The 18 Best Headhunting Firms

CareerFitter > Career Advice  > 

The 18 Best Headhunting Firms

Headhunters are specialists in the field of recruiting. Organizations use them to source the best possible candidates for a position and pay them for their services. Individual job hunters can use their services to search for the perfect job and to source jobs on the hidden job market. Being contacted by a headhunter usually means that you stand out within your industry, and your accomplishments have been noticed. Also known as an executive recruiter, these professionals are generally hired to fill top-level roles within a company.

Since these executive positions require the very best candidates with the highest skill levels, companies bring in headhunting firms to scope out the key players in the industry. They must be highly skilled at identifying the best candidates and matching them with the right positions.

If you are looking for a job, using a recruiting or headhunting service can be a smart move. Not only will it give you access to jobs that aren’t posted to the general public, but it can also save you a significant amount of time as well.

What does a headhunter do?

The headhunter’s job is a very specialized one. They are hired by organizations or used by individual job seekers and are responsible for sourcing the very best candidates for high-level positions. They work as independent advisors to fill positions that are too important to be advertised on job boards and career sites.

When seeking out potential candidates, they must:

● Analyze the position

Headhunters must have a detailed knowledge of the positions that need to be filled. They must work closely with the organization to determine the required qualifications, right down to the tiniest details. They need to understand the company's culture and the type of personality that would best suit its specific working environment.

● Source and screen candidates

Next, a headhunter must source out potential candidates and screen them to determine whether they will be a good fit for the position. To do so, they will need to review referrals, search through social media and look into other professionals that hold similar positions at other companies. Most headhunters have a large network of executive contacts that can provide them with insight as well.

Many headhunters also work with individual job seekers like yourself. They will interview you, obtain detailed information regarding your experience and determine the specific types of positions and organizations that would be a good fit for you.

● Contact potential candidates

Once a headhunter has created a list of potential candidates, they will reach out to them. This will allow them to determine which of these candidates are the best matches for the position and who shows the most interest.

The process of working with a headhunter can be a lengthy one that requires a great deal of patience. When using headhunting services, it may take anywhere between three to six months to be contacted for a job interview and in some situations even longer. Even though it may take some time, you can rest assured that when a position does arise, it will be of good quality and a good fit.

● Provide feedback to the employer

The headhunter will then narrow down their list to only the most appropriate candidates and will provide this list to the employer. Along with the list, they will give detailed feedback on why each candidate was selected, their most significant industry accomplishments, and why they would be the right match for both the company and the position.

If your name has been placed on this list, you are being highly recommended by the headhunter you are working with, and the employer will take note of this. Employers place their trust in headhunting firms to source only the very best and most highly qualified candidates.

What to look for in a headhunting firm

As a job seeker, there are three main things you should look for when selecting a headhunting firm. Doing some research beforehand will ensure that you are working with an organization that understands the type of position you require and has the capacity to source these positions for you.

● Industry knowledge

A headhunter that has knowledge of your specific industry is crucial. To find the right job for you, they must have detailed knowledge about the industry requirements and standards. This will allow them to seek out the job that will best match your unique needs and fit your qualifications.

● Experience

An experienced headhunter could mean the difference between finding a good position and finding the perfect position. Prior to hiring a headhunting firm, investigate them to determine how long they have been in business and how much experience they have.

● A good track record

Getting references for your headhunter of choice will allow you to determine how well they are able to do their job and how satisfied past job seekers were with their performance.

The Top 18 Headhunting Firms

Across America, there are countless executive recruiters that come highly recommended. Here we will look into the top.

Diversified Search Group

Starting in 1974 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, The Diversified Search Group specializes in eleven different industries from retail to life sciences and almost everything in between. They can assist in finding the perfect candidates for positions ranging from CEOs to Financial Officers and offer a specialized assessment service that helps them determine the perfect leadership fit.>

Korn Ferry

Founded in 1969, Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Initially established to provide executive search services, Korn Ferry has evolved into a leading authority on talent management, offering comprehensive solutions for organizations looking to enhance their workforce. They specialize in headhunting top-tier executives across various sectors, including finance, technology, healthcare, and consumer goods. With a deep commitment to understanding clients' unique needs, Korn Ferry combines data-driven insights with industry expertise to ensure organizations secure the right talent for their leadership roles.

