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Filed Under: Executive Recruiters

 
For more than a year now, executive search firms have taken a very cautious approach to rebuilding their own consulting and research staffs in the wake of a global recession that forced some of them to close offices and many of them to downsize their teams.

 

 
High-achieving leaders find networking six times more effective for creating career options than online job postings, according to our hot-off-the presses research from ExecuNet's 20th annual Executive Job Market Intelligence Report. Further, networking is the activity executive recruiters maintain to have the greatest success finding candidates.

 

 
A monthly ExecuNet survey of executive recruiters finds that 61 percent of them believe employers will leverage the economic climate by selectively "trading up" with new hires for existing senior management roles over the next six months, and an additional 23 percent of employers are expected add new executive jobs to their payrolls.

 

Published on: Friday, May 11, 2012

While You Were Out…

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Every executive needs to have demonstrable leadership ability to be marketable today. Whether you're currently navigating a company through this recent wake of economic catastrophe or you have high aspirations for your leadership career, you have to be able to "lead with purpose."

 

 
A monthly ExecuNet survey of executive recruiters finds most are confident the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, despite some slippage in that hiring indicator last month and a flurry of headlines about the sluggishness of the broader jobs market.

 

 
More than half of the executive résumés that landed on recruiters' desks needed improvement before they could be submitted to a potential employer, according to ExecuNet research, which could cause your application to be delayed or rejected.

Your résumé may be complete, but is it optimized for the right opportunities? This topic evoked an active discussion on ExecuNet's member blog, and the executive community shared their tips from both candidate and hiring manager perspectives:

 

 
When executives began their most recent job search, they thought it would take just over six months to land their new position, according to ExecuNet research. But when a new job didn't materialize after that period of time, our survey respondents estimated it would take almost another half-year before their search efforts were effective.

On average, it had been 6½ years since these executives had last been in a job search, and a lot has changed since mid-2005: The unemployment rate was at 5 percent, and in ExecuNet's 2006 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report, our analysis focused on the high demand for executive talent. Here's what we wrote back then:

 

 
After a bruising four-year period during which many executive search firms — like their corporate clients — were forced to downsize, these firms continue to take a slow, purposeful approach to rebuilding their own consulting and research teams.

 

Published on: Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Executive Job Creation Extends Positive Trend

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A monthly ExecuNet survey of executive recruiters finds that more than one quarter of them expect employers will leverage the current economic climate by adding new executive management roles over the next six months.

In March, ExecuNet's monthly Executive Job Creation Index (EJCI) reached +19, its second-highest level since June 2011. Further, the 27 percent of companies expected to add new executive management jobs was also the second highest rate registered since June 2011.

 

Published on: Thursday, April 05, 2012

While You Were Out…

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Your subject matter expertise is your differentiator; it exemplifies your individual intellectual capital and highlights your core competencies. But it has to be effectively promoted outside your immediate circle to a bigger network of influence if you want to get "known for what you know."

In a recent ExecuNet webinar, Peter Winick, who has worked with many thought leaders as he built and managed several consulting and professional development organizations, explained how executives can effectively promote their skills to a larger network.

 

 
A monthly ExecuNet survey of executive recruiters finds the highest levels of confidence that the executive employment market will improve over the next six months since May 2011.

In March, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 59 percent of 123 responding executive recruiters indicated they were "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market would improve over the next six months.

 

Published on: Monday, April 02, 2012

Six-Figure Hotline: Recruiters Won’t Market You

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As part of ExecuNet membership, I conduct a weekly teleconference called Six-Figure Hotline where members call in to ask the questions keeping them up at night, and to gain market and trend insight from the career experts who join me in talking about issues that are important to executives today.

An ExecuNet member asked: "I founded a small, very successful consultancy and now want to apply my leadership skills and experience to the benefit of a larger organization as a member of the executive team. Do you recommend that I sign on with an executive recruiter, or should I go it alone? Would I have a better chance of landing interviews at the right (high) levels in the target organization if I am represented by a recruiter?"

 

Published on: Thursday, March 29, 2012

In Through the Out Door

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Talking about severance terms when negotiating a new employment offer can be as awkward as discussing a pre-nup at the engagement party, but when the expiration date arises — on either a job or relationship — it's important those conversations were initiated in advance.

ExecuNet members in the General Management Roundtable shared how they broached the topic with their employers and successfully managed positive exit strategies — even after they've been on the job a while:

 

 
Executive search firms want to see more sustained corporate hiring at the management level and more consistent economic data before they rebuild their own firms by adding new consulting and research staff.

