The application process from a headhunter's point of view
You have certainly already received enough tricks and advice as an applicant on how to convince a company, but have you ever wondered how an application process works from a headhunter's point of view and what you have to consider?
Direct approach / online application
This is where the headhunter has to take the initiative, so you can put your feet up and wait for an exciting job offer. Via social networks such as LinkedIn or Xing or directly over the phone (see also "The headhunter on the phone") Contact is made directly with potential candidates and the position is explained in more detail. Of course, only people with a suitable profile and the required criteria will be contacted.
However, if patience is not your forte, you can also apply for vacancies from suitable sources or contact a headhunter directly.
phone interview
If there is mutual interest, the first step is a short telephone interview in which the vacant position is described in more detail and open questions can be clarified. In addition, ambiguities regarding the career and initial salary expectations can be discussed.
Caution! Negotiations are not yet taking place here, the focus is on the exchange of information.
Personal conversation
The application documents are sent before the personal or virtual interview. There are further steps to be observed in an online interview, you can find out more here: Video interview.
The conversation can be seen like an application interview, it serves to get to know the applicants and enables a more precise overview of the ideas and expectations of the candidates.
If there is mutual interest, the application documents will be forwarded to the customer for evaluation.
Presentation to the customer
If the customer is convinced of the documents and feedback, the candidate will be invited to a further interview, directly in the future company. There is a direct exchange and you can convince with strengths and competencies.
Feedback and decision
In the last step, the customer shares their feedback and the decision. Finally, the candidate will be contacted immediately and further steps will be discussed with the new employer from now on.
"It's never too late to become what you could have been."
George Eliot
