July 16, 2024
The More Things Change: Tips for an Executive Level Job Search
Recently a longtime client, the CEO of a large medical device company, asked me to speak with a former colleague who’s launched a job search. The client said, “I haven’t looked for a job in 15 years and I’m sure everything has changed. I hope you can give him advice on what things are like today.”
That got me thinking. Have things really changed? Would I give different advice today than I would have 15 years ago? The short answer is no, at least for executive level candidates.
It’s true that new technologies have vastly changed recruiting. Some of the new tools have made recruiting more efficient, while others are a sad and comic step backwards (the war between candidate and employer AI bots is the most recent example). The new technologies have primarily affected the recruiting of low and mid-level employees.
For executives, however, little has changed. Looking for an executive level job is still all about leveraging personal relationships. As a result, an executive job search today looks a lot like it did 15 years ago.
Here’s the advice I gave my client’s colleague:
- First, Leverage Your Best Contacts
Take stock of your network and identify the small group of people who will be your strongest advocates. I’m talking about the people who will go out of their way to help you. Reaching out to them should be your top priority. Let them know you are looking, and don’t be shy about asking for help. If possible, do these meetings in person – asking for help face-to-face always yields better results.
- Then, Reach Out to the Rest of Your Network
Once you’ve covered your strongest advocates, reach out to everyone else in your network. If they don’t know you’re looking, they’re unlikely to think of you when they hear about opportunities.
- Make Yourself Easy to Find
LinkedIn is used universally by executive recruiters and employers. Update your profile. Make sure it’s easy to find by identify the companies you’ve worked for, industries, job titles, and your location. If you’ve had unusual titles that don’t align with conventional categories like marketing or engineering, add language to help people understand your core areas of expertise.
- Avoid the HR Black Hole
Most C-level openings are not publicized, but occasionally you might find a listing that interests you. When that happens, make an application through the requested channels, but don’t stop there. Most submissions to HR go nowhere, so try to identify the hiring manager and reach out directly. The gold standard is a mutual connection who’s willing to make an introduction.
What has changed? The pace of recruiting is dramatically faster than it was 15 years ago, mostly due to the adoption of video interviewing. If it’s been a long time since you were on the market, be prepared for things to move briskly.
At bottom, the executive job search hasn’t changed much. In the present, as in the past, a successful job search is built on a foundation of personal networking. To get the job you want, make the most of your connections. Along the way, you’ll get to enjoy reconnecting with former colleagues.