In February, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 23 percent of 130 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, a decline of five points from January.

 

Published on: Thursday, March 08, 2012

While You Were Out…

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Can a "Quiet Leader" also be a "Bold Leader?" a VP of operations asked of other ExecuNet members in the General Management Roundtable. "Sometimes the best leaders are the 'Quiet Leaders,'" he noticed.

"When I think of quiet leadership, I think of men and women who lead by example rather than words, be they spoken loudly or softly," ExecuNet founder and CEO Dave Opton replied, noting Colin Powell as someone who came to mind.

 

 
Confidence among executive recruiters dipped slightly in February but remained in positive territory as more of them expressed concern about the pace of corporate management hiring in the short-term.

In February, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 51 percent of 130 responding executive recruiters indicated they were "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market would improve in the next six months. That was down six points from January but above the important 50 percent level that historically indicates optimism for a broader expansion of the jobs market.

 

 
While most executive recruiters hold tight to a "wait and see" approach to matching internal resources with mounting corporate client priorities, more of them are considering expanding their own consulting and research teams to do just that over the next three months.

 

 
The number of employers expecting to recruit for senior-executive roles over the next six months is higher than the number of employers planning to shed management jobs during the same time, according to the results of an ExecuNet survey in January of 157 executive recruiters.

 

Published on: Friday, February 10, 2012

While You Were Out…

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When we published Ben Zander Shares His 6 Secrets to Success in our ExecuNet member newsletter, the positive reaction was overwhelming, which signaled to me that the conductor's inspirational words were the right message at the right time for many.

But, what Zander put so eloquently was not much different than the experiential wisdom that ExecuNet members share amongst each other. I captured the insight on a variety of topics that members give to each other so freely in the community to share with you: [Some were edited without changing context.]

 

 
Confidence among executive recruiters edged up slightly in January as they projected that one in five companies will be adding executive level positions and almost six in 10 companies will selectively "trade up" their management bench strength by recruiting replacements for existing roles over the next six months. Only 1 percent of employers were expected to eliminate executive positions during the same period.

 

Published on: Thursday, February 02, 2012

Leadership is Transferable Across Industries

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An ExecuNet member who was trying to transition into a new industry finally networked to an interview with the president of his target company. The president was resistant to hiring this executive because he didn't have the experience, know the language or have the contacts in this particular sector.

"Where do you rank your company in this industry?" the ExecuNet member asked the president.
"We're the best," the president quickly replied.
"Then why would you want to hire from a weaker competitor?"

 

 
"Nothing is more important for our career success than making great people decisions," said Claudio Fernández-Aráoz, author of Great People Decisions at the 2011 World Business Forum, where ExecuNet exclusively reported. When he surveyed which of the thousands of business leaders in the audience were formally trained in this selection process, very few raised their hands.

 

 
Most executive search firms are focusing on fully utilizing their existing consulting and research teams on client search assignments before moving to rebuild their own staffs.

In December, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that only 19 percent of 126 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, the same number as registered in November and October.

 

Published on: Friday, December 30, 2011

Top 11 for 2011

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Thank you to everyone who read, commented, visited and shared content from Executive Insider this last year. Much of what we publish here comes from information gleaned inside our membership, with experts who interact in our executive communities, on-site at exclusive events, and the ongoing conversations we have with professionals like you.

 

Published on: Monday, December 12, 2011

While You Were Out…

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"Why is help so frequently not sought?" That's the question an ExecuNet member, a C-level executive in the manufacturing industry, posed to his peers in one of the business Roundtables. He noted that, in his leadership career, he would have failed countless times had he not asked for help.

"Perhaps part of the culture in this country is that failure is just not an acceptable outcome," wondered the manufacturing executive. "Certainly nobody seeks it, but the irony is that the only way to become experienced and enjoy wisdom in business is to have a healthy mix of successes and failures. We just have to minimize the impact of failure as much as possible and learn to pick it all up and proceed forward again after it does occur."

 

 
Mixed economic signals of late further reinforce the notion that executive job search and career transition will continue to require a thoughtful campaign of several months to achieve success.

The findings of a new survey by ExecuNet of 180 executive recruiters, reveal that currently employed business executives should expect to spend, on average, nearly seven months to find their next career opportunity, while those currently unemployed may require an average of just over 10 months to find their next senior-management job.

