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 to 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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