An interesting question came up when ExecuNet Premium member Kieran was working with his career strategist last week.
Kieran is a senior IT executive who came to us on the recommendation of a friend and former colleague who we helped develop personal marketing materials and a job search strategy for last year.
Kieran asked his strategist, “Does it even makes sense to apply to job postings if most executives get jobs through networking?”
That’s a fantastic question, filled with awareness that job search at the executive level is different than at the managerial level. The percentage of executives who land via a job board is much smaller than at the lower levels of the org chart.
But…there’s always a “but” isn’t there?!
There are ways to increase one’s odds of drawing attention when applying online. Actually having a resume that looks like you are applying for an executive-level position and not the managerial one you had 10 years ago is a good start.
You also need to make sure you are looking at a job board for executives, one with listings for actual positions.
So, the answer is “yes” …as long as they are the right listings.
Not all job boards are for executives or even have 100% real postings. This is one of the reasons ExecuNet was founded: to help executives find their next opportunity …to cut through the noise. All of our job listings are real. They are literally hand selected, no bots or scraping, to be a compilation of the best jobs on the market for the people we serve: executives. Recruiters come to us asking for candidates, and we work with PE and venture capital firms as well. We’ve also streamlined it so that the application process is simple. Our listings go from listing to application page. Benefits are listed, and the salaries are real. Do a sample search.
We let Kieran know, job postings certainly have a role in executive search. They are great for research to learn what’s out there, who is hiring, and what they are looking for in candidates.
Before hitting “submit” for a role that looks good, job seekers must put in some real work. They need to figure out what they want the market to know about them, and they must have fully developed their value story through their personal marketing materials (LinkedIn profile, resume, ValuGraphic, cover letters) and practiced relating it verbally. This is a “must have” for executives now. After all, what’s the point of working so hard to land an interview when you can’t wow them with the story of your value and the difference you’ve made everywhere you’ve been? They want to hear how you’re going to make things happen for them.
That’s what the candidates who get the offers do.
Kieran’s been working with us so that he’ll be ready to share his value story when he’s in the room with a decision maker. We’re weaving his value story throughout his personal marketing materials and will soon coach him on how to articulate his value story. At that point, he’ll be ready to target specific opportunities…and will be ready to land them, through his network or a job listing. He’s already started enjoying his Premium Access to the most exclusive listings we have by doing searches to see what’s out there.
If you’d like to explore what an executive-level job search will look like for you, reach out to us. We have former recruiters and CEOs who help people at the top of the org chart find their paths, brand themselves, and land new opportunities at companies that are just right for them.