 

Published on: Friday, November 04, 2011

While You Were Out…

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"You will eliminate innovation if you require proof of an idea in advance of trying it." – Roger Martin

I've had this Roger Martin quote on my white board since I heard him speak on The Design of Business at World Innovation Forum earlier this year, as a reminder to myself and everyone who enters my office to, as I like to say, "always be in beta."


 

Published on: Thursday, November 03, 2011

Executive Recruiters Offer Insights to Compete in our Challenging Economy

Posted By: Joseph Daniel McCool
Filed Under: joseph daniel mccool, executive recruiters, executive job search
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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.

 

 
In October, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 37 percent of 139 executive search firm respondents are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, up five points from September.

 

Published on: Friday, October 07, 2011

While You Were Out…

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A friend of mine who worked in corporate roles followed his passion a few years ago and went to cooking school. Shortly after graduating, he left the cubicles for the kitchen but couldn't really connect with the right opportunity.

About six months ago, he was hired for a position that perfectly combined his showmanship and love of food teaching cooking classes and doing new product demonstrations. He'd be perfectly happy if he wasn't so stressed about the salary reduction he incurred when he dropped out of the corporate world.

 

 
When it comes to rebuilding their teams, most executive search firm leaders are adopting the same approach many of their corporate clients have adopted: not before we get some real, sustained clarity on the future direction of the US economy.

In September, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 20 percent of 142 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, which was unchanged from August.

 

Published on: Monday, September 12, 2011

While You Were Out…

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Pity the Poor Interviewer is the conversation executive coach Judy Rosemarin recently sparked among members in ExecuNet's Job Search Roundtable, reminding candidates to see the interview from another perspective.

 

 
While much of the country is focused on the health of the broader economy, one forecast of management-level job creation suggests hiring activity for top management roles may continue through year-end despite the uncertainty that has held up other corporate spending plans.

In August, 26 percent of 126 executive recruiters polled by ExecuNet reported they expect companies to leverage the economic climate over the next six months by adding new executive-level jobs.

Also, 37 percent forecasted companies will "trade up" with new hires for existing management jobs to improve leadership bench strength. Another 27 percent indicated companies would elect not to add new management jobs, while seven percent anticipated employers would choose to avoid filling current management-level vacancies. Three percent of recruiters expect companies to further cut top jobs.

 

Published on: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Recruiter Connections

Posted By: Lauryn Franzoni
Filed Under: executive recruiters, job search, lauryn franzoni, networkin
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The most commonly asked question of our member services team has got to be, "How do I connect with a recruiter?"

Sometimes I wonder why? Third-party search consultants (Here's a tip: Most don't like to be called headhunters.) are part of a profession that generates some $10 billion worldwide, but that's only for about 20 percent to 25 percent of the executive hires made in any given year. Many work quite closely with their client companies. For a set fee, they help the organization plan for its leadership needs, assess the market to help establish qualifications and comp packages and map the talent in a given industry or geographic area to those needs. Others work on assignment: They usually get assignments to fill jobs where there may be an incumbent, or they get the call once a company exhausts its own database and employee referrals — this is called the "hard to fill" work.

 

Published on: Wednesday, August 03, 2011

While You Were Out…

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What have you done for yourself lately?

Take a look at your to-do list. Is there an equitable distribution between what you do for others and what you do for you?

If you're like most busy working adults, probably not. Your time is mostly allocated to your job, family, and obligated to "life maintenance" tasks like dry cleaning and the dentist, which are things we have to do and are not necessarily fun.

Take a few moments today to schedule something for yourself; it doesn't have to be especially time-consuming or extravagant. Before you read on to a collection of the best information to help you advance in your current role, find a new one, gain expert insight and learn what's happening in the marketplace, please tell us:

What will you add to your to-do list for yourself today?

 

Published on: Monday, August 01, 2011

Summer Dip in Executive Hiring

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In July, 26 percent of 154 executive recruiters polled by ExecuNet reported they expect companies to leverage the economic climate over the next six months by adding new executive-level jobs. Also, 44 percent forecasted companies will "trade up" with new hires for existing management jobs to improve leadership bench strength. Another 17 percent indicated companies would elect not to add new management jobs, while 10 percent anticipated employers would choose to avoid filling current management-level vacancies. Three percent of recruiters expect companies to further cut top jobs, up from 1 percent in June.

