When a new client recently asked if becoming a headhunter was a logical next step for me after leaving the corporate world as a global leader, I understood the reasoning behind her question. She pointed to my LinkedIn profile, noting how my career appeared to have followed a perfectly straight trajectory of success, seemingly tailored to land me where I am today.
But the truth is far messier.
My first response was: "LinkedIn profiles (as btw. every resume, too) show a curated, polished career version."
They don’t reveal the nights spent away from my family, the personal sacrifices, or the soul-sapping politics of climbing the corporate ladder. They don’t show deep exhaustion or moments of doubt when the correction of error plans didn't immediately show the expected trends. Yes, I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, but my profile only tells half of the story. If you’re considering a career change following other examples, don’t rely on the glossy digital versions of success; request the full story behind the titles and bullet points.
Then I gave her my second, equally candid response: "Yes, you can become a headhunter. But it has nothing to do with logic."
The Illogical Leap: Why I Became a Headhunter
I never intended to become a headhunter. During my corporate days, I frequently received calls from recruiters who seemed to think they were headhunters (there's a significant difference). They viewed me as nothing more than a name on a list or, to be precise, a dollar value they hoped to cash in on as quickly as possible. They requested my CV, perhaps mumbled a few details about a job opportunity, and then vanished, never to follow up. It was transactional, impersonal, and frankly, uninspiring.
My corporate DNA—built on serving customers, solving problems, and developing teams—clashed with this approach. I couldn’t imagine becoming the type of headhunter who simply collected resumes to "toss over the fence."
After leaving corporate life, I sought a role that combined my two passions: people and development. Becoming an Executive Search Headhunter seemed to fit, but I soon realized that, while valuable, my 23 years of corporate experience accounted for only 5% of what I needed to succeed as a headhunter and meet my high standards on my own terms.
The remaining 95%? I had to reinvent myself.
Reinventing Myself: The Real Work of Being a Headhunter
Becoming a headhunter was less about applying what I already knew (interviewing candidates, managing global P&Ls, and building high-performing organizations) and more about mastering entirely new skills. Here’s what I learned:
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Winning Clients Means Understanding Their Culture
Winning a client isn’t about your reputation or expertise alone; it’s about truly understanding their culture, values, and vision. Building trust to understand which skills, experience, and character are needed to propel the company forward requires deep empathy and a willingness to adapt to their unique needs. -
Attracting the Uninterested
The most interesting candidates are often those who aren’t actively looking for a job. Crafting compelling stories that catch their interest and create a sense of opportunity and excitement requires creativity and insight into what drives people. -
Managing Invisible Stakeholders
Behind every hiring decision are unseen influencers like spouses, friends, colleagues, and internal stakeholders. Navigating these invisible dynamics is part strategy, part magic. -
Coaching Both Sides
C-Level executives as candidates often think they’re masters of interviews, but many aren’t. Clients, too, may need guidance to identify the right skills and cultural fit. Mentoring both sides to have meaningful discussions is an art, not a science. -
Navigating the Critical Final Stage
The days before contract signatures are nerve-wracking. A process that took months can unravel in hours due to unexpected doubts or external pressures. Managing these moments requires precision and calm under pressure. -
Supporting Transitions
Once a candidate accepts, their journey isn’t over. Resigning from a role they once loved and dedicated all their energy to is emotionally challenging, and assisting them in navigating this transition is a vital, often neglected, aspect of the process.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive—many more steps are involved.
Reinvention and Resilience
Becoming a headhunter wasn’t logical or straightforward. It demanded reinvention—adapting my skills, mindset, and approach. It required embracing uncertainty and developing entirely new capabilities. In my case, it even meant founding my own firm and transforming from receiving predictable monthly paychecks to being solely responsible for the complete value chain to guarantee that acquisition and delivery lead to sending invoices but, most importantly, matching clients and candidates for long-term professional success.
Fast Forward 5 Years
Today, I can confidently say that becoming a headhunter as well as an executive and management coach on my own terms has been the greatest professional transformation I have achieved in my life so far. I will leave it to my clients and candidates to judge how they perceive the uniqueness of "my own terms" and services compared to the industry.
Back to my Client
For my client who is wondering if headhunting is the right path, my advice is this: If you’re willing to redefine yourself, serve both candidates and clients authentically, and embrace the role's complexity, then it could be a deeply fulfilling journey. But don’t mistake it for an easy or logical step.
My Advice to Leaders Thinking About Their Next Step
Careers, like life itself, rarely follow a linear path. Whether transitioning from corporate leadership or embarking on a bold career shift, success stems not from a flawless plan but from your ability to adapt, grow, and face the unknown. Reinventing yourself—at any stage of your career—is like boarding a thrilling rollercoaster, unpredictable and intense. Yet, the rewards can be extraordinary with the right mindset and a willingness to explore new horizons. For more thoughts on what could possibly follow a corporate career, please read the recently posted article "Redefining Success After a Corporate Lifetime."
"Reinvent Yourself to Find Purpose Has Nothing to Do with Logic”
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