How do you get headhunted...?

Lynneblundell, you create your own opportunities.
No I am kidding.

You should do something that you are very happy about. (And what a brave person to not be afraid to tell people that you are in debt). My parents told me to never get a job that makes life boring for you but gets good money. Get a job that gives you a good earning, and you are happy with. Start out by painting things and selling them on eBay or the library. Now I am 14 so I have no experience at all but I am trying to do the most to help.

There’s no harm registering with a few recruitment agencies (be selective with the ones you go for – not all of them are as concerned with finding the right candidate for right position as they are with closing jobs and getting paid), but you should spend a little time setting yourself some clear career goals before you do and write up your resume/CV aimed at your goals, before you register.

Another approach is professional networking sites, like LinkedIn – I’ve been contacted by a few recruiters that way.

My husband use to be head hunted all day every day during the real estate boom. Head hunters focus on industries in a tight labor market, where the company will pay up to 20% of the annual salary as a commission or finder fee if the employee lasts at least 90–180 days.

Right now, head hunters are a bit limited to high tech fields or accounting were there are limited number of folks with a specific skill. In today’s economy there are ample workers applying for each job, so the staffing firms are much less efficient, and less useful.

I think nurses are still head hunted.

In today’s job market I suggest contacting employers directly, as staffing firms will waste your time with tests and interviews even if they don’t have a position to place you into.

Do the networking thing, and don’t worry about someone mounting your head on their corporate trophy wall.

Networking is SUPER important for creative types. I’m a writer and I’m trying to break into publishing and 90% of my opportunities have come from talking to people and putting my goals and skills out into the open.

However. Since you are just starting, don’t expect it to be easy right away. Because of your debt, I would recommend getting a job doing whatever pays you the most. For me this was working as a nanny for six years, for others it might be waiting tables, temping or driving a cab. While you are paying down your debt doing something boring that pays well, join community groups focused on what you enjoy. There are writers groups, artists, groups, web designer groups, etc. If you need to go to school for your given profession, check out community colleges and art schools. If you can afford it, colleges have some of the best resources for emerging artists. This is what networking looks like. It’s hard and, for a long time, it’s thankless, which is why many people who want to work in the arts settle for less. It is unlikely that someone will simply see your art and offer you a dream career with a great starting pay (I’m still holding out hope, though). But if you work hard, and if you are diligent, then the opportunities are out there.

And, btw, if anyone out there is looking for a great children’s book writer…