Colleen January 17, 2019

Departing with Grace: How Executives Should Manage Their Exit Strategies

It finally happened. Your carefully crafted elevator pitch, career documents, and interviewing techniques paid off and you’ve accepted a leadership position at a new company.

Don’t drop your guard just yet. You may be ready for the next stage in your career, but when you’re an integral part of the executive team, all eyes will be on your exit. A careless exit strategy could torpedo your credibility, negatively impacting your new role and burning bridges you may need down the road.

So how can you make a more graceful exit from a C-level position?

Must-Dos for Executive Exit Strategies

A quick or careless exit can undermine years of exemplary leadership, giving you a reputation for slapdash work or self-centeredness. Keep your professional reputation intact with these tips for a better executive exit.

Retain Your Perspective

They say that hindsight is 20/20, but your current role isn’t in the rearview just yet. Keep a healthy perspective regarding both yourself and your coworkers. Hold yourself accountable for mistakes you’ve made, consider the merits of your time as a leader, and don’t forget the people that helped you along the way. A careful contemplation of your time in this role will help you move forward with confidence and provide helpful insights as the company moves forward without you.

Honor Your Commitments

No exit strategy is perfect, but don’t let excitement over your new role or frustration with your old one derail your last days as a leader. Your departure will affect many of the people you’re leaving behind; wrap up as many loose ends as possible to ensure a smooth transition.

Finish up as many projects as feasible
Reach out to the executive board about ideal traits for your successor
Provide resources for your replacement
Prepare your staff for the transition
Support the executive team in onboarding a new leader

Come alongside the remaining leadership team to ensure a smooth transition, communicating clearly about your timeline and current capacity. Otherwise, you’ll wind up scrambling to train your replacement a week before your departure.

Lead Until the Last

Your staff depends on you as a leader, advocate, and professional resource. Don’t throw them to the wolves just because you’re moving onto greener pastures. Thank your team for their hard work, commitment to the company, and support for your leadership. