Who Pays a Headhunter? Fees and Process Explained
The cost of a headhunter varies. It is not like a recruitment company where they are paid a fee each month for the first three months of the employee working on location. Headhunters will typically ask for a percentage based on the salary of the targeted employee. So, if they find somebody for a 50K per year, the headhunter will charge a fee between £7500 to £10,000 (between 15% and 20%). You can discuss the fee with your headhunter before you hire them, especially if the final wage is negotiable.
Who Pays the Headhunter?
In most cases, you pay after somebody has been found. You pay once you are happy with the employee, though there is very little room for error. For example, if you pay a few thousand for an employee, and two weeks later you discover that employee is unsuitable, then you do not get your money back. The headhunters should send you the best talent possible, but it is still up to you to vet, check and interview the people being sent to you.
Will They Send Just Anybody?
Working with a new headhunter, there is always the chance they may send any old employee to work for you. However, if you are planning on working with the headhunter over the long term, they should really be sending you the very best talent within your staffing budget. You have to find the best employees by first finding the best headhunters.
What is the Process?
After years of working with headhunters, you will discover that a lot of the process is about trust and relationships. It is like having a personal shopper. After they have been working with you for a while, they can almost anticipate exactly what you want before you even say it. If you are dealing with a good headhunting company, they are going to learn from their previous experience with you. They will know which candidates are more likely to be accepted, and they will work hard to make sure you keep working with them.
Each headhunter is going to have its own process, but just like using a personal shopper, you offer up your specifications, you try to be as clear as possible while maintaining as much flexibility as possible. Being flexible means you want to take candidates as a whole rather than insisting on very specific things. For example, two years’ experience can be one years’ experience if they also tick several other boxes. Once the headhunter has your specifications, they will give you a rough idea how long it will be before they start sending people to you.
Should I Hire a Headhunter?
If you are looking to get your hands on the sort of staff who will add genuine value to your business. If you are looking for the sort of staff who don’t apply to
your job listings because they already have a job, then you should hire a headhunter. Getting the right staff seems to have become more difficult these days, and if you are struggling, you can find a head hunting company here. Give them your specifications and let them find the best staff members your money can buy. It turns a very difficult problem into a very simple one.
*This is a collaborative post.
