Utilising too many sources of information (too many job sites, recruiters or agencies) is the most common error made by people searching for executive, C-Suite level jobs.
Many candidates believe that the more sources they use, the more exposure they get – and the faster they land their desired job. But it’s never a good idea to blanket companies or job boards with a CV, nor to use more than two specialist recruitment agents at any one time. It’s a tactic, sure, but it’s not part of a greater strategy.
These approaches are incredibly inefficient, confusing, and get in the way of allowing the candidate to focus on the positions that they really want.
So instead, people looking for executive roles should do what they should already be very, very good at: make a plan. What companies are you targeting? Why? What’s your unique pitch to them? How do you plan to engineer ‘warm’ introductions, where people close to hiring managers and senior teams introduce you to them? The only way you can really focus on these bigger questions is by narrowing your search to the jobs that matter; the ones you really want and know you’re a good fit for.
First up, candidates should think about their expertise and the value that empowers them to provide better than anyone else. Then they should find the company who values that expertise the most. Next, consider their personal disposition, personality and attitude – what kind of company culture do they make the candidate best suited for? If they’re kooky and free-thinking, a role at a company like Apple will work better than one at an employer like Ernst & Young. There are tons of variables that go into making the perfect hire – location, size of company, colleagues… sketch a quick tickbox matrix of all the organisations/roles you have in mind, and see which two or three tick the most boxes.
After completing the above, when searching for a specific job, you should make sure to narrow your focus and utilise only the sources that are specialists in their skill set and industry. Otherwise, all a candidate ends up doing is wasting valuable time on opportunities that are not applicable. If you’re a journalist looking to take on an editor position, Gorkana is your best bet. If you’re looking to step up in recruitment, as the recruiter’s network, LinkedIn is perfect. There’s one for every industry and specialism, and they’re only a google away, no matter how niche your profession.