Are Headhunters useful for undergrads

Is there any point of signing up with the headhunters if you want to get a job in investment banking or close to investment banking? Also, if you are undergrad in senior year do they help at all or are they only good for people out of school. Some good thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks.

 
Best Response

Don't close any doors, that is, who knows if a head hunter might be able to help you, but the whole point of a company using headhunters is because its difficult to find the people that headhunters can bring them. If all a headhunter did was funnel their clients 1000's of resumes from eager undergrads and career switchers, what value would they be adding? None. The company probably gets those resumes anyway. Companies hire HHs because they are looking for a specific candidate to fill a specific role. Or looking for a specific level of experience. Or looking to tap into a employee pool that would otherwise be difficult or time consuming to access.

Also, think about it from the HH's perspective. Headhunters work with companies, not job-seekers. The company is their client, not you. When a client calls up a HH with an assignment to go out an grab an experienced candidate, that's what they're looking for. When they look at your resume and it doesn't exactly fit the specification they are after, it goes in the garbage. No maybe they're a nice guy, maybe there's a cultural fit, none of that. Garbage.

Think of it this way, if your mom told you to walk down to the supermarket and pick up a kiwi, would you be distracted by the mounds of apples and oranges and pears? Or would you find the kiwis, get one that looked good and bring it home? Does it even matter that some of the apples looked pretty juicy? Aside from keeping that in mind for next time in case you get sent for an apple, not in the slightest. This is exactly how it works. HHs are the ones puching the grocery cart around and you, buddy, are the fruit.

 

I dont know IB, but most headhunter won't work with college students. It's not worth it for them because there's already a channel for you guys to get employed (career services).

Even if you find one that would help it probably means that they're not busy enough with experienced professionals (which pay more $) and might not be the best resource out there.

Additionally, I'm not even sure if most banks would pay a headhunter fee for an entry level position.

All this is just a way to tell you that I think you're likely barking up the wrong tree with a headhunter. I'd focus your efforts elsewhere.

twitter: @CorpFin_Guy
 

Absolutely do not use a headhunter it's a huge waste of money. Anything they do you can do yourself.

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I have a couple HH's that I know well and refer students to. They usually have a range of job placements, including those with little experience. The issue is they are generally placing into F500 or accounting roles. I think it is a good idea to build the relationships early, but don't expect optimal roles from them.

 

I think it would make sense, if a headhunter is willing to work with you. It sounds like you have a solid resume but the guy with FT experience is still an easier sell. If you got all those internships out of a non-target, it sounds like your more than capable of taking the cold call/email route.

Competition is a sin. -John D. Rockefeller
 

My experience is that head hunters are just slighly better than HR reps at acompany. They aren't 'going to bat for you' they really don't care if they place you or one of a hundred other resumes they get. For the most part, they'll do a preliminary screen to see that you fit the specs of the mandates they have, then they pass a stack of resumes to the company. Unless it's higher level search re: executive or for experienced bankers, headhunters are just level one screening agents.

 

Hold on, you said you are just entering undergrad? Why are you so concerned about something four years from now?? I mean seriously, go to school and enjoy for atleast freshman and sophomore year before you start asking these questions. Its good to see that you have drive, but at the same time you don't want to be the kid who only eats, sleeps, and breaths banking.

Array
 

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