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I have a section on this blog with Marketing and Sales Jobs in Israel.Many of the job postings are from Head Hunters and I often get emails from visitors to this site saying stuff like "Please don't post anything related to Head Hunters!" or " I hate head hunters they never respond" etc..

I found these emails pretty shocking because I never knew there was such hatred towards head hunters.

After some research and learning more about the head hunting industry - these are my thoughts:

A job change is an incredible sensitive time in one's life. Bad moments and experiences - even if they seem very minor - become a huge deal during this sensitive period.

When an HR manager in a company doesn't respond to a job application - the whole entire company is now the enemy.

When a head hunter posts a job opening and doesn't respond to applicants - that head hunter is now marked with a big X (even if you don't know the reason why that head hunter isn't responding.)

After several months of trying to understand (both sides) I've come to the following conclusions:

Job Seekers:

Job seekers feel the following about Head Hunters:

1- They are pushing the job seeker into a job that isn't right for them

2- Head Hunters never respond

3- They don't understand the job seekers needs

4- Head hunters are dishonest about positions or the requirements for a role

In many cases the job seeker is right. There are crappy head hunters out there just looking make another buck and could care less about the clients and their needs.

But lets put aside for now the crappy head hunters. Because the fact of the matter is - there are actually many good ones out there,

I've spent lots of time shmoozing with job seekers and learned that in most cases <strong>its not the head hunters fault.</strong>

I shall explain:

1- When you are applying for a job - you are not the only one. In fact there could be at least one hundred other people applying for the same position. One head hunter recently told me that she only responds to those who follow up with her. You have to follow up. This is the one major issue I've discovered with almost all job seekers that have contacted me - no one bothers to follows up.

2- When a head hunter posts a job opening and lists the different requirements/skills etc..needed for the position - if your resume does not fit those requirements 100% and if you don't have the skills - in most cases they simply won't get back to you. Why is that? Because they need to submit those resumes to the company that is hiring. The head hunter simply cannot submit resumes that are not 100% relevant. Many many times I've come across job seekers with no experience in marketing applying for jobs in marketing and then they get frustrated at the head hunters for not responding.

3- Head hunters are not psychologists. They do not want to hear all of your frustrations with your job search and your life story. They have a job to do and cannot waste time on that stuff. They just want to know one thing: Are you the right person for the job?

I hope that's clear.

Cheers!

Hillel Porath