head-hunting

Finding suitable people to fill key jobs in a business organization. Head-hunters may advertise a post, but it is far more likely that they will draw up a list of people that they think could fill the post and approach them directly with an offer of employment.

head-hunting

The practice of obtaining and treasuring the heads of enemies. Heads were hunted generally for religious purposes in order to preserve the enemy's life force or to prevent mystical vengeance. The practice was formerly found mainly in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and parts of South America, where the heads were shrunk by smoking.