Nelson

If you are looking to find a C-level or management position, Nelson may be the headhunting firm that can help you successfully achieve this. They provide services for both businesses, individuals, and government agencies and place a high priority on diversity and inclusion.

Stanton Chase International

As one of the top executive recruiters in New York City, Stanton Chase International first started its operation in 1990. While they began in the United States, they have since created a global enterprise with office locations throughout the world. This gives them the opportunity to offer headhunting services from a global perspective with local insight.

MRINetwork

In 1965 the MRINetwork was started in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For over 55 years, they have helped source the highest-level executives from throughout the world. They have over 300 offices across five different continents.

Patrice & Associates

If you are looking to find a position in the hospitality industry, Patrice & Associates are the specialists you need. They deal specifically with talent from the restaurant, hotel, food and beverage, and retail sectors and can help you find everything from top-level executive positions to mid-management and customer service jobs.

MarketPro

MarketPro is your headhunting specialist in the marketing field. They are experts when it comes to all aspects of marketing and are always looking to fill top-level marketing positions with the best talent in the industry. They have been in business for over twenty years and have helped fill positions in both large and small businesses from all across the United States.

Egon Zehnder

Egon Zehnder was founded in New York City in 1964. They offer board consulting and hiring through 63 offices in 37 different countries. They specialize in a wide variety of different sectors, including financial services, health, private equity, and communications.

Michael Page

Michael Page has offices all across the globe from the Americas, UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. Their first office was opened in Toronto, Canada, in 2005, and they have a focus on recruiting in some of the largest industry sectors.

Accur Recruiting Services

Accur Recruiting Services specializes in recruiting for consumer goods companies. They have a unique interest in finding the top executives in the beauty, luxury goods, wine and spirit, jewelry, retail, travel, and food and beverage industries.

Reaction Search International

By specializing in recruiting top professionals in over 35 different markets, Reaction Search International has become one of the best headhunting firms in America. They provide one of the most extensive executive searches to match the best talent to the needs of their clients. They also provide a custom-fitted search that is specific to each of their client's executive needs, goals, and corporate.

Naviga Recruiting and Executive Search

Naviga Recruiting and Executive Search work diligently to provide executive, sales, and marketing recruiting services to businesses and individuals across North America. They were founded in 2002 in Tampa, Florida.

JMJ Phillip

JMJ Phillip considers itself a boutique headhunting firm. They provide services to companies in the manufacturing, supply chain, and technology sectors and have been operating for over fifteen years.

20/20 Foresight Executive Search

20/20 Foresight has made it their mission to match the most qualified candidates to their client's unique needs. They have one of the best databases in the industry and have access to more than 25,000 companies and 100,000 candidates across the globe.

Rigsby Search Group

Rigsby Search Group is passionate about the environmental industry. They specialize in meeting their client's environmental hiring and employment needs. Sean Rigsby is the company's Managing Partner and has over 20 years of executive search experience.

Cornerstone Search

Cornerstone Search has been recruiting for over 25 years and has successfully placed over 874 candidates. Since 1996 they have been working diligently to recruit for many of the fastest-growing software companies and VC firms across the world.

DHR International

DHR has over 30 years of experience working in more than 20 different industries across the globe. They provide a customized talent advisory with a high-touch experience to ensure that they can match the best possible candidates with the best positions.

Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles considers themselves one of the premier providers of senior-level executive searches, culture shaping, and leadership consulting services in North America. It was started in 1953 by Gardner Heidrick and John Struggles in Chicago and is among the first companies in the executive search industry.

Getting Ready For The Headhunter

Be prepared to wow them right out of the gate.  You can't afford to not be ready.  Before you pursue your career, make sure it's the career you should be pursuing.  CareerFitter offers online career assessment tests showing insights into your work personality and careers that fit you best.