As a recruiting firm, we make a ton of calls each day. Some are to people who are actively seeking a new position, but many are to people who are happily employed.
The people we call who are looking for a job are usually more than willing to speak with us. Those who are currently employed don’t always see the value in giving us the time of day. We try to explain that it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the horizon, if for no other reason than to stay educated on what’s out there and what the hiring trends are in their industry.
An article by Joseph Daniel McCool of Bloomberg Businessweek makes an excellent case for giving recruiters (or, as he calls us, headhunters) a few minutes of your time, even if you’re content right where you are.
Even if you are absolutely, postively happy as a clam in your current position, we all know that there’s no such thing as complete job security in the current economic client. It never hurts to network with and have the number of a good recruiter that specializes in your skill set. Also, since most recruiting firms offer referral bonuses if they place a candidate you send their way, it may pay to listen to the pitch and consider if you have someone in your network who may be a good fit.
All you have to lose by taking a recruiter’s call is a few minutes of your time, and it’s always possible you might have much more to gain.