 

Published on: Friday, July 15, 2011

While You Were Out…

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To be successful in job search today is to set a focused goal and mount a strategic campaign armed with a well-researched list of target companies, strong relationships that can lead you through a chain of referrals, a polished personal marketing program, an online reputation communications plan, and, of course, a sharp skill set and depth of experience.

Yet, some land in new roles through less calculated methods: being in the right place at the right time; tolerating higher levels of risk than others; conditions that stimulate promotion; family ties; etc.

Hopefully, no matter the method you took to get there, you retain the position through your merits and build your own success.

Before you read on to a collection of the best information to help you advance in your current role, find a new one, gain expert insight and learn what's happening in the marketplace, please tell us:

Did you land in your last job by choice or by chance?

 

 
Executive search firms continue to follow a cautious course when it comes to rebuilding their teams in the long wake of the recession, an economic crisis that forced most to reduce their own headcount.

In June, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 22 percent of 153 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, down five points from May.

 

Published on: Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Don’t Expect a Recruiter to Meet Your Needs

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Ever wish you had access to an executive recruiter just to ask that one question? Members routinely email us their questions, and we tap into the minds of executive recruiters in our network to get their unadulterated feedback.

One ExecuNet member wrote: "I haven't used a recruiter ever before and don't know how to connect with one who could meet my needs. I've been in the computer business for over 15 years and am looking for another senior position in a small- to medium- sized business in my area. How can I find the appropriate recruiter to help me?"

Executive recruiter Nick Corcodilos, in his usual straightforward manner, offered his thoughts on the topic. Here's an excerpt of what he had to say:

 

Published on: Wednesday, June 15, 2011

When You’re Feeling Needy, Give to Your Network

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When you're looking for a job, the first instinct is to call your A-list and ask if they know of any openings. However, that's not networking; it's need-working. What you should do is separate yourself from your emotions; stop the impulse to collect business cards and ask yourself, "What can I do to help people in my network?"

 

Published on: Friday, June 10, 2011

While You Were Out…

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"Networking," in various forms, is the top response when we ask corporate leaders about how they connect to career options in our annual executive market intelligence survey, and we've posed similar questions to our LinkedIn and Facebook groups.

Before you read on to a collection of the best information to help you advance in your current role, find a new one, gain expert insight and learn what's happening in the marketplace, please tell us:

How did you find your last job?

 

 
Executive job seekers and employed managers considering a career move would be wise not to put their career planning and professional networking on the shelf this summer.

Two leading indicators of projected executive job market expansion — a monthly forecast of management-level job creation and a separate reading on recruiter confidence — suggest continued hiring activity through the summer and fall. Recruiters expect 80 percent of employers to recruit for new management roles or trade up with new hires for existing roles.

 

 
More executive search firms are planning to add consulting and research staff in the next three months to keep up with sustained corporate demand for management talent and executive recruiting services.

In May, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 27 percent of 162 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, up six points from April.

 

 
A leading indicator of where executive hiring will go this summer and fall remains decidedly positive. In May, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 66 percent of 162 executive search firm respondents were "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, up one point from April.

"In some years past, we've seen a seasonal slowdown in executive hiring activity due in part to corporate interviewers and/or management job candidates taking vacations," says ExecuNet President and Chief Economist Mark Anderson.

 

 
While two-thirds of executive recruiters are confident the executive employment market activity will increase in the coming months, most remain cautious when it comes to rebuilding the recruiting and research teams they were forced to cut during the recession.

In April, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 21 percent of 192 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months, down five points from March.

 

Published on: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Recruiters Expect 38% of Companies to Add Management Jobs

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Two leading indicators of future job market expansion — a monthly forecast of executive job creation and a separate reading on recruiter confidence — remain decidedly strong in the face of a variety of cautions about the continued growth of the broader economy.

In April, 38 percent of 192 executive recruiters who participated in an ExecuNet survey reported they expect companies to leverage the economic climate over the next six months by adding new executive-level jobs, the highest number since the monthly index was created in May 2009. An equal number forecasted that companies will "trade up" with new hires for existing management jobs. Another 17 percent indicated that companies would elect not to add new management jobs, while five percent anticipated employers would choose simply to avoid filling current management-level vacancies. Only two percent of executive recruiters expect companies to further eliminate executive jobs.

 

 
In April, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 65 percent of 192 executive search firm respondents are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, up four points from March.

Two leading indicators of future executive job market expansion — a monthly reading on recruiter confidence and a separate forecast of executive job creation — remain decidedly strong in the face of a variety of cautions about the continued growth of the broader economy.

