In our recent post, we shared some tips to make executive headhunters notice you. In addition to your qualifications, they’ll be looking for a senior skill set, intuitive brand awareness, and personal qualities that will prepare you for a dream leadership role.
There’s a thread running through all of this. Grabbing a headhunter’s attention means telling a fantastic story: who you are, and what you represent.
So do you craft an impeccable professional narrative? We’re here to turn the first page on your executive job search.
There’s little doubt that most of our personal milestones are broadcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The same should be true of your business dealings. Don’t be afraid to tell your professional contacts what’s going on in your corner of the industry.
It’s best to have separate profiles – one for business, one for your social circle – or to draw a line as to which platform is used. By committing to a few posts a day or week, you’ll establish yourself as a smart, interesting figure in the sector you really care about.
We’ve singled LinkedIn out from its social media peers because it is the most pertinent window into your skills, network and previous job experience.
Think carefully about what to say. When listing your employment history, avoid repetition, and mix technical language with that which anyone can grasp. Write your summary in a similar way. Publish articles as often as you can, and be sure to include every qualification and certification you have.
Don’t be too dry. Board of director positions, senior management jobs and other executive roles often ask you to speak to people on a level they can relate to. Ask yourself who or what you’ve influenced, and how that bred a long-lasting result – this is the crux of good storytelling from a business perspective. Make it short and to the point. Bullet points are good, don’t bore people to death before they’ve even got to know you!
Where did your tale begin? Did a professional ambition come to light because of a person or situation? Perhaps you were your own worst enemy, until life took a turn towards commendable achievements?
There are thousands of roads your story may have taken. Whether it’s a route shaped by passion, competitiveness or the sheer persistence of hard work, executive headhunters will want to hear it from beginning to end.
So be concise. Write your story down on paper. Read it aloud several times. Leave room for one or two real-world anecdotes – again, with relevance to your professional occupations. By placing your greatest hits in a single, engaging narrative, recruiters can trace your journey and see how you’ve progressed. Of course, these factors should be placed in the larger frame of an industry you love, if you genuinely want a shot at senior management jobs or board of director positions.
If you are qualified, have great experience, and can knit these together into an engaging tale, there’s a strong chance you’ll make it into the interview room with the recruiter. The ongoing chapters of your story could be very, very rewarding, as long as you build a case for executive search firms like SPE Resourcing to uncover what’s already there.
