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Most Millennials don’t associate the word “easy” with today’s job market, and I don’t blame them. An unstable economy combined with sizeable student loan debt means that many of today’s graduates are settling for jobs outside their dream field. By thinking creatively about job opportunities, however, Millennials are finding that there may be more career possibilities to pursue than they initially thought.

It is likely that becoming an executive recruiter is not at the top of a recent college grad’s dream job list; in fact, few Millennials are actually familiar with what executive headhunters do. But for Millennials who are intellectually curious with an insatiable drive to sell and learn, executive recruiting just might be the perfect fit.

So, what is an executive recruiter and why might this be a great job? If you’re a recent college grad, consider the following:

#1: You like a challenge. Think of executive recruiting as big game hunting: you’re always on the prowl for the perfect client. You need a hunter’s mentality to leverage social media, job board searches, networking and even cold-calling until you’ve identified the perfect job candidate. If you rise to the challenge with laser-like focus on success, you could make a great recruiter.

#2: You’re naturally curious. The ability to learn on the go is absolutely essential to being a successful recruiter. Even if you are focused on a specific industry, you’ll still need to quickly pick up in-depth knowledge about a company’s challenges, needs and opportunities – and then quickly synthesize this information to identify the right job candidates. Great recruiters are intellectually curious and never stop learning.

#3: You’re okay with uncertainty. In the high-stakes world of executive recruiting, uncertainty may be the only guarantee. You can’t control how your job candidate ultimately performs during the interview process, and you can’t guarantee that your client ends up filling the job. Being at peace with uncertainty – and then instituting appropriate processes to manage this uncertainty – is key to recruiting success.

#4: You know great communication starts with listening. Executive headhunters need to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide group of people. Rather than starting every conversation with a sales pitch, great communicators take the time to ask pertinent questions and genuinely listen to what their corporate clients and candidates have to say. When you take the time to listen, you are better positioned to serve as a true connector, building a bridge between clients and candidates and cultivating reciprocal relationships.

If you’re a recent college graduate, have you ever considered becoming an executive recruiter? I invite you to share your thoughts below.

What is an Executive Recruiter – Millennial Perspective by

Derek McKechnie Managing Partner – Human Resources