How to get noticed by executive search specialists

Many top firms in the Middle East rely on the skills of executive search specialists to secure the talent they need from across the globe. If you’re looking to make a career move, it’s important that you catch the attention of these specialists to ensure you’re on their radar for new Middle East job opportunities.

David Angel, regional director of Michael Page Executive Search in the UK, shares his advice.

Make sure your name gets out there in relation to your line of work. Actively promote yourself by engaging in dialogue with other professionals in your field and by being a proactive figure in your industry sector. This could be through attending industry events or even speaking at relevant conferences, having articles published or offering quotes to online and offline publications. Make every effort to become recognised as an expert in your chosen field – this will mean that your name is easily recalled if an exciting, new opportunity arises.

Make a concerted effort to stay in touch with talented and well-connected colleagues and past employers to ensure that all your contacts are kept up-to-date with your current work situation. Reach out to other figureheads within your marketplace and maintain ongoing, regular contact with your network as a whole. Invest in your network on a long-term basis and don’t suddenly (and insincerely) engage with connections just to aid a job search.

The web has made it even easier to turn acquaintances into business connections and maintain relationships with a vast number of people. Sites such as LinkedIn and other social networking sites now offer a wide-reaching, convenient alternative to the traditional rollodex. The executive search process often utilises a plethora of online tools, so it’s advisable to build yourself a compelling social media presence.  Any work-related blogs or online articles should also be well promoted.

One of the easiest ways of developing a relationship with an executive search specialist is to use them for your own recruitment needs (where necessary of course).

The strongest professional relationships are usually those that are truly beneficial to both parties. Try to build a relationship with a search firm that could be relevant to your own career development further down the line, and then use them for your own hiring needs. If you are known to that firm, they may well contact you regarding future opportunities that may be of interest. Of course, this is not to suggest any kind of ‘off limits’ protocol, as this is taken very seriously by search professionals, but it’s perfectly reasonable to be both a client and a potential candidate.

Genuine executive search campaigns aim to seek out the best possible talent for a specific role and only approach the most suitable candidates. Whether or not an individual is actively seeking to change jobs is usually irrelevant. Most executive search professionals are specialists, and if you’re highly relevant to their criteria, they’re likely to be in touch. If you’re not of direct relevance to them at that time, there will be little worth in your trying to approach them. Unlike with executive recruitment consultants, you’re not encouraged to engage with these search specialists on an ongoing basis throughout your job hunt, as they’ll normally be working with very specific search criteria.

For more help with your job search or hiring requirements, please contact us today to speak to one of our specialist consultants.