How do headhunters find IB analysts?

Bump not active on LinkedIn either but heading to an EB and interested in UMM PE

Bump

2nd year analysts send a list of emails of all the 1st year analysts in their group. If you have a weird email or get overlooked you can reach out to the HH.

Active candidate databases (monster, efinancialcareers, etc)
Passive databases (through acquisition, purchased services, ..)
Networking (LInkedIn, events, asking their peers, ..)
University exchanges (some schools have links to not only employers but also key recruiters)
Industry/events (some companies have really good links to research units/schools,..)
Social Media
Google
Referral marketing (they pay for candidate referrals presented to them)

The same way you go about looking for monkeys. Go to the zoo, have bananas in hand. Likewise, go to LinkedIn and have delicious severance package.

Most recruiters I've spoken to have reached out through LinkedIn so I'd be reluctant to delete my account. Apart from that, a few have directly contacted my work email or called my desk (not awkward at all). There have been times that colleagues have given recruiters my name but, by far, the bulk of messages come through LinkedIn.

If you're set on deleting your account, I'd suggest speaking to some headhunters at the larger recruitment firms and letting them know that a) you exist and b) you're interested in XYZ. You'll then be on their internal databases and will have them blowing up your email & text inboxes with opportunities.

On-cycle headhunters (Think of HSP, SG Partners, Amity, etc.) usually ask 2nd year analysts (who by this time have gone through the PE recruiting process) for emails of the 1st years in their respective groups.

Dedicated off-cycle headhunters tend to reach out directly via LinkedIn.