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How Headhunters Really Work

How Headhunters Really Work

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Episode 334 - Executive headhunter Gerard Miles explains how search firms identify, assess, and approach candidates, and what experienced professionals can do to become more visible, relevant, and memorable to the recruiters who matter.Many experienced professionals reach a point in their career where the job market starts to feel strangely opaque.Earlier in their careers, they could apply for advertised roles, hear back from recruiters, attend interviews, and move through a relatively visible hiring process. But at senior levels, the rules change.The hiring process is quieter. The shortlist may be built before a role ever becomes public. And the people being considered are often not actively looking.This is why so many senior executives become frustrated when they approach the job market the same way they did ten or twenty years ago. They update their resume, apply for roles online, wait for responses, and assume that if they are good enough, the market will find them.But executive recruitment does not work that way.In my conversation with Gerard Miles, a headhunter specialising in the games and entertainment sector and co-founder of Mission One, we discussed what really happens behind the scenes in senior hiring. And although Gerard works in a very specific niche, the lessons are not limited to gaming.Replace the word “gaming” with mining, education, retail, health, technology, financial services, or government, and the same principles apply.At the senior executive level, hiring is less about applications and more about relevance, reputation, timing, and trust. Read the full Blog on the Website 31 Days of Action for Job SeekersFind Your Talents: Learn About Your Strengths, and Watch Your Career GrowJoin 5,000+ Readers of The Job Hunting Newsletter: Subscribe NowLear More About Renata's career coaching and coursesTimestamps to guide your listening:00:00 The Journey into Gaming and Entertainment06:52 Headhunting in the Gaming Sector12:25 Sourcing Candidates: The Headhunter’s Process18:33 Navigating the Hidden Job Market21:16 Patterns of Successful Candidates24:27 The Current State of Gaming and Entertainment31:15 Building Relationships with Headhunters39:17 Effective Networking Strategies42:00 Navigating Career Opportunities in 2026Links mentioned in this episode:Gerard's recruitment firm, Mission OneGerard's Podcast, Mission One: The Executive EdgeGerard's LinkedIn ProfileHalt and Catch FireAbout the host, Renata BernardeHello, I'm Renata Bernarde, the Host of The Job Hunting Podcast. I'm also an executive coach, job-hunting expert, and career strategist. I teach corporate, non-profit, and public professionals the steps and frameworks to help them find great jobs, change, and advance their careers with confidence and less stress. Watch the Episodes on YouTubeFollow Renata on Social Media:LinkedInInstagramFacebookX / Twitter
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