Securing a new executive position is a challenging proposition during such economic downturn & Pandemic. Chief executive & the potential ones who are not actively looking out, but are open to explore roles should focus on expanding their professional network on LinkedIn. Look out & follow companies on LinkedIn you are interested to work with & send invitations to relevant people, influencers & decision makers (who work with companies you are interested to work for & with whom you wish to connect). This is a perfect recipe to build your network that can help you land up with your next role.
If you are actively looking for the next executive/board role or are currently in the process of being interviewed, the best strategy would be to stick to realistic goals & focus on key areas / roles to secure interviews. Formalize a to do list on a weekly basis & follow it. If you are one of those executives whose interview process has been held or kept in abeyance due to Pandemic, consider sending an email to the company, presenting your case how having you on-board now can help them pass through these challenging times. Support your claim by sharing how you have dealt with & managed an uncertain situation/ wind of change in the past for your previous/current employer & request for a brief call to explain your game plan to overcome such a crisis. It is important that you come to the table for discussions with a positive attitude & maintain a calm environment to develop that element of trust.
Some of key proposition you should consider while scouting for that next big roles:
- Leverage the untapped job market: During these troubling Pandemic times, the best strategy would be to do research about industries/sectors which are positive about their growth amidst these uncertain times. Some of the sectors which executives should consider targeting include:
- Logistics & Transportation.
- Online sales of essential items/online shopping
- Digital services.
- Healthcare.
- Online Fitness
- Career Services
Also look out for start-ups who have been recently funded in Series B & C since these would be one would be looking to hire for senior positions to scale up growth, open up new product lines & expand to new geographical boundaries.
Given that you’re a seasoned professional & have had experience of exploring senior level opportunities in the past, directly contacting companies which are stable/ have potential to grow can increase your probability of landing up with interview.
2. Update your executive resume: Update & align your resume with the new job market/target sectors you wish to apply. Focus on storytelling that portrays what do roles you are keen on exploring. Also consider subscribing to renowned resume coaches who have demonstrated experience of writing career documents for chief executives.
3. Consider contract/advisory roles: When your target companies are looking to keep hiring expenses at bay & are not willing to on-board a senior resource, consider offering them a proposal of working in an advisory position. This will enable you to deliver your services with a possibility of converting it to a full time role when the economic environment becomes normal. Besides, you should also consider subject matter expert contract roles or board nomination for specialized skills such as tax or regulatory advisory, strategy & or growth.
I am aware that this phase is not easy right now & these may not be perfect answers to current challenges faced by you. However, I am sure the above mentioned strategies shall help you structure a game plan to keep you executive job search strategy on the right path.
