My Back Itches. Does Yours?

If you decide to blog, there are loads of do's and don'ts. So many people have an opinion as to how to create an interesting, informative or even (from time to time) educational blog.

I am posting this link to a random adviser (DISCLAIMER) and just look how (s)he ignores one of their primary rules of successful blogging (for the record, it's the one about in-your-face advertising)! Lesson seems to be; a few golden rules but that gold is pretty tarnished. If there is one thing that does shine through: be true and tell it as you see it. No place for that pipotron.

I had the chance this week to spend some time with a Grade-A headhunter. No need for names or location but I thought it might be useful to share a few pointers and aides-memoire for future encounters. I mean primarily my own future encounters but I trust some others may find it useful too.

1. Moving from the buy-side to the sell-side is not a natural transition. Many of my previous encounters with HH have been for one of 2 reasons - mostly when I was considering hiring them for a particular search and sometimes when I was approached about a search they were conducting. In all those encounters, I set the agenda and largely set the pace. These were my meetings and on my terms. Now I have to change that role. I am the one asking. The change is subtle but I now see it is important. One still needs to be confident, appropriately assertive - all that stuff. But one also needs to recognise the change of role and work on it, whilst still selling your value.
2. Be aware - they are probably selling too - for all they know, your transition will be to even bigger and better things and that means you are potentially part of their future food chain. What does that mean? It means be sensitive. Leave room for that selling to emerge and, when it does, be interested and leave all future doors open. In simple terms, don't hog the session. Leave a space for your HH to perform too.
3. Don't expect too much from these first sessions. You are not their only potential client. Hard to believe but you may not even be their best or even the only one with "those unique characteristics and experiences". The world is a big place but your alter-ego (as experienced brother or sister) is now perhaps closer than you think. And keep in mind too that most HH work to specific assignments. They are not likely to be your spontaneously enthusiastic advocate. They are more likely to be giving you the once-over with a position in mind. It's never this simple, of course, but HH are in the main stimulus driven. Be their stimulus.
4. It's tough out there so it won't be easy. You should probably know the state of your candidate companies / geography / industry / profession / demographic as well as the HH you are meeting. This means you need to be realistic about the specific insight you can expect. You may be lucky. But most times you will not be. Add to that the fact that Europe is still mostly in crisis and you have a prescription for a big spoon of realism. Just hope you aren't in the UK financial services sector!
5. Bring some original thinking to the session. And if I do have one piece of advice worth considering then this is probably it. Most HH will be looking to explore new ideas to create a new line of business. New domains (very tough) or more likely new clients/companies. So why not use them as your door opener into companies with whom they do not (yet) have a relationship but with whom you can convince them they could and that you are the key to the door? It will take time and effort but it is a cool move. We all win. 

We both have a back itch and now perhaps the means to get that itch scratched.