What Are the Differences Between Recruiters & Head hunters In Kenya?

What Are the Differences Between Recruiters & Head hunters In Kenya?

By Cynthia Chebet,

Recruiters and head hunters in Kenya have become quite popular in the recruitment field due to their efficiency.  However, the term head-hunter and recruiter are often used interchangeably.

Even though they might seem similar, they are two different roles.

Look at it this way;

All head hunters are recruiters but not all recruiters are head hunters.

This is just a layman’s way of describing the difference between recruiters and head hunters in Kenya. To understand the differences between the two roles better, you first need to know what they mean.

Who is a Head Hunter?

A head hunter can in other words be described as a talent scout. He or she is a third party hired by a client or a company to fill one or more open positions on their behalf.

The positions they normally handle tend to be urgent thus the reason headhunting services are sought. Even though they are mostly associated with executive positions, they can handle any other position as well.

What they do is search for candidates, screen them then ultimately recommend the most ideal ones to their clients. As they search, they employ a variety of means so they can identify prospective hires.

Who is a Recruiter?

A recruiter acts as a matchmaker. He or she screens the candidates, qualifies them, and is involved throughout the hiring process.

They advertise a job to the public so that people can apply. The candidates they screen are therefore sourced from the applications made.

A recruiter can be outsourced from another company or work on behalf of the hiring company. If they are internal, they work under the company’s human resources department.

Now that you have understood their roles better, let us now delve further into their differences.

Differences between a Head-hunter and a Recruiter

  • A head hunter in Kenya is exclusively paid based on their performance such that they are compensated after the work is done. Others perform on a retainer fee but are paid fully once the positions are filled. A recruiter on the other hand is compensated on a salary base. They sometimes have a bonus structure on top of it, depending on their employers.
  • If you describe the functions of a head hunter, you will notice that they possess traits of a salesperson. A recruiter on the other hand have skills that go hand in hand with human resources.
  • Head hunters in Kenya only work is to recruit whereas a recruiter can serve other roles in the human resources department. This is often seen in smaller organizations where a recruiter serves more than one role.
  • Head hunters work exclusively for their clients until the position is closed whereas recruiters work for their employers directly.

In conclusion

Head hunters in Kenya usually have access to positions that are not as publicized as others and since they work on behalf of the clients, they tend to not have specific details about the roles they offer. Recruiters on the other hand are involved in the entire hiring process therefore have all the information about the positions they handle and that of the company as well.

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