Headhunter is a name given to both Executive Search Consultants and Selection Consultants.
Executive Search Consultants generally handle a small number of the most senior vacancies, are ‘assignment driven’, so do not look for candidates except when they have an assignment, they search for mostly employed Executives confidentially, usually without advertising – so the opportunity does not enter the public domain.
Selection Consultants build up a large database of candidates, then usually advertise their vacancies, mostly under £200k/$300k pa, and then select a shortlist from the applicants and their database.
Consultants work for Executive Search Consultancies or Selection Consultancies or Search & Selection Consultancies, who employ both Executive Search Consultants and Selection Consultants.
The 15,000 strong worldwide InterExec network is comprised almost exclusively of Executive Search Consultants.