While you were working to build your company and career, the rules changed in executive job search.
The 5-Power-Play C-Suite Career Plan is designed to help you achieve career success in up or down markets:
- Become the CEO of company YOU
- Brand to land
- Get social (below)
- Write tight
- New branded CareerCom
- Why-Buy-ROI
- Power Pitch Resume/Profile
An effective CEO of Company YOU prioritizes career management as much as company management so scrambling to gain traction in job search is a non-issue…and with executive tenures shrinking to less than 3 years, every executive will be a chronic job seeker and branded career builder. (For more on this see parts 1 and 2 of this series "Become CEO of Company YOU" and “Brand to Land.”)
Your next power move? Get Social!
If you’re like many executives, you’ve been recruited for many, or all, of your recent positions. In fact, you’ve become accustomed to recruiters calling to sound you out about potential opportunities. Now that’s dried up, or slowed down considerably.
Conversely, if you’re an executive who hasn’t received those calls very often, you may wonder why not, and feel like you’re missing something.
Whichever your scenario, it may surprise you to know that far fewer than 20% of executives find positions through recruiters.
So what works today (as always)? Networking. Networking. Networking. The best networkers know that networking is a “give to get gig” that is worth the time and effort needed to create opportunity-attracting symbiotic relationships. And with the growing array of social media tools it’s never been easier for busy executives to be in touch and in the know.
Before you cringe and say, “That’s for Gen Ys. A CEO or senior exec would never use that stuff,” think again! Many executives feel that using social media jeopardizes their stature, but the reality is quite the opposite.
CEOs, CXOs, and other senior executives using social media are already making productive connections, extending their brands, showcasing thought leadership, giving of themselves, supporting their personal and professional causes, and reaping the personal and professional rewards.
Executives who are not using social media risk being out of touch with their constituents, with trends, and with widely-used technology.
LinkedIn
Within social media, LinkedIn has quickly become the gold standard for executive networking, rivaling Google as employers’, recruiters’, vendors’, and even customers’ first choice for gathering information on C-levels and executives—as potential employees, investors, customers, and networking contacts.
Many companies and recruiters post “LinkedIn-only” positions because the quality of candidates they attract is so much higher than at other venues.
Having a professional presence on LinkedIn is essential for every executive. If you're afraid that being on LinkedIn opens you up to hangers-on who want to be in your network (it won’t – you have control), or to an employer or board’s assumption that you're looking for a job (even if you’re not), get over it, or get used to being passed over.
Twitter
The new kid on the block is Twitter. The growth of Twitter is creating new pathways to networking and connection at all levels. When used with intention, Twitter is especially efficient at quickly creating relationships and elevating you as an early adopter and thought leader. And speaking your piece in 140 characters makes you a more precise writer, too!
Facebook
Facebook has the potential to become a valuable addition to the executive (and company) brand- and connection-building toolbox, but the jury is still out on its security issues so use with caution. Both Twitter and Facebook are easy, even fun ways to further your professional on-line identity.
Bottom Line:
Social media is here to stay. Whether you jump in the pool, or dip a toe in the water, do something to move your social media skills and presence forward. At the very least get on LinkedIn and pay attention to your Google presence because if you don't show up on Google and LinkedIn, you're toast. As the New York State Lottery commercials say, "You've got to be in it to win it!"
Next month, part 4: Write Tight
Resources:
For help with LinkedIn basics and advanced strategies see "I'm on LinkedIn, Now What?" by Jason Alba, and check out the book's blog as well at ImonLinkedInNowWhat.com.
For more on using Twitter to build your brand in just 15 minutes a day see "The Twitter Job Search Guide," by Susan Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan, and Deb Dib, as well as the book's Twitter Tips blog TwitterJobSearchGuide.com.
© Copyright, 2010, Deb Dib. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
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About this author: Deb Dib, Job-Hunt's Executive Job Search Expert, has been a careers-industry professional since 1989. For the last few years, Deb has focused on coaching CEO's and other C-suite executives in finding their next opportunities. Deb is the founder of Executive Power Brand, and co-author of best-selling Twitter Job Search Guide, Find Your Ideal Job and Build Your Career in Just 15 Minutes a Day (March 2010, JIST). Connect with Deb at her website at www.executivepowerbrand.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/debdib, on Twitter at @CEOcoach, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DebDib, and via email at info at executivepowerbrand.com, or at 631-475-8513.
