How to Find, Work With and Get the Most from a Modern Headhunter

Headhunting is the proactive search for passive talent and professionals who are not actively applying to jobs. A headhunter researches relevant talent pools, approaches prospects directly (often via LinkedIn), screens them against your must‑have criteria and manages the conversation through interview, offer and pre‑onboarding. With Flat Fee Recruiter, you get all this expertise for a single flat fee and no percentage “finder’s fee.”

What is a headhunter?

A headhunter is a recruitment specialist hired by an employer to identify, engage and qualify people who match a very specific brief typically senior, niche or hard‑to‑fill roles. Unlike a contingency recruiter who relies on inbound applicants, a headhunter goes out and hunts for talent that is currently employed elsewhere.

What is headhunting (and why should you care)?

Headhunting (sometimes called executive search) is a research‑led, relationship‑driven process that reaches the estimated 70 % of professionals who never post their CV online. For in‑demand skills, headhunting can be the fastest and most cost‑effective route to the best candidate, because you are not competing on the open market.

How do headhunters find candidates?

Great headhunters combine technology with human insight. At Flat Fee Recruiter, our Recruitment Professionals use advanced searches across LinkedIn Recruiter, Reed, Total Jobs, CV Library, Indeed CV Search and specialist databases to create a long‑list of prospects.

Once an individual shows even a spark of interest, we pick up the phone. That conversation is where the real magic happens by uncovering motivations, career goals and cultural fit before you ever see a CV.

The headhunting process step by step

• Research & long‑listing
• Deep‑dive into industry networks to surface relevant talent.
• Shortlisting & personalised approach
• We email or InMail each prospect with your employer value proposition (EVP) and a trackable link to your vacancy.
• Qualification & interview
• Eligibility, competency and motivation screening done by your dedicated recruiter.
• Offer management & pre‑onboarding
• We keep candidates engaged right up to start date to avoid last‑minute drop‑outs.
• Talent banking for future roles
• Warm candidates are stored in a live “watch‑list” so you can revisit them when new vacancies appear.

Flat Fee Recruiter’s headhunting service is delivered by named recruiters with enterprise‑level LinkedIn Recruiter licences — so you benefit from unlimited InMails, advanced filters and live project dashboards without paying for the software yourself.

How much does it cost to hire a headhunter?

Traditional executive‑search firms charge 20 - 35 % of first‑year compensation, often with a third of that fee due upfront. In contrast, Flat Fee Recruiter’s model is a single flat fee for the entire headhunting campaign with no inflated commissions and no surprises.

Are headhunters worth it?

When a vacant seat costs the business £XXX per day in lost productivity, securing the right person quickly delivers an immediate ROI. With access to passive talent, salary benchmarking data and structured pre‑onboarding, professional headhunters reduce time‑to‑hire and increase retention.

Can an individual hire a headhunter?

Yes. While most headhunters work for employers, some (including Flat Fee Recruiter) can structure a project for high‑net‑worth individuals seeking confidential representation. Get in touch to discuss your circumstances.

How to get headhunted: tips for candidates

• Optimise your LinkedIn headline with niche keywords.
• Engage in specialist communities and events.
• Publish thought‑leadership articles.
• Turn on “Open to Opportunities” (visible to recruiters only).
• Build relationships with sector headhunters early in your career.

FAQ

What is a headhunter? A recruiter who proactively targets passive talent for a specific employer.

How much does a headhunter cost? Traditional fees run 20‑35 % of salary; Flat Fee Recruiter charges one transparent flat fee.

Are headhunters free for candidates? Yes – employers pay the fee.

What is headhunting? A research‑led recruiting method focused on proactive outreach to passive candidates.

Ready to fill that hard‑to‑find role?

Book a free consultation with our headhunting team today and discover how we can deliver top talent without the eye‑watering commissions.