 

Published on: Wednesday, May 04, 2011

While You Were Out…

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I read this quote recently and wanted to pass it along to you:

"If you hear a voice within you say, 'you cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." — Vincent Van Gogh

"Paint" can be a metaphor for anything we have thought about doing but have not yet taken the action. It can be a creative endeavor, a personal goal or something that feels bigger, or more risky, like job change.

Whatever it is, don't let the inner critic or external cynic stand in your way. Make a plan, take a chance, try, and see what happens. Even if you learn you learn you're a terrible artist, you might have fun playing with the colors or discover something new about yourself along the way.

With that in mind, here are the recent blog posts you may have missed that can further inspire you in your everyday decision-making. We welcome your comments!

 

 
As North American employers set their sights on achieving 2011 strategic goals, they are more focused on rebuilding and upgrading their senior management teams, according to the latest Executive Job Creation Index data.

In March, ExecuNet's exclusive Executive Job Creation Index revealed that 33 percent of employers are expected to add new executive management roles over the next six months, and 50 percent are forecast to leverage the economic climate by selectively trading up with new hires for existing executive jobs. Only 2 percent of employers are expected to continue eliminating executive jobs during the same period of time according to the 155 executive recruiters who participated in the monthly ExecuNet poll. The remaining 15 percent of employers were expected either to avoid adding new management roles or choose not to fill existing leadership vacancies.

 

 
Executive recruiters are following the same cautious route to new hiring as many of their clients, despite indications that executive job creation is increasing in an economy much improved from where it was just a year ago.

In March, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 26 percent of 155 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months.

 

Published on: Friday, April 08, 2011

While You Were Out…

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It's already the end of Q1 '11! Are you where you wanted or expected to be? What will it take to get there?

For me, and many others, it's time. A few more hours in a day, weeks in a quarter, to do a couple other things, catch up, get some more done.

It's impossible for me to give you more time, but I can save you some time. Here are all the blog posts you may have recently missed gathered together in one place so you don't have to do all that time-consuming searching, scrolling and clicking.

 

 
While executive recruiters continue to express confidence that executive hiring activity will increase over the next six months, they are also following many corporate clients' slow and steady approach when it comes to hiring new professional staff.

In February, ExecuNet's benchmark Search Firm Hiring Index revealed that 28 percent of 171 responding executive recruiters indicated they would be adding new professional research and consulting staff over the next three months.

 

 
Executive recruiters see four-out-of-five employers either creating new executive management roles or, to a greater extent, trading up with new hires for existing management roles to drive business performance in the next six months.

ExecuNet’s benchmark Executive Job Creation Index (EJCI) held positive for a fourteenth consecutive month in February as 169 responding executive recruiters reported they expect 51 percent of employers to leverage the current economic climate by trading up to strengthen their management and 30 percent to add new management roles. Recruiters anticipate that, over the next six months, only 14 percent of employers will choose not to add new executive positions, only 3 percent to leave existing management vacancies unfilled, and only 2 percent to eliminate executive jobs.

 

Published on: Monday, March 07, 2011

While You Were Out…

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February was a short month, but we managed to bring you a tremendous amount of information to help you reach your career and business goals in 2011. Guest bloggers shared their own special insight, along with ExecuNet experts who capture the trends and deliver the news that informs your every day professional decisions. We’ve gathered all these articles together so you can catch up on your reading.

 

 
Executive recruiters' six-month forecast of growth of executive hiring activity softened in February but remains buoyant as client corporations continue to hire selectively for new management leadership roles and upgrade with new hires for existing roles.

In February, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 68 percent of 164 responding executive recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months. That was down seven points from January but still far above the territory this index ranged in over much of the past year.

 

Published on: Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Executive Job Creation Reveals Corporate Growth Plans

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Executive recruiters are expressing more confidence in the executive employment market as they forecast management hiring activity over the next six months.

But now, for the first time in well over two years, executive recruiters are considering or are already rebuilding their recruiting and research teams to keep pace with this anticipated surge in new business.

 

Published on: Monday, February 07, 2011

While You Were Out…

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Did the year get off to a good start for you? Are there specific professional goals you'd like to achieve? We've pulled together the best information from January to help you advance in your current role, find a new one, gain expert insight and learn what's happening in the marketplace.

 

Published on: Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Six-Figure Hotline

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As part of ExecuNet membership, I conduct a weekly teleconference called Six-Figure Hotline where members call in to ask the questions keeping them up at night, and to gain market and trend insight from the career experts who join me in talking about issues that are important to executives today. Whether you are in a job search, thinking about changing positions, or want to learn how to strengthen your success in your current position, this weekly teleconference is designed to provide you the support you need to reach your goals.

Recently, in one such teleconference, I was asked about recruiters having a "square peg, square hole" mindset. The caller said: "They know that companies value and need diversity, but are afraid to put forth candidates who have excellent credentials, experiences and leadership — because their client (the company hiring) tells them only to bring them candidates that are ‘square peg and square hole.'"

He said, "This seems more prevalent among the large retained search firms than the boutique firms, and they do get some of the best assignments. Do you have any advice on how to change the large retained search mindset?"

 

Published on: Thursday, December 30, 2010

Top 10 for 2010

Comments (3)
 
Can we legitimately report the most popular for the year if our blog is only six months old? Having been a business network since 1988, ExecuNet has always been ahead of our time. Here are the articles that captured the most reader comments and attention in the short time we've been publishing:

 

 
Executive recruiters are optimistic that the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, but judging from their own hiring plans, it seems a conservative approach to rebuilding their teams is the order of the day.

In December, 21 percent of the 144 executive recruiters who participated in ExecuNet's monthly Search Firm Hiring Index poll indicated they planned to increase their professional research and consulting staff to keep pace with expected search assignment growth over the next three months. That was down four points from November.

 

Published on: Tuesday, December 07, 2010

While You Were Out…

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The unpredictable year of 2010 is racing quickly toward a close, dragging with it a bag of mixed emotions. Some saw marked improvement over a devastating 2009, while others spent the last 12 months still trying to recover.

We're hopeful about 2011 and have had some good news signals lately. Here are all the trends, market intelligence and expert insight from November in one easy-to-read place.

 

Published on: Monday, December 06, 2010

More Executive Search Firms Plan for Growth

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Executive recruiters are gaining confidence as they forecast corporate executive hiring in the coming months, and now they're also girding to add new professional staff to meet the anticipated demand for executive talent.

 

 
Nearly one-quarter of executive recruiters are planning to hire additional consultants or recruitment researchers in the next three months, as client companies increase their recruiting activity at the executive management level, according to ExecuNet's latest Search Firm Hiring Index data.

 

 
Recruiters Confident As Small-to-Medium Sized Companies Lead Hiring

ExecuNet's benchmark Executive Job Creation Index (EJCI) held positive for a tenth consecutive month in October, as executive recruiters report employers plan to create more management jobs over the next six months.

The rate of hiring among employers expected to add executive jobs during that time outpaced those planning to eliminate or postpone filling top roles by nine points, extending a positive trend increasingly shaped by a steady increase in hiring by small-to-mid-sized companies with annual sales revenue between $11 million and $500 million.

 

Published on: Monday, November 01, 2010

While You Were Out…

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It seems like yesterday I was having summer barbecues, and now I'm eating leftover Halloween candy. This year seems to be moving quickly, with many who experienced the rocky economy firsthand probably glad to see 2010 go.

Before Thanksgiving creeps up on you, take some time to read the blog posts from October we've collected for you. We had some exclusive reporting from the World Business Forum, where ExecuNet hosted the Bloggers Hub, along with our proprietary market trend data, economic analysis and expert insight.

 

Published on: Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Will You Be the Next Cliff Lee?

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So far, October baseball has been filled with excitement and controversy, from Roy Halladay's no-hitter to several blown calls by the umpires. This time of year always seems to bring out the best in ball players. The defense is crisper, the fundamentals are executed more consistently, and the intensity is far greater than the regular season.

Regardless of who ultimately wins the 2010 World Series, many of the players participating in this year's playoffs have another goal in mind — free agency, which begins almost immediately after the last ball has been caught. This post-season's prime free agent to be is Cliff Lee of the Texas Rangers, who has a great opportunity to impress his potential employers on the strength of his performance over the coming days and weeks.

 

 
Every recruiter has them. Many recruiters like to share them. Still others relish the disbelieving responses to war stories about the most incredible candidate interview gaffes.

We've all learned that sometimes fact is stranger than fiction and that even highly qualified candidates can be lousy interviewees. Sometimes, the candidate just doesn't understand that a first impression is a lasting impression. Other times, it's a lack of effort, a lack of focus or outright incompetency that does them in.

