Headhunters are poaching talent, this time for self

Companies across sectors task executive search firms to find suitable candidates for open positions. But these headhunters are now poaching talent from India Inc. itself to hire for their own roles.

- Devina Sengupta

On the radar: senior executives at consulting firms and corporate houses, and the lack of recruitment background is not a deal-breaker. Search firms are looking for hires with connections within sectors and business understanding, betting that such candidates would make a good fit.

"There has been a 20% increase in our consultants in the past year, and we have 42 partners in a team of 650 in India. Movement from consulting firms works well for professional services because consultants come with an ability to build long-term relationships and have worked on engagements which stretch out," said Navnit Singh, chairman and managing director for Korn Ferry India.

"Our business is built on quality delivery and long-term sustainable relationships," Singh said. "Consulting firms also work similarly and, hence, it works well for our hiring strategy and is similar to how the search industry works."