A Simple Research Plan for Executive Job Search Success, Part 1 of 5
A Simple Research Plan for Executive Job Search Success, Part 1 of 5
If you have been in the executive job search market a while, you might be wondering what it takes to get noticed and get hired by the right company. In fact, the longer you have been searching, the more frustrated you probably are becoming. One reason you might be failing to earn recognition in the executive job marketplace is that you cannot clearly articulate what you want to do and in which industry you want to do it. Read on to build a simple plan that focuses you and makes you memorable.
Step 1. Figure Out What You Want to Do
On the face of it, this is obvious. You want an executive job, probably related to your prior experience. Yes, you might be at the point where any job looks good, as long as it is not what you are doing now (or delivers a reliable paycheck).
But the answer is going to be much more complicated than that. Remember, you need to be realistic about your goals and understand that neither industries nor companies are going to bend to your wants and needs until you prove your value to them.
Your Plan: Do some free writing or some unfettered speculation about the solutions you want to contribute.
- Create an “ideal job” description for the type of job you want. Describe the job title, type of company, location, responsibilities, compensation/benefits, and so on.
- Identify which of your skills are most marketable to a prospective employer. Make a list of your skills: customer service, sales, technology, communication, etc. Clarifying your skills will not only help in your job search, but will also help you identify which skills, training/education, and experience you emphasize on your resume.
- Answer these questions: What am I good at? What am I not so good at? What do I like doing? What skills do I need to update in order to stay current?
