Encrypted, self-destructing messages in your browser.
Encrypted, self-destructing messages in your browser.
Professional reception as the first line of defense against headhunter attacks. Protect your most valuable assets — your people.
Headhunters deliberately bypass your employer-branding channels and contact employees through the main line, assistants, or team extensions. Most companies have no clear "No-Poach-Call-Policy."
Headhunters deliberately bypass your employer-branding channels and contact employees through the main line, assistants, or team extensions.
Most companies have no clear "No-Poach-Call-Policy" — reception staff connect callers unknowingly or give away confidential information.
Professional headhunters use social engineering: they pose as customers, partners, or suppliers to reach your key people.
The total cost of employee turnover includes: recruiting effort, productivity loss during vacancy, onboarding time, know-how loss, and team destabilization.
Sources: Personio, Sage
As professional gatekeepers, you play a strategically decisive role for business success. Your position at the interface between the outside world and the organization makes you an indispensable protective wall.
Prevention of unauthorized information leaks and safeguarding of confidential company data.
Preservation of stable business relationships and continuity in ongoing projects.
Ensuring protection across all company locations.
Representation of professional company standards in every interaction.
These methods work because they turn the tables: instead of justifying yourself, you demand proof. Every legitimate business contact can easily fulfill these simple requests.
Request an official email with company signature — quick, simple, unambiguous. Every legitimate business contact has an official email address. Headhunters shy away from this transparency.
"Excuse me, but I need to verify you. Would you please send me a quick email? Your signature is enough, I'll stay on the line."
Ask for concrete information about the alleged project and the people involved. Those who don't know the context expose themselves.
"Let me quickly check if he's (still) in the office — which project is this about exactly and who else from our side is involved?"
Have them state the last digits of the mobile number if they claim to have already tried calling. Real callers can name the digits — headhunters start stuttering.
"Could you please give me the last three digits of his mobile number? You said you already tried reaching him on his phone."
Realistic call patterns your reception staff can expect in everyday operations — with the right responses.
Authority + Urgency
Everyday + Time Pressure
Fear + Confidentiality
Proximity + Discretion
For all scenarios — 20 to 40 seconds of checking time that makes the difference.
"Please state the case/ticket/incident number."
"Which organizational unit/location exactly?"
"I'll call back through the official number — what is the direct dial?"
"What data do you already have? I confirm nothing."
"Send a confirmation to the known company address or official mailbox."
"I fundamentally do not connect under pressure/urgency — callback path please, thank you."
Complex situations require clear guidelines. These three rules give you orientation and confidence to act in every situation.
Unknown conversation partners deserve your undivided attention. Listen actively and watch for inconsistencies, evasive maneuvers, or pressure attempts.
Everything the caller says can be used against them. Ask for an email, mobile number digits, etc. Trust is good, control is better.
After this training, your gut feeling is rarely wrong. If something doesn't feel right, if pressure is being applied, or details don't match — politely end the conversation.
Research shows: 54% success rate with intuitive lie detection → 89% with systematic verification.
Source: Harvard Business Review, "Detecting Deception", 06.2023
When dealing with external headhunters, strict compliance with data protection regulations is essential.
Never disclose personal data of colleagues or employees — regardless of how convincing the request seems.
Do not make false or misleading statements about employees. Maintain professional distance.
Always remain polite and professional, even with provocative or unpleasant calls.
In case of harassment or aggressive behavior, assert house rights and end the conversation.
A systematic approach protects your entire company in the long term. A structured reporting process prevents the same headhunter from succeeding at different locations.
The only real thing after an unmasked headhunter is the caller's phone number. Note it down consistently.
Immediately inform your HR management or responsible compliance office. Use established reporting channels and templates.
The central office ensures entry into an internal block list. All locations and departments are informed and protected.
Your reception professionals become the first line of defense. They recognize poaching attempts immediately, protect confidential information, and preserve your valuable specialists — before damage occurs.
Clear guidelines for identifying and filtering suspicious calls — understandable for every employee at reception.
Professional training of your reception personnel with phrase building blocks, recognition patterns, and defense techniques against social engineering.
Realistic exercises for secure handling of typical headhunter tactics. Theory alone is not enough — only practical exercises create real confidence to act.
Clear responsibilities for HR, Legal, and management in critical cases — documented and traceable.
We test the permeability of your phone central with realistic scenarios, analyze which confidential data is being given away, and you receive a concrete risk analysis with prioritized recommendations for action.
Schedule NowInteractive training console against headhunter calls. Test scenarios, build your SOP, and train the right reactions.
Interactive training with 10 scenarios, SOP builder, and validation methods