It is almost universal that individuals in leadership positions have reached their status through hard work and dedication. Their entire careers are built on their accomplishments. Their reputation is paramount.
Transitioning jobs for executives and managers can be a daunting endeavour. Making your availability known in the job market comes with risks. Rest assured your application remains confidential.
Being unprepared for a job change is akin to competing in a sports event. While talent may carry you far, you are likely competing against other talented individuals who have also prepared diligently. Being unprepared may lead to unexpected challenges despite your skills and experience.
What you can do to prepare
Do your research
Research the employer – this should include their website and an in-depth review of employee profiles on LinkedIn. Also research other senior managers in the company.If you know who is interviewing you, complete a social media search on the interviewer.
Search online for company information – look for activity online that could present answers to why the role is vacant and projects they are involved in.
Research the parent company – where a parent company sits above the company you are applying to, also research the parent company by visiting websites, career pages and diversity of business interests.
Research the incumbent employee – this will provide insight into the background of the individual who previously held the role. Information is power during an interview, and this is part of the preparation process. Just like world-class sports teams analyse their opponents' strengths and weaknesses, you should do the same to understand what it takes to succeed and make necessary adjustments.
The interview
Develop your key talking points. Break the interview into 4 sections. Write down what you want to achieve in each section. Obviously the first consideration is how to break the ice, this is why research is important.
Write down a list of the most likely interview questions. If this is a senior level interview, do not expect it to be easy. You may need examples of your leadership and management style, financial and information technology literacy. Skills such as marketing, sales, technical, environmental, compliance, health, and safety and much more. The interviewer may wish for you to talk about yourself, such as indirect behavioural interviewing. What will you say?
Prepare for the cliché’ questions such as, “tell me about a time you failed” there are many common questions. Google commonly asked questions, make a list and prepare the answers in advance.
Learn the process of selection
Is there a closing date?
How long is the process expected to take?
When will processing of applications begin?
How many interviews will there be and with whom?
Who makes the final decision, what is their background?
What notice period do you need to give?
What is the remuneration paid?
What testing systems may be experienced in the hiring process?
Make it easy!
If you know you have a good chance of success, try to plan your availability. This is why you need to know the process of selection and approximate time frames. A talented executive and senior level recruiter will have provided a timeline to the employer. What is the recruitment schedule for the assignment? Try to schedule your availability in advance, particularly when it comes to employer interviews.
Find way around time issues. If you are overseas as an example, make sure you make yourself available online. Offer your availability outside hours. Ideally just be flexible.
Be patient – a structured recruitment assignment takes time.
Don’t make the mistake of underestimating early interviews with the recruiters and HR staff, they are working as consultants advising on the hire. Your goal must ultimately be to get to the final decision maker. You will just make it harder if you are obstructive or impolite.
Every step of the process should be made as easy as possible.
Research your competition
Who is likely to apply? Don’t assume you are the best candidate regardless of how good you are. Make a list of the most talented people who hold the same skills you do. Research who they are across websites and LinkedIn in particular. Work out your strategy to win. The biggest mistake an executive or senior manager can make is to overrate their chances of success. You are better to assume you have competition and then work out your game plan.
Remain confident of success
It is common for executives to withdraw applications where they have concerns about whether they are going to be selected. If you apply for a role, see it through until the end.
Always ask for a job description as early as possible
It is not unusual for an employer to include a person specification. This is gold dust. Knowing the Job Description allows you to pre plan how you intend to present the skills you hold.
Resume preparation
Begin with creating a resume that leaves a lasting impact before delving into more complex issues. Corporate professionalism is essential, so ensure your resume is professionally prepared. In the modern job market, consistency across your public profiles including your resume, LinkedIn profile, and social media presence is crucial. Employers are likely to review all these platforms. Some individuals opt to exclude irrelevant content from their LinkedIn profile, but maintaining consistency is advisable.
Review your Facebook profile closely and conduct a Google search on yourself to manage your online presence carefully. Employers are often surprised by what they discover online during social media screenings. Do not sanitise it completely, they still want you to have a personality but ensure the is no record of contentious posts and tough political opinions.
When detailing your experience, ensure you provide accurate dates for all employments, contact information, and include a link to Your LinkedIn account. Job titles, job descriptions, and achievements for each role should be clearly outlined.
Contrary to popular belief, executive resumes should be detailed rather than brief. It is important to ensure clarity in your resume as the person reviewing it may not have the expertise to interpret your background accurately.
Automotive Employment NZ is known for securing overlooked talent. Ensure your resume is structured clearly to avoid any confusion about your skills and responsibilities in each role. If your application does not reach a senior executive or recruitment professional, it may not receive the attention it deserves.
Remember that employers and recruiters often use an ATS system to screen resumes. Avoid overly complex formats that may hinder the screening process. While PDF is currently accepted for executive resumes, stay updated on any changes in format requirements.
"Boolean Searching"
Familiarise yourself with Boolean searching to understand how recruiters search for information. This method is widely used in search engines, databases, ATS systems, and job boards. Optimise your resume with relevant keywords to enhance its visibility in searches.
Learn how to phrase specific search terms effectively and incorporate rich keyword density in your resume. While top resume preparation companies may be aware of Boolean searching, it is beneficial for you to lead the way in including appropriate keywords in your resume. AI will eventually take over from more manual Boolean searches but education surrounding Boolean searching is a good place to start.
Social media
LinkedIn serves as a professional networking platform, while Facebook is commonly used for personal sharing. However, LinkedIn also operates a recruitment model called LinkedIn Recruiter which offers advanced functionality for recruiting companies with a license. Recruiters can access a wealth of information on public websites, enabling them to gauge job seekers' activities and interests.
LinkedIn provides recruiters with diverse search capabilities including GEO targeting and skills targeting. Building a high-quality LinkedIn profile is crucial for executive job seekers. Consider seeking assistance from a social media professional to enhance your profile effectively.
Facebook is increasingly utilised as a recruitment platform, allowing recruiters to target specific groups based on various criteria. While LinkedIn focuses on skills, Facebook is more tailored towards marketing job ads to specific audiences.
Understanding the distinctions between social media channels is essential for executives and managers. Just as LinkedIn is associated with professional networking, Facebook is known for personal interactions. Ensure your Facebook profile is public to increase your visibility to potential employers.
In conclusion, thorough preparation, attention to detail in resume creation, and leveraging social media platforms effectively can significantly boost your chances of securing top executive roles.
Psychometric assessments
Learn in advance how you score on psychometric assessments. Research tools that include the assessment of reasoning abilities and workstyles. Complete one online and learn how you score.
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