 

 
Healthcare, High-Tech Lead Modest but Sustained Hiring Recovery

ExecuNet's benchmark Executive Job Creation Index (EJCI) held positive for a ninth consecutive month in September, reflecting the slow but continuing rebuild of many corporate management teams.

The rate of hiring among employers expected to add executive jobs in the next six months outpaced those planning to eliminate or postpone filling top roles by seven points, extending a positive trend but still weighed down by employer hesitancy to hire for top jobs.

The September Job Creation Index, based on an ExecuNet survey of 147 executive recruiters, reveals that executive recruiters anticipate 44 percent of companies will leverage the economic climate by selectively "trading up" management talent with new hires for existing executive roles, and 23 percent will add new leadership roles.

 

Published on: Monday, October 04, 2010

Recruiters Busy but Holding Off on Hiring More of their Own Staff

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Executive recruiters report they're busy developing business and dialogue with potential management candidates, and despite some growth in hiring in industries such as healthcare and technology, most say they're not busy enough to add to their own staff.

In September, ExecuNet's Search Firm Hiring Index poll revealed that only 16 percent of 147 responding executive search firm leaders indicated their businesses were planning to add new professional consulting or research staff in the next three months, down one point from August.

 

Published on: Friday, October 01, 2010

While You Were Out…

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September is when those lazy days of summer come to an end; white shoes and swimsuits get packed away; and your kids are being chauffeured to activities and helped with homework — who has time to read? No worries! We've collected all the blog postings you need to read in one place. How's that for full service?

But make sure you stop back frequently next week for live reporting from the World Business Forum, where ExecuNet is hosting the Bloggers Hub.

 

 
Management Hiring Expected to Remain Steady until Fall Elections

Executive recruiters report the management employment marketplace is showing improvements in certain sectors of hiring activity but is also marked by lingering employer hesitancy about investing in new projects and leaders ahead of a more convincing economic recovery and the fall elections.

Signs of business reinvestment and increased executive hiring in select industry segments such as healthcare, technology and life sciences, and for management roles in sales, business development, engineering and marketing reveal no immediate indication of a "double dip" in economic growth.

In September, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index found that 50 percent of 147 responding executive recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, up four points from August.

 

 
There are a number of ways to perform a job search. There's the old way that many use still today. Some call it the shotgun approach: blasting résumés as far as the eye can see. Filling up the inboxes of recruiters certainly feels productive.

Is this you? Are you using a very general strategy to find a very specific job? The biggest fear I have for you is that this might have worked in the past when times were better and the job search community accepted a more passive effort. Being an independent person, you try that approach again — in this tough and significantly more competitive market.

If so, I'd like to fill your mind with a few practical tips to get you thinking with more precision. A more precise strategy will be more efficient, and, in the end, much more productive.

 

 
It is always interesting when executives ask me how to make their résumés more compelling. Now, I recognize that most executives aren't expected to be experts in résumé writing, but what occurs to me is that most of them are experts of a sort in résumé READING.

Most executives have been on the hiring side for years, having reviewed and evaluated hundreds, if not thousands, of résumé. They've sat across the desk from candidates with résumés in hand, and they've stared at résumés on a computer screen with the candidate on the other end of the phone. As a résumé reader, surely they know what they did, and did not, like. They know what got their attention. They know what made them want to get the candidate in for an interview right away. They know what made them click and drag the document into the recycle bin.

 

 
ExecuNet's Executive Job Creation Index (EJCI) dropped seven points in August, reflecting slower business hiring activity anticipated in the next six months. However, the rate of hiring among those who expect to add executive jobs in the next six months outpaced those planning to eliminate or postpone filling top positions by four points, reflecting a positive — if cautious — hiring trend.

The August EJCI data, based on an ExecuNet survey of 181 executive recruiters, revealed that executive recruiters anticipate 53 percent of companies will leverage the economic climate by selectively "trading up" management talent with new hires for existing executive roles, and 20 percent will add new leadership roles.

 

Published on: Thursday, September 09, 2010

While You Were Out…

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August may have been busy for you; maybe you were vacationing or covering for colleagues who were on holiday. Nevertheless, we gathered all the blog posts for the month we thought you should take some time to catch up on over your morning coffee, commute or business travel. Enjoy!

 

 
You've probably not accepted that as an excuse to resist change and stymie innovation from a colleague, so why use it for your job search? In case you hadn't noticed, the old ways of looking for a job have dramatically changed, but the good news is some of those old school tools are still quite useful.

