Is it unwise to bypass headhunter and reach out to PE firm directly? (headhunter not responding)
Do I have anything to loose reaching out to a PE firm directly, if my headhunter isn't responding to me?
I feel like I'm a good fit for a firm, but I can't get a response from the headhunter. Should I take this as a sign to give up, or should I reach out directly?
If you received one such email, would you even glance at the resume, or would you just ignore?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, it's not unwise to reach out to a PE firm directly, especially if your headhunter isn't responding. In fact, it's often encouraged to be proactive in your job search. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
You have nothing to lose: If you're a good fit for the firm and you're not getting a response from the headhunter, reaching out directly could be a good move. They won't hire you if they don't know you exist!
Be professional: When reaching out, make sure to be professional and respectful. Explain why you're interested in the firm and why you believe you'd be a good fit.
Don't rely solely on cold emails: While reaching out directly can be beneficial, don't rely solely on this method. Many firms ignore spam resumes, so it's often better to be introduced by a headhunter or a mutual friend.
Don't give up: If you're not getting a response, don't take it as a sign to give up. Keep trying and exploring other avenues.
As for your last question, it really depends on the person receiving the email. Some might ignore it, while others might take a look at your resume. The key is to make your email stand out by being concise, professional, and showing genuine interest in the firm.
Remember, the goal is to get your foot in the door and make them aware of your existence. So, go ahead, swing from those branches and make some noise!
Sources: Different headhunters reaching out to different people at same firm?, 2022 Private Equity Headhunter Coverage, Private Equity Recruiting Kicked Off?, Best Headhunting Shops ?
Do not do that, the HH will blacklist you
Remember the HH only gets paid if you sign the job, so if the firm wants you they will do absolutely everything to make sure you know (/sign the offer)... if the HH goes dark that means the firm is not interested
Hint: If you don't know the difference between loose and lose you are probably not a "good fit" for any PE fund.
Funds can have quite specific requirements. So it’s possible they said we need candidates from X Sector with Y deals on their CV and who speak Z language. The headhunters then start out by contacting about 50-100 candidates asking if they’re interested in X fund plus whatever CVs they have in their drive. They then send across whoever said yes plus people they spoke to previously who would likely be interested in a long list of 50 or so candidates to the fund. The fund then picks a short list of 10 or so to interview. After first round where they dump people who don’t have basic technicals/people they just don’t like, they’ll take about three people through to final round.
Source: I used to screw a headhunter
If they ghosted you it means the fund has likely already said no. Nothing to gain by reaching out but you will likely ruin the relationship with the headhunter. The headhunter will put you forward for other roles providing that you’re overall a strong candidate.
Thanks for the response. This is helpful. Also, lucky you. Every headhunter I've spoken to has been a smokeshow
Mondrian alpha
Is it still bad if you reach out to a firm directly outside of a HH flagging that firm to you? Like if the HH doesn’t say anything to you and you just network into a role, I don’t see what’s problematic about that
Bump
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