There is a growing trend in Japan where recruitment agencies, or ‘headhunters’, supply the workforce demand of employers. Take a look at how headhunters play a crucial role in Japan's labor market and how they exemplify a good practice of being a middleman, connecting the right people with the right company.
Table of Contents
- What and Who is a Headhunter?
- What are the day-to-day tasks in the life of a headhunter?
- For Companies: Getting a Headhunter
- For Jobseekers: Getting Spotted by a Headhunter
- Summary
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
What and Who is a Headhunter?
A headhunter’s primary objective is to find talent that matches a company's request. This is done by assessing job fit. Good communication and assessment skills are essential to a successful career as a headhunter.
Recruiting Service For the Employer
Headhunters can be an organization (company) or an individual that offers recruiting services to employers. A headhunter seeks to fulfill a client’s criteria for a vacant position by finding the most suitable talent. They employ various means from searching job hunt websites, LinkedIn, and recommendations.
Difference between Headhunters and Recruiters
Headhunters and recruiters are very similar jobs. What makes them different is their focus or goal.
For more about becoming a recruiter in Japan, check this article:
Career in Japan: Recruitment Sector
A recruiter focuses on filling up positions, they are also involved in the recruitment process like posting job ads, scheduling, filtering, and more. Whereas a headhunter focuses on finding the ideal candidate for a particular position, they are also not involved in the recruitment process. Furthermore, a recruiter also works with jobseekers whereas headhunters work only with hirers.
Generally, a headhunter is more suitable for filling in a senior position whilst a recruiter is more suitable for mass hiring.
※ US News, “Headhunter vs. Recruiter: Which Is Best?”
Writer's Pick
What are the day-to-day tasks in the life of a headhunter?
As a headhunter, your duties may include the following:
Matching job positions and talents including:
- Talent search on different avenues including LinkedIn and similar interfaces
- Initial contact with talent to inquire on availability and interests
- Placement and closing deals
Marketing including:
- Networking
- Branding and strategizing and so on!
Depending on your company, you may find yourself doing recruiter activities as well in which case have a look at our recruiter article.
For Companies: Getting a Headhunter
If you are wondering how to identify a good headhunter for your company, here are some quick tips.
Tip 1: Find a good recruitment agency
An agency’s reputation is a good indication of how successful they will be in finding you a good talent. Aside from their reputation, check for credibility and success rates to ensure results live up to their name. Although the price may be higher, a reputable agency will have better networks and capabilities to cater to your needs.
Tip 2: Find an expert
If you are looking for specialized talents, an industry based agency may work better for you than an overall reputable one. This is especially useful for specialized fields with a niche nature of work. The headhunter would also be better equipped to understand the type of employee you are seeking and the skills they should possess.
Tip 3: Be Honest and Transparent
As good as they are, headhunters are not mind readers. Be upfront with your needs including what you are willing to compromise or not compromise with. This can be about qualifications, personality, working conditions, salary, bonuses, and benefits. The more information your headhunter has to work with, the better they can find someone that fits your needs.
For Jobseekers: Getting Spotted by a Headhunter
Open to changing jobs? Still looking for the “one”?
Here are some quick tips to catch a headhunter’s eyes!
Tip 1: LinkedIn
Although LinkedIn does not have as strong a presence in Japan than it does for other countries, it is still the best place to get spotted by headhunters. This is especially so for headhunters seeking bilinguals or foreign talent in the IT field so keep your profile updated and in tip-top shape.
Tip 2: Keywords and Status
Make sure you have the right status in place: actively looking or open to queries. When preparing or updating your profile, think about what skills and experiences a company would be looking for. Check out job descriptions and use them as reference. Having keywords that stand out to headhunters will make you stand out better.
Tip 3: Reach Out
Instead of waiting, try being proactive and reach out to headhunters instead. You never know, they may already have a perfect position for you.
Summary
To be a great headhunter, you need a keen eye for talent, good communication skills, and a strong will. Expect plenty of rejections or outright ignored, but the feeling of success when you make a successful placement and get rewarded for it is non-comparable.
