Forms of sociability and professional recruitment in top management levels: Headhunters’ making of the executive job market

Abstract

This article analyzes the professional practice of executive search consultants dedicated to the recruitment of high profile managers: headhunters. The aim is to show that, more than simple placement agencies, headhunters accomplish a central role in shaping the executive job market in two ways. On the one hand, since they are highly involved in the creation of socio-professional networks, headhunters facilitate the accumulation of social capital, prestige and opinion that affect managers’ recruitment. On the other hand, they take part in organizing the executive job market by not only controlling the hiring of managers, but also by having an effect on employment conditions and wage adjustment. To sum up, the study of headhunters’ professional practice shows that social relationships in markets contribute to building networks, opinions, and assessments of people by organizing different career opportunities.