Are you on the executive search radar?

Imagine your dream job landing in your inbox. Or perhaps you are thinking it’s time for a career move but feel unsure about the options available to you? Regardless of whether you are actively looking or simply job-curious, it’s likely that your future career opportunities will be in the hands of executive search specialists or ‘headhunters’. Here are some top tips from Alumni about helping you get spotted by people like us and matching your potential with an exciting new role.

Stand out from the crowd

Endeavour to be recognised for your personal contributions to your team’s successes. If the people in your industry notice your achievements, then you’ll stand out more and be easier to find. You’re also more likely to be recommended if you’re someone who stands out in your market; referrals are a headhunter’s lifeblood and a crucial way they build their networks. A positive reputation in the market will differentiate you from your peers.

Values alignment between an individual and a prospective employer is a crucial part of the recruitment decision, but most headhunters will also be seeking individuals with specific skills and experience. It helps to have a clear sense of direction about where you see your career progressing and a confidence in your own abilities.

Having an overarching career plan for the next five to ten years, will help the headhunters see where you will fit into the opportunities they have on their books and more closely align you with the culture and strategic goals of the hiring organisation. Ask yourself whether you have a USP that identifies you as a genuine leader in your field?

Network the right way

One of the most effective ways of being identified as sought-after talent is to participate actively in outward dialogue within your sector and area of expertise. Speaking at industry events or conferences and getting articles you’ve written highlighted in relevant publications, will boost your visibility and give headhunters something additional to reference; it will also make you more attractive in the eyes of future employers.

Remember, networking is a two-way process so make every effort to stay in touch and maintain a relationship with well-connected colleagues, whilst also reaching out to other people who you know are figureheads within your industry.

Seek out executive search consultants, like those here at Alumni, that specialise in your industry and proactively send your CV through to them. Introduce yourself and make your intentions known. Often a get-to-know-you phone call or coffee meet up will be a good way to get the ball rolling and make it more likely you are remembered when the right opportunity comes around.

Working in executive search we understand that timing is everything and our candidates often have very busy schedules. Finding a perfect match is not a simple process. We are used to candidates declining opportunities that we approach them with, but we can also be very tenacious. Rather than having us continuously reaching out, and you hoping we’ll get the hint eventually, it’s often better to be upfront about where your interests lie if at all. If a headhunter reaches out with a role for you, but it doesn’t seem quite suitable, feel free to respond and outline your career goals rather than ignore us completely. We often know of other opportunities that you may find more suitable, or we can take note that you would not like to be contacted at all. Responding in any way means that we would be more likely to keep you in mind in the future, and as we all know the future is an open book.

LinkedIn and social networking

It is always advisable to have a compelling LinkedIn profile regardless of whether you are actively seeking a career change or not. Your profile should clearly outline your achievements and give details of the responsibilities and deliverables of your current and recent roles. Be very precise about your skills and experience; headhunters search on keywords, job titles and specific skills when building their longlists. Check your spelling!

You may be great at blowing your own trumpet but other peoples’ opinions matter; It is always useful to have some relevant endorsements, ideally from people at leadership level within your current organisation or a client for whom you have delivered a project. If you are actively seeking a new career opportunity, then set your profile to ‘Open to Work’ which is only viewable by headhunters. After you put this work in upfront, you'll want to review your profile every six months or so to record new job titles, promotions, or responsibilities.

Help us help you, find the perfect match

Alumni recommends that you take a long-term approach to building strong, mutually beneficial relationships both internally and externally when planning your career. There is no getting around it, recruitment at a certain level is very relationship and network driven. Building relationships takes time and commitment. Stay visible and ensure that your key skills and achievements are in the public domain.

At Alumni we thrive on listening to the many experiences and careers of people in our network and we are passionate about matching the right individuals to the right opportunities at the right time. We have a broad portfolio of services and help companies recruit key roles, within management, C-suite, and board level opportunities. Our mission is to connect, advise and challenge in order to bring out the best in individuals and organisations; in short, to help unleash potential. We have many ongoing dialogues with organisations who are looking to add new skills and competence to their teams, and we are always looking to grow our network of candidates.