You are good at your job, and it looks like someone has noticed, and they are putting the feelers on you for a role in another company. Yes, you are being headhunted, but once you have received the initial contact where do you go from there? Read on to find out.

Keep quiet

Well, first things first, being headhunted is quite the compliment, but don’t be tempted to boast about it, or spread it around. Why not? Well, it’s because it can jeopardize your current position.

Remember if you bosses get the wind that you may be leaving it could make you seem like you aren’t dedicated to the role. Making you a less likely candidate for promotions in the future or even the pick of the clients and project that you are currently getting. That is why it’s best to keep this as close to your chest as possible until you know the lay of the land.

Check credentials of the headhunters and the firm

Also,  it can be a great idea to check out the credentials of the headhunting company and the firm that is offering the position before you get too excited about the offer.

Firstly, check that the head hunter, or recruitment agency as they will introduce themselves, are well established and respected. This is important because you want them to represent you in the best way, negotiate the best deals, and ensure that your privacy is respect at all times.

It’s also a good idea to check out the company that is making the offer to see whether they are involved in an area that you are interested in, whether they offer good wages, and whether it’s a good work environment.

Remember that while an offer of more money can be tempting, if it’s a sideways move for your career it may not be the best choice. As it can make it harder for you to get to your ultimate career goal later on.

Get an informal interview

The next step once you have cased both companies is to agree to an informal interview. This may be with a representative of the head hunter, or it could be someone from the actual firm that is making the offer. It all depends on how low-key the firm in question want to keep things.

You can expect this sort of interval to be held in an informal setting such as over lunch or dinner, or even a coffee.

Remember not to press too hard for too much information at this stage. It’s best, in fact, to sit back and let them reveal what they want to you, asking questions only when given the opportunity.

Also try to steer clear of money and benefits talk at this stage, because it can make you seem more interested in what you will be getting paid rather than what you will be doing. Something many employers do not look to kindly on.

Get a formal interview

After the informal interview, if you decide that the opportunity is something that you are interested in, then it’s time to progress things to a formal interview. You can do this by letting you head hunter know that you are a serious contender, and they can arrange the details from there.

Usually, for jobs that require head hunting, the recruitment process isn’t a simple one. You can expect to go through several stages of interviews. As well as providing a practical demonstration of what you can do, and possibly a presentation to the key decision makers of the company.

In this case, it’s important that you focus on the tasks given to you while demonstrating the value that you can bring to their organization if they choose to give you the job.

Check the pay

Once the interviews are over and if they are still interested, they are likely to make you an offer. Do not accept this first off, unless you feel it is more than generous. Remember they have gone through a lot of hassle to find and test you, so they are pretty invested by now. Giving you a very strong negotiating position for wages and benefits.

Do your due diligence and work out what you can expect as a salary and what that breaks down to hour by hour, by using tools like this hourly paycheck calculator by state. Remember you need to check that at the very least, you will be getting paid a decent rate for every hour that you will work including unpaid overtime.

Check the benefits

The next step is to check the benefits with the company that is making you the offer. Some firms have excellent benefits packages such a medical insurance, health care, company cars, and discount schemes.

It may be that the benefits are so good you are happy to take a wage that is slightly less because the benefits will balance it all out in the long run. So make sure you compare these things carefully before you make your final decision.

Check the small print

Also, before you sign on that dotted line make sure that you have read your contract thoroughly. You can even get it checked over by your lawyers. This is because you need to be aware of any unusual clauses that you may run the risk of breaking without realizing it. Such as privacy clauses.

It’s also a good idea to be clear on the amount of notice you need to give before you leave, whether overtime is paid, and what exactly the job role requires.

Get a sense of the working conditions

Lastly, before you sign your contract ensure that you have a chance to see what the working conditions of the company is like. This may not seem like a big deal when someone is waving the offer of more money in your face, but believe me, poor working conditions can get old really quickly.

So check whether you will have your own office, who you will manage, and who you will need to report to before you agree to take the position.

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.