Recharging Your Executive Job Search

Recharging Your Executive Job SearchRecharging Your Executive Job SearchRecharging Your Executive Job SearchWhether youre job searching because of a recent layoff or because youre being proactive in your career management, there are critical steps you can take to move your executive job search forward. If you havent looked for a job in more than ten years, it can be very stressful to know where to begin. Luckily, there are many resources at your disposal youre not alone.Grab your pencil and start taking careful notes on how you can re-energize your network, market yourself effectively on paper and gain renewed confidence in what you offer potential employers.Step 1 Develop a Brand-Focused Executive ResumeIts no secret that, in todays unpredictable economy, your executive resume can be lost in an overcrowded pile with other job seekers hoping to get attention. There are executive resumes that simply tell the employer what you have done and where you have worked, and then there are br and-focused resumes that clearly communicate your personal and leadership brand, illustrate your ROI and value proposition, and speak about the unique traits and talents that differentiate you from your peers. For example, a manufacturing executives personal brand on the top of the executive resume would beEngaging cutting-edge technologies to advance corporate-wide initiatives that expedite manufacturing processes and achieve aggressive revenue growth, cost-cutting objectives and profitability margins.To adequately prepare for your executive job search, consider creating executive career absatzwirtschaft documents like a leadership initiative summary, career biography and networking resume.Step 2 Create a Concise, Branded Elevator PitchTo effectively navigate the maze of job search activities, angeschlossen and in-person networking will be an essential parte of your strategy what better way to stand out and be memorable than to have a solid elevator pitch? Use your personal brand s tatement as a foundation for building a pitch that you can use at networking events or in quick introductions. Be sure to practice your pitch so that it sounds natural and youre comfortable with it. For example, the manufacturing executive could have an elevator pitch that sounds likeHi, my name is Carl Brown. As an experienced Manufacturing Executive, I have enjoyed a progressive career with top companies like ABC Plastics, Newform Manufacturing and TechNec Corporation. With a reputation for engaging cutting-edge technologies that help global manufacturing companies achieve aggressive revenue growth and improve operating cost objectives, I am seeking new executive opportunities at global companies that would benefit from my strengths in PL management, product innovation and turnaround operations.Step 3 Support Your Brand with Career Success StoriesIts one thing to say that youre a trend setter, but without specific examples of career achievements and career defining contributions t o companies, its all just talk. Identify three to five top career achievements that support your personal brand, and create success story talking points around them. Remember to follow the Challenge-Action-Results format. Make sure that your stories demonstrate your leadership capabilities, describe the organizational, economic or market constraints you faced, and outline the quantifiable impact you made to a companys operations. These are ideal for the leadership initiatives document.One example of a success story for the manufacturing executive would beChallengeRevamp and restructure a high-volume manufacturing facility plagued by poor health and environmental safety standards that strained operations and stalled work productivityActionConceptualized division-wide initiatives to upgrade safety and manufacturing standards, eliminate occupational hazards, and significantly reduce excessive manufacturing waste and air emissionsResultsTransformed division into the companys highest, to p-performing facility while achieving $1.2 million in cost savingsLowered occupational hazards and further reduced operating costs by $1.4 million by integrating more than $2 million in equipment upgrades and process improvementsStep 4 Revive and Nurture Your In-Person and Virtual NetworkEven if youre guilty of neglecting your network over the years, you still have a far-reaching, expansive network that should be a key part of your job search activities. While you dont need to literally stop people on the street to inform them of your executive job search, plan on re-connecting with former colleagues, past employers, college alumni, industry peers, and fellow association members that are already a part of your professional network.Enhance your network by joining professional and local business associations and staying actively involved by attending meetings and volunteering for committees. Maximize sites like LinkedIn, Ziggs and ZoomInfo to search out key contacts at target companie s, re-connect with lost friends, join special interest groups, and secure testimonials from valued associates.Step 5 Build an Online PresenceExecutive recruiters and potential employers are using Google to pre-screen candidates about 80 percent of the time. They use general searches to source candidates and check them out before making interview calls. Have you Googled yourself lately? To stay competitive in todays job market, you need to build and maintain a strong, branded online presence. Tools like LinkedIn and VisualCV.com are free resources that allow you to develop an online portfolio and profile that ranks in the top third or fourth position in Googles page results.Start blogging through online forums and relevant blogs in your industry or area of expertise choose topics that youre passionate about and are consistent with your leadership brand. Most importantly, consider writing articles that highlight your thought leadership and industry expertise.Step 6 Focus on Niche Job Boards and Specialty RecruitersDont get lost in a maze of online career sites, especially the huge commercial sites that draw millions of members in without offering any specialties for executive job seekers. Limit your online job search activities to specialized online job boards that focus on a particular occupation, industry, job function, or type of job seeker (i.e. CEO, Sales Executives, or MBAs). In addition, only connect with specialty executive recruiters and executive search firms that are experts in your industry and job function sources like Ladders.com provide online databases for a diverse sortiment of specialty recruiters.These tips are applicable if youre new to the job search, or if youve been in it for a while. Take hold of the resources available to you and recharge your executive job search.