Discussion: December 15, 2009 Ask The Headhunter Newsletter
In today’s Q&A a reader is worried that she can’t apply for a job on her own, at a company where a headhunter was not able to get her a job offer.
Her concern might be justified. (Please see my response in today’s newsletter — I don’t normally archive the newsletter, but today’s is online!) But regardless, no headhunter has a permanent claim on you. If he can’t get you an interview at a company after a reasonable effort and window of time, you should close the window. First, send him a written request: Does his client intend to interview you? If the answer is no, then send a certified notice by mail.
(The How to Say It below is reprinted from page 119 of How to Work with Headhunters.)
How to Say It (in writing): “Since you have not scheduled an interview with your client, I conclude that you have not been able to generate interest in me as a candidate. I therefore consider this matter closed. I hereby cancel any permission I may have granted you to present me to [company] or to any other company, effective immediately. Kindly confirm receipt of this notice.”
If you’d like to continue working with the headhunter, you might omit “or to any other company”—that’s up to you.
Got a better suggestion for How to Say It to help this reader “detach” from the headhunter? Have you ever dealt with a headhunter who continued trying to “represent” you when you did not want to be represented? What did you do about it?
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I’m a recruiter and I don’t think that you can say it any better than that.