A step that is often overlooked in the executive job search process is developing a list of target companies. Many executive candidates will have a job search strategy that is dependent on the available positions listed on various career and recruiter-based websites.The flaw with that passive strategy is that you are forced to compete with thousands and thousands of other candidates through an online application system with...
You might be surprised to find that developing your marketing collateral - also known as resume, cover letter, career biography and more - actually comes in step four of your job search process. I continue to educate executive job seekers on the importance of laying groundwork and foundation first before promoting themselves to companies, recruiters and anyone who would listen to them.
I have personally worked with clien...
The thousands of job openings that you can easily find online through job boards, recruiter listings and company websites attract thousands of applicants. So when you send in your resume, what are the chances that you will get an interview? Only about 2-3%.Your job search efforts at this point should be focused on researching job "opportunities" - in other words, potential job openings that have not been advertised to the m...
Have you every tried this exercise? "Google" yourself and evaluate the results that come up - does the information about you fit your personal brand, is it accurate and most importantly, is it positive and supportive to your job search efforts? Beyond what is represented on your executive resume and career marketing documents, potential employers, hiring managers, and recruiters are eager to see what is behind the scenes. C...
No matter how you may dislike it or try to avoid it, the best way to power up your job search will be through extensive networking and relationships building. This aspect of your job search will bring you close to decision makers and more importantly will put you in touch with other professionals who have working relationships with industry leaders.So while the call of the Internet may tempt with its wealth of online networ...
Do you think that interview blunders are just for the inexperienced, early-in-career job candidates? A colleague of mine, Katharine Hansen, the author of Top Notch Executive Resumes (my resume samples are published in here) has started conducting research on a follow-up publication that focuses on executive interviews and you might be surprised at the mistakes that even executives like you are making on interviews.Unfortuna...
Most professionals I know dislike the process of annual performance reviews as much as they dislike job interviews.Why is this annual routine so greatly disliked and viewed the dreaded moment that you have to come face-to-face with the big boss?I am thinking that if you spent the entire year preparing for performance reviews and keeping track of your achievements and kudos, you would be in a better position to discuss your...
I have to admit that while I am not a huge fan of large, commercial career fairs, there is a lot value you can get from attending a job fair that is part of an association or industry conference.In the upcoming fall, there are a several annual conferences held throughout the country and they provide viable opportunities to connect with key decision makers and internal company contacts through a two-day career expo.When plan...
Have recent company cutbacks forced you to launch an executive job search campaign for the first time in more than a decade? If you have been fortunate to enjoy a long, consistent career with the same company, an unexpected thrust in unemployment can really throw you into serious panic and confusion.Resist from gluing yourself to the Internet for hours on end or you will easily be lost in maze of job search boards, company...
If your job search campaign keeps netting you zero responses and you have been faithfully trying all avenues (online postings, recruiters, social networks, in-person networking), maybe you need to re-think the strategy for developing your executive resume.Your executive resume must be a strategic marketing document not a career obituary or a string of job descriptions. After all, the only way you can attract attention is to...