Headhunting

Headhunting is the practice of proactively identifying and approaching top-level talent — such as CEOs or other senior executives — who aren't actively seeking new roles. Headhunters rely on research, networking, and discreet outreach to engage passive candidates who typically can't be reached through traditional job postings. This approach is especially valuable for confidential searches or roles requiring niche expertise and proven leadership capability, and is often used interchangeably with "executive search," though headhunting more specifically emphasizes the direct, targeted outreach itself.