Executive Job Search

A s a current or former            voluntary or not, executives       executive, your job search      often feel un-tethered and adrift  may be somewhat more            once they have left their          difficult than one an assistant       organizations, and it can be a     or manager faces because your         very depressing experience.        search will be complicated by the                                        fact there are fewer executive        So, the first thing to do is keep  level jobs. For that reason, it       your spirits up and look forward   can take longer than you would        rather than back. Don't replay     like to find a new position, so       scenes or situations in your mind  get prepared to be patient and        that may have contributed to or    persistent. For you, the best         represented your actual            resource you will have is your        departure. The opportunity to go   network of current and former         back and change those              colleagues and clients/customers.     circumstances has passed, and the  Executive recruiters will also        best thing you can do for          form a solid foundation in the        yourself is focus on a new career  search process for you.               direction. Look at it as a chance                                        to create the ideal job            Let's assume, for a moment, that      situation, from geography, to      you have found yourself in the        company philosophy, to matching    position of having left your          your personal values and vision    current place of employment as a      to a those of a new organization.  c-level executive and you are                                            starting with a blank slate. The      Executives do, however, have       most important thing is not to be     certain advantages over others in  embarrassed that you are facing a     the job market. You have probably  job search, because many              been using, for years, some of     executives have been here before      the critical skills and            you. Whether their departure was      opportunities that will help you   in your executive job search.         skills to work for you in your     Those skills include:                 executive job search.                                                                                       · Critical thinking ... This is a     1. First, use your planning and    core component of every               assessment skills to outline an    executive's competencies.             approach for your search.                                                Identify organizations you feel    · Planning and assessment ... You     match your professional values     are experienced in looking at the     and whose missions you can see     big picture thoroughly and            yourself supporting. Prioritize    insightfully and then assessing       that list, and include in your     the results of the plan and           assessment geographic location,    formulating stay-the-course plans     whether you would be required to   or course corrections.                relocate, the viability and                                              current market climate of the      · Networking ... Doubtless you        industries of those companies,     have been doing this actively for     and, of course, their financial    years and it will prove to be a       positions (using 10-Ks, annual     very significant capability in        reports, stock position, press     your job search.                      releases and articles).                                                                                     · Outside positions ...               2. Second, take a good look at     Membership on a board of              where you are in your career now.  directors is an elite position        Are you happy, feeling fulfilled   and one which will bring you into     by the work, and comfortable with  contact with many opportunities       the corporate environments in      to network and discover executive     which you've found yourself? If    openings.                             not, it's a good idea to employ                                          some critical thinking here, and   Here are some ideas to put those      take stock. Now is the ideal time  to change your career direction       Many executives have taken a       if you feel something has been        sharp right turn in their career   lacking.                              paths following a departure from                                         their last jobs. Look at this as   3. Third, activate your network,      an unexpected chance to decide     including executive recruiters        again what you want in your        and board contacts. It's been         personal and professional life     reported that 80% of executives       and whether this could be the      find new positions through            opportunity for which you have     professional contacts.                been waiting, but didn't realize                                         until now you really wanted.       About the Author: Greg Heslin is a best selling career advice and "street smart" tips author on how to survive in the 21st Century workplace.To learn more about FREE cutting edge career tips and techniques, you can visit his web site at http://www.My-New-Career.com Published At: www.Isnare.com