What do you do? I am what I am.

The first question most individuals ask after meeting or being introduced to someone is “What do you do?” The hope is that it will be something of interest and a conversation can develop from there. Occasionally you meet those who are not employed, or under-employed, they will always say, “I work for company x… but I am a engineer, lawyer, radiologist, Walnut cracker…”

Funny, but we equate what we do with who we are? This is not a new revelation and frankly many family names are derived from the professions of our ancestors. Take the Smiths, Coopers and the Butchers. I am not sure what the Arsenault family did... however you get the point.

People still have a great many preconceived notions about professions and make judgments based on those. This may explain why we spend and inordinate amount of time developing Job Titles and VP monikers.

In my business, it seems mt colleagues are always searching for a new way to look more sophisticated. Executive Search Consultant was a good moniker, the latest is accurate ... and I love this one... "Talent Acquisition Specialist". Let's call a spade a spade. We are Headhunters.

I am amused to watch the expressions of individuals whom I meet for the first time when I tell them what I do. When asked, I describe myself as a Headhunter. Some folks nod politely, and head for the crab and almond dip with a sudden hunger. Others seize the moment, and as if I were a skin doctor offering to survey the boil on their backside, ask if I can help them get a better job … right away. Most people fall somewhere in the uncomfortable “ Oh” category. Like the psychiatrist who people fear is always analyzing them, the headhunter is thought to be always on the prowl, cordial and engaging in a social setting until he pounces on some unsuspecting executive at the shrimp tree or salsa bowl. Once he has identified his prey, the headhunter lures the innocent away and eventually tears him or her from their current role, and into a new one. This is simply not true, we rarely eat shrimp.

I am proud of the title HEADHUNTER. It very accurately describes what I do best, which is to actively track and recruit the best talent for my clients. Original research, networks and a strong work ethic are my tools. My success in recruiting talent translates directly into better performance and success for my client's company.

You may not think of headhunting as an honorable profession. It is. We provide opportunity for career advancement to individuals. We are salespeople of our client’s corporate culture, we articulate their value proposition with enthusiasm and ensure the right fit for both candidate and client.

Certainly there are many negative impressions people have about Headhunters. Most are created by agencies that sometimes identify themselves using sophisticated names. These organizations inundate companies with resumes of the mediocre and the job seeking low-hanging fruit. Do not be fooled. These are not headhunters, they are not even farmers, they are at best a clearinghouse for factory-seconds and cheap imitations. Don’t get me wrong, they serve a very valuable role in filling positions with bodies, but if you want the genuine article … hire the genuine article.