headhunter
Loading your saved state.
headhunter
A person or company specialized in searching for and recruiting executives and highly qualified specialists for companies, often from other employers.
Ein Headhunter hat mich kontaktiert und mir eine interessante neue Position angeboten.
A headhunter contacted me and offered me an interesting new position.
'Headhunter' is a loanword from English and is made up of 'head' (Kopf) and 'hunter' (Jäger). The literal translation 'Kopfjäger' (head hunter) figuratively describes the search for the best 'Köpfe' (minds/heads) for a company.
Große Firmen nutzen oft Headhunter, um Spitzenpersonal zu finden.
Large companies often use headhunters to find top personnel.
The term 'Headhunter' is an established and neutral term in German business life and the professional world. It is not perceived as colloquial when referring to the recruitment of specialists and executives.
Unsere Personalabteilung arbeitet mit einem externen Headhunter zusammen.
Our HR department works with an external headhunter.
Common formulations are that someone is 'von einem Headhunter kontaktiert' (contacted by a headhunter) or 'angesprochen' (approached). A company can 'einen Headhunter beauftragen' (hire a headhunter) to fill a position.
Sie wurde von einem Headhunter für eine Stelle in Berlin abgeworben.
She was recruited by a headhunter for a position in Berlin.
scout
'Scout' and 'Headhunter' both look for people with special abilities. The difference lies in the field and the goal. A 'Scout' often looks for new talent, for example in sports, fashion, or the entertainment industry. A 'Headhunter', on the other hand, professionally looks for executives or highly qualified specialists for companies and often approaches them directly. The words can be confused because both discover and place people. When it is about young talent or an industry such as sports, 'Scout' fits. When it is about jobs, companies, and experienced specialists, 'Headhunter' is more precise.
Ein Headhunter hat Mehmet wegen einer Stelle als Projektleiter angerufen.
A headhunter called Mehmet about a position as project manager.
Beim Jugendturnier beobachtete ein Scout mehrere talentierte Spieler.
At the youth tournament, a scout watched several talented players.