JoëlToronto, Canada
I received a message from a headhunter the other day. Should I call him back? How can I know whether he's serious about me as a candidate or just wants to use me as a source of information?
I received a message from a headhunter the other day. Should I call him back? How can I know whether he's serious about me as a candidate or just wants to use me as a source of information?
Reliable and competent headhunters should tell you upfront why they've contacted you. If they don't, ask in a pleasant tone if you're being approached as a source or a candidate.
If you're being approached as a candidate, don't answer too many questions over the phone. Suggest two alternative dates for a face-to-face meeting so you can get a full measure of this person before divulging your personal and confidential information. If you're not interested in changing jobs, then politely decline any assistance.
If you're being approached as a source, be as helpful as you can without offering information that could be seen as classified or proprietary to your employer. You don't want to betray your employer's confidence. If it ever got back that you were the person who violated its privacy, you could suffer severe consequences.
Also, if you help a headhunter two or three times, it's fair to expect that he or she should help you one time in return if and when you require assistance.