Who are the top (most active) recruiters in Corp Dev?
I'm a mid-level corp dev professional in the SaaS software space. Former banker. Interested in looking around for another corp dev role (ideally in tech). The headhunters who contact me are pretty unimpressive.
Asked ChatGPT and was referred to WSO as a channel to explore.
Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s what you need to know about recruiters in the Corp Dev space:
Headhunters/Recruiters: While headhunters are often a last resort for Corp Dev hiring (especially for senior roles), they can still be useful. Some of the more active recruiters in the broader VC/Growth/Corp Dev space include:
Referrals: For late-stage VC firms or tech-focused Corp Dev roles, referrals are often the most effective way to land opportunities. Cold emailing principals or partners at firms can also yield results.
LinkedIn: Building a detailed and polished LinkedIn profile is crucial. Many professionals in Corp Dev report being contacted weekly by headhunters for roles, so optimizing your profile can attract better opportunities.
If you’re not impressed with the headhunters reaching out to you, consider leveraging your network for referrals or directly targeting companies of interest.
Sources: Growth Eq/Late Stage VC Recruiters, Is tech all that or nothing more than a buzz word?, Corporate Development Manager - Q&A, Corporate Development: My Experiences and Background, Q&A: Corp Dev > Strategic Finance > VC
This is helpful. Thank you. I asked a similar question in various GenAI programs, and the results were similar. Thought I might outsource the answer to fellow humans in addition to AI.
I don't work in corp dev but have recruited for it before (i.e. others may know more)... my impression is there are very few dedicated headhunters who cover this space. Corp dev groups are generally pretty small -- even very large + acquisitive companies are like, 20-30 people -- with haptic (and cyclical) hiring needs, and it's likely too tough to build a book of business around that persona.
The mandates are most likely to be handled by internal people or whatever headhunter is handiest (i.e. the unimpressive people reaching out to you). I also regularly see corp dev roles, including group head ones, posted on LinkedIn, way more so than any other area of M&A.
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