienced headhunter with a vast network of talented executives. We pride ourselves on our depth of knowledge of the players in these spaces and thrive when we help our clients make the perfect match. We spend time getting to know our clients, their unique culture, and their particular business needs. Then, we bring the perfect candidates to you.
Cornerstone is proud to serve the sciences, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries and has done so for over 20 years. We’re eager to connect you with talent across the globe. Start a conversation with us today to learn more.
