This is a guest post from Georgina Stamp of Marble Hill Partners, an executive search firm.
There comes a time in our careers when many of us may wish to branch out in different professional directions. Regardless of our motivations, attracting the attention of an executive headhunter is an excellent way to help propel our career prospects forward to the next level. So, let us have a quick look at five sure-fire methods that can help you become noticed in the headhunting community.
Who you know is just as important as what you know.
Networking is one of the most powerful tools to help increase your exposure in the professional community. The more contacts you make, the more likely you will be to cross paths with a headhunter or an executive search firm. While traditional methods such as attending industry-specific meetings are undeniably important, utilising such executive networking sites such as LinkedIn and BranchOut are excellent ways to proactively market yourself to a vast number of connections.
Industry Recognition
Simply boasting that you are highly motivated and a team player is no longer enough in the executive search industry. You need to remember that headhunters will normally seek out a potential candidate who is well-versed in a very specific field. The more recognition you are able to acquire in your area of interest, the more likely it will be that a headhunter will take notice.
Endorsements are Key
While networking is indeed a powerful tool for heightened recognition, contacts alone are insufficient. Instead, you need to proactively seek out endorsements from colleagues and associates in the industry itself. Even former employers should be contacted, for their willingness to vouch for your skills will display to headhunters that not only are you respected in your current field, but you also maintain a high level of integrity and value past relationships.
Utilise the Power of the Media
Positioning your name above a well-written and innovative article is another way to draw positive attention to yourself. Executive search firms will take notice of those who are actively engaged in their own professional communities. Blog posts are a good place to begin, but mediums such as trade publications or industry journals are more appropriately targeted and likely to be perused by a wider audience.
Locate a Mentor
Industry mentors will often have a great deal of experience in their field and possess a large number of contacts. In fact, they may very well be able to open doors that would have been previously inaccessible. They can offer a great deal of hands-on advice and simultaneously provide a powerful recommendation should the need arise.
These five simple tips can help guarantee that you receive the correct amount of targeted exposure in the executive search industry. By following this advice, that perfect change of professional pace may be closer than you think!
Georgina Stamp has worked in the interim managers industry for a number of years and understands the difficulty in finding executive talent for organisations. She currently works for Marble Hill Partners, who help to search for executive candidates.