Ask HN: Do you know how much head hunters cost?

2•mojomark•59m ago

I was surprised to learn today that the candidate I interviewed (who came from a head hunter vice someone submitting direct through our job post portal), was 25% of the first year's salary.

As the person doing the hiring that kind of incentives me to strive for a lower salary, at least for that first year. I'm not going to do that since we aren't in diar straits, the offer will be appropriate for the role and industry comps, I was just surprised to learn that and wondered if anyone on HN was surprised as well.

I was a head hunter candidate/new hire previously and now I'm wondering if/how that up-front fee may have affected my own offer at that time.

Honestly, the candidate is worth the head hunter fee, but I'm more looking at this through the lens of the job candidate who could have applied on their own. As a direct candidate, you can negotiate for a sign-on bonus that is, say 15% of your target salary, and the hiring company shouldn't blink an eye (if you confidently know you're a solid candidate that is).

Comments

ungreased0675•49m ago

You can probably negotiate the fee, that seems high.

On the candidate side, job hunting is completely broken. Are you sure this person’s resume would have been seen by a real person if they applied through the job portal?

mytailorisrich•42m ago

> As the person doing the hiring that kind of incentives me to strive for a lower salary, at least for that first year

That's a very bad way to look at it. If you think recruiters are too expensive don't use them, but I suspect it makes no difference to you as hiring managers as that was previously approved and low-balling a candidate is not the best way to start a relationship or to attract the best.