Removing your details shields you from telemarketing calls, but also acts as a block for headhunters who want to sound you out. A good compromise is to delist your real phone number, but list a 'burner' email address that you check once a week.

Start by having a LinkedIn profile that showcases your unique value proposition. Most headhunters will be seeking candidates with specific skills and experience. Whether you do large-scale M&As in the oil and gas industry, program management of PPP infrastructure projects or returning retail businesses back to profitability, ensure your LinkedIn profile positions you as a leader in your field.

Headhunters and executive search firms, by definition, shy away from your cold direct approaches. But one of the easiest ways to develop a relationship with one is to use them in your own recruitment process. Contact them when you’re hiring. A pre-existing business relationship makes them far more likely to approach you during a search.

If a headhunter approaches you for an opportunity via LinkedIn, don't contact the employer directly. You will be met with blank stares - and ruin your relationship with the headhunter. The company is using a headhunter for a reason.