Executive Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

When we’re coming out of an executive job we’ve perhaps had for years and leaving an organisation that we’ve maybe been at for decades, it can understandably be a challenge to launch right into a job search after so long. This is particularly the case if we’ve never had to look for a specifically executive job before, because we were promoted internally to our previous executive positions.

Taking all this into account, it’s easy to see why so many of us initially make mistakes in our executive job searches. Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Lacking clarity

So you’ve left your job and it feels so unnatural to be unemployed that you panic and rush into your job search without first getting clear on what you want. This can only lead to disappointment, as you need to be able to communicate to contacts, recruiters and employers what you’re looking for. Before you start applying for jobs, take some time to reflect on what type of executive job you actually want. What kind of organisation do you want to work for? What criteria must your new position meet? What constraints do you have to take into account?

Browsing job sites aimlessly

It’s tempting to just log onto an executive job board and scroll through all 1732646 of its pages, looking for your ideal position to just leap out at you from the thousands of vacancies on there. But really, how likely is it that you’ll find a suitable job in this way? It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. Instead, use the advanced search function on these sites to set your criteria and filter out all the jobs that have little or no relevance to your target role. And remember not to only use job boards in your job search.

Applying only to advertised jobs

It’s an oft quoted statistic that only 30% of job vacancies are actually advertised. Once you get to executive level, it’s very likely that this figure is even more slender. Look for the ‘hidden’ job openings by sending speculative letters to organisations you’ve decided to target, connecting with their employees through their LinkedIn company profile and contacting trade journalists on Twitter to ask if they know who’s hiring. You can find such journalists by using a Twitter directory such as Twellow.

Ignoring your existing network

Networking is of course a powerful tool in getting job leads, especially when it comes to hidden jobs. However, networking to this end doesn’t just involve making new contacts. Your existing network can also be of value to you, so don’t neglect it. Call up a connection you haven’t spoken to for a while to catch up on their news and tell them about your job hunting. You never know what they may come up with to help you. Have a look at our eBook 135 Networking Tips for more advice on how to connect, or reconnect, with your existing contacts.

Failing to do the research

Once you’ve identified some job vacancies to apply to, it’s still not time to start the actual process of applying. Instead of rushing the job applications, take some time to research the organisations you’re applying to. The better you understand the business, the more informed and targeted your application to it will be. Visit the company website, explore the brand’s social media presence and look out for press coverage of it.

Not committing enough time to the job search

Even if you avoid all the above mistakes, your job search will take longer and will be less effective if you don’t devote enough time to it. It’s a well-worn adage that finding a full-time job is a full-time job. Even if you’re looking for work whilst continuing to work at your current organisation, it’s still important that you schedule specific job finding time in your diary. Set aside specific hours during weekday evenings and at weekends. You may even choose to use up some of your annual leave and take a few days off in order to fully concentrate on the job hunt for a sustained period of time. For example, if you take Thursday and Friday off, that’s a full four days of potential job seeking time available to you including the weekend.

To find out how Position Ignition is helping people in their executive job searches, visit our Executive Careers page.

For general job search mistakes to avoid, see the end section in our unmissable eBook How to Get the Job You Want, which also has plenty of advice, tips and information on the right things to do.

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