How to work with a headhunter (and get called first)
Recruiters are not a job application service. Here is how to become the person we call before a role is even advertised.
The best roles in housing are filled quietly. By the time a job is advertised widely, a shortlist of known names has often already been discussed. Being one of those names is not luck — it is maintenance.
Be specific about what you want
"I'm open to anything" makes you unplaceable. "I want a Land Manager role within 45 minutes of Bristol, £70–80k, at a five-star housebuilder doing 300+ units" makes you memorable and easy to match.
Tell the truth about your process
- Say who you are already in process with. Duplicate CV submissions kill candidacies.
- Be honest about your salary and notice period from the outset.
- Tell me the real reason you are looking. It shapes which employers I put you in front of.
- If you decide to stay put, say so. It costs you nothing and buys you the next call.
Stay on the radar between moves
A two-line message every six months — new role, new scheme, new responsibility — keeps you current in my head. Most people go silent for four years and then want a shortlist in a fortnight.
Ready to put this into practice?
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