No matter what the position to be filled, headhunters agree that there is no substitute for due diligence. Checking a candidate's credentials and talking to references are obvious steps, but sometimes never happen. What I run into most often is someone falsifying their academic credentials, such as claiming a master's degree but never completing the thesis. By the same token, company officials also need to be flexible with their criteria and compensation package if they want to attract the right talent. Jones says he's seen more than one deal scuttled because a good candidate was making too much money or didn't have the specific credentials required when in the end such credentials might not have been necessary and the right person slipped away.
Recruiters say be visible.
Join industry groups. Hit the convention circuit. Get your name and accomplishments out in the right circles. Do something good that will be noticed by others outside your own company. Other keys include helping those who are searching for other talent.