TRANSITION CENTER

What’s the difference between a Corporate recruiter and a Military headhunter?  Military headhunters are placement agencies that act as an agent for the military member with Corporate America. The purpose of this service is to place transitioning veterans into the hands of client companies for interviews in hopes of a hire. Headhunters are geared towards Corporate America throughout the United States but also can be region based.

What are the benefits of choosing a headhunter for my career search? How should I implement headhunters into my transition plan?

Choosing a headhunter allows veterans to focus internally:  By using a headhunter, the service member can hone in on areas of self-development which are needed for making the transition. It cuts out time used to search and apply for jobs online that probably won’t pan out. This can free up time to focus on accomplishments and prepare thoroughly for the arduous interview process ahead.  Bottom Line: It’s saving countless hours of time.

Resume and Interview Help:    Each headhunter will have a vested interest to ensure that you are prepared for interviews. They will teach the format and the basics but ultimately it’s up to the veteran to put in the work.  Bottom Line: The headhunter is skillful about how to translate military accomplishments into civilian terminology.

Hiring Conferences:  Each headhunter has a version of a hiring conference. A hiring conference is anywhere from two to four days depending on the search firm. Most consist of one to two days of preparation and then one to two days of interviews. Headhunters will have their own matching process beforehand based on the veteran’s experience, location preference and desired occupation. Once the matching process is complete, the headhunter will create schedules for both the veteran and the company for interviews.

Depending on the headhunter and the hiring conference, the candidate can expect anywhere from five to 14 interviews during a hiring conference. A hiring conference is the number one reason why a veteran would choose a headhunter. The opportunity to get a relatively large number of interviews in a short time period is not only saving valuable time but money. An important aspect that’s often overlooked is the fact that nearly all are qualified interviews. This means that each person who steps into that interview not only is qualified but an ideal and sought after candidate for that position. All the conference preparation and interview scheduling is handled by the headhunter. Travel is coordinated and paid for by the veteran. Headhunters cut out the time/money spent researching and seeking your own opportunities.  Bottom Line: This is the reason to choose a headhunter. Prepare and show up for qualified interviews.

Experienced Professionals: This is the opportunity to ask experienced professionals tough questions which pertain to a specific transition. Additionally, most if not all have served in the military. The headhunter is knowledgeable about the military terminology and will assist in the process of determining significant accomplishments.  Most headhunting firms will be glad to answer any questions or concerns.  Bottom Line: Listen and learn everything possible.

The five main recruiting firms are: Alliance, Bradley Morris, Cameron Brooks, Lucas Group and Orion.

I recommend using a headhunter similar to using an insurance policy. You are still networking, searching and applying while also maintaining a relationship with a headhunter and scheduling a hiring conference.  Determine the own situation and how to best utilize the headhunters.  Not the other way around.