Recruiters who specialize in getting high position knowledgeable personnel for companies are often termed as head hunters. These are a special breed of recruiters and are not to be mistaken with general recruiting agencies that simply float ads in newspapers and online on behalf of other companies to get applications and then conduct the interviews to fill position. Head hunting is a more specific task that only specialized recruiters can perform.

The information required by head hunters to disseminate their task includes a thorough knowledge of the high post to be filled and the type of person the company wants over there. Furthermore, they should know the industry well because without this information they cannot find suitable candidates. Head hunting refers to finding the right candidate with the perfect CV for a particular position. In contrast, general recruiting is about filling positions by taking interviews of all applicants. Here the company invites applicants while in head hunting recruiters go to the candidates and try to get them for the client companies in return for a fixed commission.

This level of recruiting is quite profitable and companies involved in getting CEOs, Presidents and General Managers for clients usually do not diversify into general recruitment. The staff employed by them is small and are all from varied industries with great contacts. Conversely, anyone who comes to a company via a head hunter is given the position directly without any interview because they are verified as suitable to the position by the head hunting party.