Definition

Noun: 1. A person who practices headhunting: Historically, a member of certain societies who cuts off and preserves the heads of enemies as trophies. 2. A recruiter of personnel: A professional, especially one working for corporations, who identifies and approaches highly skilled or experienced people to fill job positions, often enticing them to leave their current employment.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Historical/Warrior):
  • The explorer wrote about encountering a tribe of headhunters in the remote jungle.
  • In some ancient cultures, a warrior's status was proven by his role as a headhunter.
• Noun (Professional Recruiter):
  • The software engineer was contacted by a headhunter with an offer from a major tech firm.
  • Companies often hire headhunters to find top executives for key leadership roles.

Advanced Usage

• "to be headhunted": A passive verb form describing the action of being recruited by a headhunter.
  • After publishing her groundbreaking research, she was headhunted by several prestigious universities.

Variants and Related Words

• Headhunt (verb): The act of recruiting someone, especially for a senior position, or the historical practice of taking heads as trophies.
  • The firm was hired to headhunt a new CEO.
• Headhunting (noun): The practice or profession of being a headhunter.
  • Corporate headhunting is a competitive and well-paid industry.

Synonyms

• (For recruiter): Executive recruiter, talent scout, search consultant, recruiter.
• (For historical sense): Trophy-taker (this is a descriptive phrase rather than a direct synonym).

Related Phrases

• "Poach talent": A phrase often used synonymously with the work of a corporate headhunter, meaning to entice skilled employees away from a competitor.
  • The startup's strategy was to poach talent from established companies.

Noun

1. a savage who cuts off and preserves the heads of enemies as trophies
2. a recruiter of personnel (especially for corporations)