head-hunter
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who collects heads: In certain historical or tribal contexts, a "head-hunter" is someone who takes and preserves the heads of enemies as trophies.
- A recruiter of senior executives: In modern business usage, a "head-hunter" is a professional who specializes in finding and recruiting highly qualified candidates for top-level positions, often by actively seeking out individuals who are not actively looking for a new job.
Usage Examples
- Historical context:
- The anthropologist studied the rituals of the head-hunters in the remote jungle. (A person who collects heads of enemies as part of cultural practice.)
- Business context:
- After leaving the company, she worked as a head-hunter for a prestigious executive search firm. (A recruiter who finds senior-level employees.)
- The board hired a head-hunter to find a new CEO. (A professional recruiter for executive positions.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be head-hunted": to be actively recruited for a job, especially by a head-hunter.
- He was head-hunted by a rival company for a higher salary. (He was sought out and offered a job by a competitor.)
Variants and Related Words
- Headhunting (n): the practice or activity of recruiting senior executives.
- Headhunting is a competitive industry with high fees. (The business of executive recruitment.)
Synonyms
- Executive recruiter: a professional who finds and hires senior-level staff.
- Talent scout: a person who identifies and recruits skilled individuals, often in sports or entertainment.
Related Idioms
- To be a head-hunter: to work in executive recruitment.
- She is a head-hunter for a global firm. (She specializes in recruiting executives.)
Phrasal Verbs
- None directly associated with "head-hunter" as a noun. However, the verb form "to head-hunt" is used in business contexts.
- The company decided to head-hunt a new marketing director. (To actively recruit a specific person for a job.)