ExecuNet has witnessed job search transformation over the last 23 years, and contributing editor Marji McClure and I outlined the evolution. Here are some tips to get you started:

 

 
While economists debate the strength of the US economy and employers continue to express caution about new executive hiring, executive search firms are likewise adopting a "wait and see" approach when it comes to expanding their own recruiting and research teams, according to ExecuNet's latest Search Firm Hiring Index data.

 

 
Slower hiring by companies – even when they have vacant leadership roles – has dampened executive recruiters' confidence in overall management hiring activity through the end of the year.

In August, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 46 percent of 181 responding executive recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, down four points from July and the first index reading below 50 percent since October 2009.

 

 
Despite the media noise about the broader job market, there continues to be an undercurrent of executive recruiting activity that most people will never read about.

Consider the latest ExecuNet data that reveals 92 percent of executive recruiters believe there is a hidden job market, and the majority of them don't routinely advertise their new and ongoing search assignments on their website or a job board. On ExecuNet TV, ExecuNet President and Chief Economist Mark Anderson breaks the hidden job market down into three components and suggests some tactics for uncovering those opportunities.

 

 
Executive-level hiring forecast by US recruiters remained positive for the seventh consecutive month, with companies expected to add more management jobs than they plan to eliminate in the next six months, according to ExecuNet's July Executive Job Creation Index.

"As job creation continues at a slow and steady pace, the real story is in the amount of quiet hiring going on," noted ExecuNet President and Chief Economist Mark Anderson. "The hidden job market is growing. Half of the hiring reflected in the survey is to replace or upgrade existing roles to fit new corporate growth strategies and talent needs."

 

 
Slow but steady hiring for executive management continues to move some US employers closer to their strategic goals, but lingering economic uncertainty is tempering executive recruiters' confidence that the pace of job growth will accelerate over the next six months.

In July, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 50 percent of 163 responding executive recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months — down from 58 percent in June and a 2010 high of 65 percent in May.

 

 
In ExecuNet's July survey of executive recruiters, we asked them about their most effective resources for identifying candidates, and not surprisingly, networking — and activities related to connecting to search consultants and their firms — dominated the list.

But building relationships can't be rushed; they are nurtured over time and nourished with trust. Unfortunately, many wait until they are in job search to start connecting with recruiters, hoping to quickly develop a meaningful bond that will translate into a paycheck.

 

Published on: Thursday, July 08, 2010

Slow but Steady

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Listening to the media's analysis of the job reports last Friday, where 125,000 jobs were lost in the economy, reminded me of the old story about the pessimist and the optimist and the glass filled only to the mid-point. Is it "half-empty" as the pessimist would call it or "half-full" as the optimist would?

Pessimists read into the employment numbers, as one Wall Street Journal headline did, that the number just passed "the crash test" — meaning that the numbers were barely encouraging except for those looking for a "double dip" in the economy.

Optimists saw "steady but slow" growth in private sector employment over the past six to nine months, and the wow for them was how much better things were than last year, even as recently as last fall.

 

Published on: Tuesday, July 06, 2010

Not a Hockey Stick, but the Curve is Good

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One of the downsides of the information age is that there is information — way too much of it. Especially when you are trying to follow people on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and oh yeah, newspapers, TV news, and iPhone alerts. My problem is that I look at the subject lines, and see so much interesting stuff that the next thing I know I am further and further behind the tasks that I really ought to be doing. I need to talk to someone who is in the self-discipline business!

 

 
While recruiter confidence in the executive employment market over the next three months hit a two-year high in June, executive search firms remain particularly cautious when it comes to adding additional staff to their own payrolls.

 

 
We talk with executive and corporate recruiters every day, and they tell us the market is improving. We see it in our increased privately posted job listings and also in the increased number of searches that are done through our network using the profiles our members create for themselves. These searches are often for positions that will never be posted.

 

 
Executive recruiters' optimism about growth in the executive employment market over the next six months softened slightly in June, but their confidence in management hiring plans in the short-term hit a two-year high.

In June, ExecuNet's benchmark Recruiter Confidence Index revealed that 58 percent of 174 responding executive recruiters are "confident" or "very confident" the executive employment market will improve over the next six months, down from 65 percent in May.

But confidence about the continued growth of the executive employment market over the next three months reached a two-year high in June, hitting 51 percent.

 

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Recruiter Confidence Index

Recruiter Confidence Slips but Remains Positive

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Executive Job Creation Remains Positive
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