Instead of waiting for applications, we seek out the candidates who match both you and the role – discreetly and with a fine touch.
Book a free discovery call
“Recommended as a recruitment partner.”
The best candidates rarely look for a job. They already have one, but are open to the right offer when someone reaches out.
Headhunting is proactive recruitment. Instead of advertising and waiting for applications, we as your recruitment partner seek out the candidates who best match your needs. The method works well when skills are scarce or the role is business-critical, and we hand-pick the candidates discreetly and precisely. When the role is an executive position we also call it executive search or executive recruitment.
“Stardust Search took the time to get to know us as a company before they started, so that the match would be as accurate as possible – a more thorough process than any I had been part of before.”
Farhad Jabbari
CEO, Qicraft
We headhunt CEOs, COOs, CDOs, CFOs, heads of marketing, communications, sales and HR and more – mainly for growth companies, but also for listed, private equity-owned, private and state-owned companies and for public and non-profit organizations. Based in Stockholm and through the global Lense & Lumen network, we reach candidates across Sweden and internationally.
A new search every time. No static candidate pool. Every assignment is mapped from scratch, based on your needs.
Network. Many years of search work have given us a broad, constantly updated network of senior professionals, internationally too.
Discretion. We approach a few candidates with the right profile, and the relationship with both candidates and you is built on respect.
Your employer brand. We reach out with your values and opportunities as the offer, and give every candidate a good experience.
How it works
We reach out to the candidates, not the other way around.
We analyze your company culture and, in a workshop, draw up a role profile that reflects the skills and qualities actually needed.
We map the industry and scan the market, from scratch for every assignment.
We approach the candidates discreetly and present you, with your values and opportunities as the offer.
A few candidates go on to interviews, tests and reference checks.
Then you meet them and decide.
Stardust is a competent and highly professional partner that we have engaged several times. Their team shows great interest in and commitment to the specifics of each assignment, and we have great confidence in them in our recruitment work.
Anna Bellander
Head of Communications, Fastighetsägarna
The entire recruitment process is well planned and carried out with a high level of professionalism, both toward us as a company and toward the candidates. I warmly recommend Stardust Search to anyone looking for a skilled and reliable recruitment partner.
Peter Ekholm
Country Manager, Superwood
We have used Stardust Search several times and are very satisfied. The collaboration is reassuring and easy, with solid support throughout the recruitment process. Despite an often tight schedule, we have had really good help finding the right candidate.
Rickard Bracken
Secretary General, Suicide Zero
We have engaged Stardust Search for three recruitments and are very satisfied. Their holistic view of both the client and the candidate experience, and the personal and professional way they handle the whole process, is something I truly appreciate.
Christina Lingdén
Head of Communications, Sobona
I used to be skeptical of personality tests, but today I would not hire a new doctor at Funmed without first having Stardust Search run tests and give feedback on them.
Nils Edelstam
Chief Medical Officer, Funmed AB
We were extremely pleased with Stardust Search in our CEO recruitment. We had a good dialogue during the process and were also very happy with the end result. With Stardust Search you can count on being listened to and getting quality all the way.
Hanna Brandström
Head of People & Culture, Castellum
Stardust Search took the time to get to know us as a company before they started, so that the match would be as accurate as possible – a more thorough process than any I had been part of before.
Farhad Jabbari
CEO, Qicraft
Stardust Search understands our needs and is always professional – toward candidates and toward us as we look for new talent. We are very happy with our collaboration with Stardust and warmly recommend them as a recruitment partner.
Mikael Brunnhagen
CEO, Motor Trend
Free discovery call
An informal video call where you can ask questions and hear how we can help you move forward.
The questions we hear most often.
Headhunting is a process in which the recruiter actively seeks out and approaches highly qualified candidates for senior positions, whether or not they are actively looking for a job. This differs from traditional recruitment, where candidates find and apply for open positions.
Headhunting usually involves an active search for potential candidates with the desired experience and qualifications. The recruiter can use different techniques to find them, such as searching existing networks, using advanced databases or advertising the role on social media.
Once potential candidates have been identified, the recruiter usually contacts them directly to discuss the opportunity of a senior position in the organization.
Headhunting is usually very discreet and requires a high degree of professionalism and communication skills from the recruiter to convince candidates to consider a career move.
Headhunting, where a recruiter actively seeks out and approaches candidates, is common in roles that require specialist skills and in industries with a shortage of talent. When the recruitment concerns an executive role we also call it executive search or executive recruitment.
In short, headhunting is a more proactive and discreet recruitment method where we as headhunters seek out passive candidates instead of advertising and waiting for applications. It is especially effective for senior positions or roles where the right skills are hard to find.
Headhunting is a good fit when a role is hard to fill through traditional advertising – for example executive roles, specialist positions or when the requirements are very specific. In those cases we identify candidates who may already have good jobs and are not actively looking, but who would be a perfect fit for you.
Based in Stockholm and as members of the global network Lense & Lumen, we have access to an outstanding pool of talent, both locally and internationally.
This combination of local presence and global reach lets us tailor recruitment solutions to your specific needs.
The market is marked by skills shortages in several sectors, which makes headhunting a crucial method for reaching the right candidates – especially for leadership and specialist roles.
We headhunt CEOs, COOs, CDOs, CFOs, heads of marketing, communications, sales and HR and more. We mainly help growth companies, but also listed, private equity-owned, private and state-owned companies and public and non-profit organizations, from tech startups to the public sector. Whether it is an IT specialist, a leader in banking and finance or a key person in real estate, we know how to find the right one.
No. Stardust Search does not present candidates from a static pool. We carry out a new, thorough mapping for every assignment, based on your needs for that specific role. Relationships are key, and it is through our constantly updated network of senior professionals that we find the best talent.
In the search and selection process we approach a few candidates with the right profile, and the relationship with both candidates and clients is built on respect and discretion. When needed, we run the recruitment fully confidentially. We also look after your brand by giving every candidate a good experience.
We recruit people who can lead as the world changes – with increasing digitalization, talent shortages and new organizational structures. That is why we analyze every business and draw up a role profile based on real needs and company culture.