Preparing for a Change - Career Strategies Series #1

With light now at the end of the Covid tunnel, does it feel like the right time to move on? If so, how do you begin looking for a new leadership role?

Post-pandemic career progression: time to set new goals?

Perhaps it’s been a long time since you last actively looked for a new senior executive role, even without the interruption of a global pandemic! Or maybe you’ve risen through the ranks in your current organization without ever having to find a leadership position in the open market. Either way, developing and progressing your career by moving to a new organization can seem like a daunting prospect. Where do you begin?

We have designed our Career Strategies series to help take the pain and uncertainty out of a new job search.

We hope this series gives you the confidence and enthusiasm to apply focus to your future. You’ll find sound advice on the strategies that can help land a top job and maximize your opportunities at the offer stage and, later, how to make an impact once in post. Let’s begin with the initial steps to take when considering a move.

Identify your priorities

Life has tested all of us over the last number of months, both professionally and personally. One thing that remains constant, however, are our values. Take time to figure out what’s most important to you and name yours.

- Which parts of your working life you want to hold on to?
- What areas do you want to build on?

Highlight which pieces need to change to align with your values and achieve your goals, professionally and personally.

Ego surf!

As well as using their established networks, recruiters (in-house and specialist search firms like us) increasingly use social media to identify and engage with high calibre individuals. Hiring firms can also search social media when they’re considering potential candidates.

Do a forensic check on your online profile and take ownership of your reputation. Make sure it says everything about you that you want it to and nothing to the contrary. Make yourself visible. If you can’t be found online and you don’t actively network, you will only be considered for opportunities that you proactively select, not those you know nothing about. An opportunity (or two) lost, perhaps.

We go into more detail in our article about curating your online reputation on our website.

Commit to your objective

In the same way that you schedule time in your diary to deliver on your corporate goals, make sure to commit time in your diary for applying for roles, networking and following up on conversations.

The vast majority of career moves happen through an individual’s network, where you’ll hear about potential opportunities or be mentioned in the course of conversation. Reignite your network and start increasing your visibility within the market.

Get the right message out

Along with your online reputation, your reputation in the marketplace is critical. Think about the message you’re conveying when you’re engaging with your contacts. Clarity always counts in your favour.

Be specific. There’s a big difference between wanting a job and wanting a job that will propel your career. Let your network know you’re motivated, ambitious, clear on your personal goals and ready for your next career move. 

Engage with executive search firms

Take the time to engage with executive search firms as part of your networking. Reach out and let them know that you are open to considering opportunities and, if they reach out to you - even if you’re not interested in the primary role they have on offer - make the time to have a conversation. It could lead to something more desirable in the future.

You can be assured that conversations with executive search firms are kept confidential.

At Odgers Berndtson, we’ve spent over half a century helping many of the world’s best organizations find the right senior talent to drive their agendas. If you have what it takes to fill a senior leadership position, we’d be delighted to hear from you so make sure you get in touch! Once you’re on our radar, we’ll let you know when relevant roles come through.

Check out the other insightful articles in our Career Strategies series. They may help you to shorten the odds in reaching your next executive position.

• Your Personal Brand: Are you giving it the attention it deserves?
• Work with an Executive Search Firm: Lay the foundations for your next move
• Make Sure Your CV Adds Value
• Make Your Cover Letter Count
• Client Interview: Be the one who stands out in person and online
• Techniques to Ace a Competency-Based Interview
• Psychometric Assessments
• The Offer, How to negotiate your package and your resignation
• New Job, New Start