Kim, the first thing you should know is that you will start getting spam from insurance companies, multi-level marketers and other folks the minute you make your resume searchable on one of the major job sites. For that reason, go get an email that is your full name at yahoo or hotmail or gmail or somewhere like that. Actually, gmail will probably screen the spam better than anyone.
As for getting a headhunter, there are some companies that do expect a candidate to pay. Usually they are for executive level jobs, and most HR folks I know don't buy into their concept. There are some unique jobs there, but not enough for the candidate to pay.
A headhunter (they like to be called recruiters, btw) is only going to want to place you if they can do so quickly and easily in a position where the company pays them. That payment is usually a flat percentage of your first year's salary. So if there is a recruiter who places you in a $50K/year job and gets 15%, they'll earn $7500 for the firm. If I recall correctly, those on commission see 10%? Something like that. So assuming that last number is right, they'll get $750 for placing you and having you stick. But there might be weeks where 5 are placed and weeks where 1 is placed.
My point is that they're not going to spend a ton of time. Many will take your resume, feed it into their database and call you only if something pops up.
You need to active control of your own job search. Start with your associations for any that you belong to. See if they have job boards and start seeking out positions and places to post your resume.
First, though, decide:
1) What kind of job you want (literally, the duties and responsibilities)
2) Whether you're willing to relocate
3) Failing that, how far a commute you are willing to make.
Based on that, you can start building a database in Excel or whatever you like that lists the company, their direct URL for hiring, your user name and password on their system and the date you last checked them. Set up some conditional formatting to ensure you check everyone on your list at least every other week (days <= 14 will work).
Use the big four to start: your local major city paper, monster, hotjobs and careerbuilder. Start making your own database of copies you can check directly. Searching on the major job boards is inexact and you may miss something. Set "job search agents" at every company that you possibly can. Let them email you with opportunities they think fit.
Before long, you'll find that you can do 2+ hours/night easily just checking sites and submitting resumes. The recruiter ain't gonna do it for you, I'm afraid, unless there is just a perfect match they can slide you into or you have a personal relationship with them. |