Mixed economic signals continue to hamper executive-level hiring in many industries, but the findings of ExecuNet's monthly survey of 145 executive recruiters reveal there are five specific steps executive job seekers can take to connect with career opportunities – even in this economy.

Recruiters indicated that most employers are still adopting a "wait and see" approach when it comes to adding new executive management jobs in this economy — only about 1-in-10 companies are adding positions. But some in particularly resilient industry sectors such as healthcare, energy, technology and life sciences are slowly building their management ranks, while others are selectively hiring only to upgrade talent for existing management roles.

When asked how they would recommend executive job seekers attempt to get on their radar screens, the responding executive recruiters ranked the following as the top five tactics to get noticed:

1. Become connected to industry decision-makers and influencers who will refer you — use your network or private network connections to make this happen.
   
   
2. When contacting an executive search firm, offer to be a referral resource for them in exchange for their assistance.
   
   
3. When contacting a search firm, offer to be a source of information related to your industry.
   
   
4. Maximize your online résumé and profiles with keywords and industry-specific buzzwords so it will come up in online searches.
   
   
5. Respond to online job postings.

"There's no doubt that executive-level job seekers and business leaders who've decided they should start scouting out their options for a career move face a challenging and, at times, confusing economic environment,” said Mark M. Anderson, President and Chief Economist of ExecuNet. “But what we’ve discerned from executive recruiters across our business network confirms there are ways to attract attention and demonstrate the credibility executives need to be seen as potential solutions to new employers' most pressing business challenges."

Anderson added: "One of the clear takeaways here is that finding your next management-level job opportunity is a matter of visibility and credibility. The more you can leverage your network to get your experience and achievements noticed and articulate those effectively, the smoother your road to finding the right next career opportunity in this environment."

Joseph Daniel McCool
Joseph Daniel McCool is senior contributing editor with ExecuNet and principal of management recruiting/succession advisory firm The McCool Group. He is also the author of Deciding Who Leads: How Executive Recruiters Drive, Direct & Disrupt the Global Search for Leadership Talent, recognized widely as "one of the best business books of 2008," and its Brazilian Portuguese translation, Escolhendo Líderes, published in June 2010.

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