Head Hunter Searches how to get yourself Noticed
In today's cutthroat corporate marketplace businesses do not have the luxury of waiting for the right candidate to knock on their door and offer their services, particularly for senior positions. Indeed, people for these roles are not necessarily in the marketplace and actively looking for a new position.
But it is not just the high-fliers that are targeted by specialist search agencies or head-hunters' as they are more commonly referred. So here are the key things you should do to successfully get head-hunted.
1. Become internet savvy
- Job boards: Most online job boards such as Monster, Total Jobs and Career Builder offer jobseekers the opportunity to register their details and CVs onto a database that can searched by potential employers and search and head-hunting firms.This puts your details in the public domain and increases your visibility in your chosen marketplace. And most job boards will allow you to block your current company from seeing your details, so you don't have to worry if your boss discovers that you are in the job marketplace.
- Blog: Create your own Blog. Writing a blog gives you the opportunity to become a leading authority on your business. It also gives potential employers an insight into your character and if you keep it updated dedication.Blogs can act as a personal PR tool too because you can link your blog to other blogs and this will further enhance your credibility and profile.
2. Become an expert in your field
- Specialist: One of the most effective ways of getting noticed quickly is by attracting media attention. I am not suggesting that you have to go the extremes of appearing on 60 Minutes of Newsnight.But writing articles for your trade publications or running seminars and presentations to business leaders will position you as a leading authority - the media will know you and so will potential bosses.
3. Put it about
- Network: The power of networking cannot be underestimated. Admittedly not everyone is comfortable smoozzing with a room full of strangers. However, networking is like speed dating self-promotion to impress a potential suitor/buyer/employer.Keep your conversations short to give yourself the opportunity to speak to as many people in the room as possible. The more business cards and contacts you make the better.
4. Have a planThe old adage fail to plan, plan to fail' is as true today as it has ever been. Ensure you have a clear understanding of your career plans and ambitions especially if you are relying on a head-hunter to find you a position.If you are just embarking on your career it is important to join an organisation noted for its training. Yell in the UK is a prime example of this and is industry- recognised as one of the leading providers of sales training to the extent that many employers specifically target current and ex-Yell employees for roles.
5. Phone a friend
Personal recommendation and word of mouth are one of the most effective forms of advertising. After Y2K a new school of marketing thought emerged that questioned the effectiveness of advertising in the modern age when did you last see Starbuck's advertising? They don't. But everyone has heard of Starbuck's.
So, contact ex-colleagues to unearth potential opportunities, and get client testimonials to add to your portfolio.
