Getting ready for a 2024 executive job search?
A strong social media presence, branded career marketing materials, cutting-edge search methods, and a robust network are more important than ever for landing a choice role.
Here are 5-must-know steps and trends in executive job search, LinkedIn, recruiting, and resumes you’ll need to embrace:
1 – Take note of market conditions and their potential impact on your career.
Many changes are on the horizon, including RTO (return to office), political influences, and continued mergers. Forrester’s Predictions 2024 describes how Generative AI will shape the customer experience, as well as how new trends in diversity, talent and recruitment, climate risk, and customer trust will affect businesses worldwide.
In addition, USA Today’s Economic Outlook for 2024 reports that inflation and interest rates remain a concern among economists, with an uncertain impact on growth.
If you undertake an executive job search during these volatile times, be aware that the average duration for finding a new executive role could be anywhere from several months to a year.
In other words, prepare! Build a sound social media strategy, list of target companies, and compelling executive resume… long before changes hit your industry or employer.
2 – Employ social media; it’s now a requirement for job search success.
Still ignoring LinkedIn or waiting to update your Profile? You’ll want to switch tactics quickly, whether your job search is looming over the next few months or you anticipate making a change in the future.
It’s been said by employers that if you aren’t on LinkedIn, you don’t exist.
Consider this: the average CEO now possesses more than 900 LinkedIn connections — and recruiters often spend HOURS assessing your digital identity before presenting you to their clients. LinkedIn in now in use worldwide, and with 610+ million registered users, it won’t decrease in popularity anytime soon.
Therefore, you’ll benefit from polishing your Profile, developing a powerful LinkedIn Headline, spending time choosing a professional photo for the site, writing a solid Summary, and injecting a solid mix of keywords to draw recruiter traffic.
3 – Realize that recruiters now work globally, instead of limiting their practices to your city.
In the past, recruiters often “covered” an area bounded by geography and industry. Now, the recruiter you speak with is more likely to be active on social media and sourcing candidates from all over the world.
To find recruiters who specialize in your field, use LinkedIn’s Search function or run a Google search on “recruiter for COO” or other phrases relevant to your goal. When getting in touch with a recruiter, remember that their compensation comes directly from client companies (NOT candidates) who task them with finding executives matching specific requirements.
You can use LinkedIn to send a note to a recruiter, including a message such as “I understand that you specialize in IT leadership candidates, and as an executive skilled in networking and IT operations, I’d like to find out if my credentials match your client requirements.” You can also place a quick call for an even better impression and personal touch when introducing yourself.
4 – Don’t neglect to prepare! Company research is more important than ever.
Many employers will quickly reject a candidate who appears to have little knowledge of their operation, market position, or flagship product – especially when most of this data can easily be found via a quick Google search.
You’ll also need to be armed with salary negotiation, interviewing skills, and other job search trends in line with the 2024 job market Catch up to your colleagues, especially those leveraging job search powerhouse Job-Hunt.org or recruiter business forecasts from sites such as the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC).
Don’t get caught lagging behind in your preparation for the job search, particularly when you can capitalize on a myriad of online resources to help you land that coveted leadership position.
Websites such as Payscale.com or Glassdoor provide the opportunity for you to investigate salaries at various career levels. On LinkedIn, Premium Career account holders can also filter job openings by salary level, which may be shown on some postings. For interviewing advice, you can check out commonly accessed career sites (such as LiveCareer.com), as well as business resources including Forbes.com.
5 – Stay up-to-date on the hottest trends in executive resume writing.
If you haven’t caught on to the branded, comprehensive marketing used in today’s executive resumes, there are several ways to educate yourself on these best practices.
A quick Google search for “Executive Resume Samples” will yield samples of current resume documents, along with articles on best practices for writing about your leadership career.
Check out the Toast of the Resume Industry (TORI) resume writing winners to see cutting-edge entries from resume writers worldwide. If you haven’t seen an award-winning resume lately, prepare to be impressed!
Here, resume experts are judged on the use of color, graphics, brand messaging, formatting, and innovation by a panel of recruiters and hiring authorities in an annual competition conducted by Career Directors International.
In short, executive job search has forever been altered by these new and emerging trends.
Your preparation, research, and understanding of these changes will be critical to your transition, compensation, and success as a candidate for Board, CXO, EVP, and VP jobs.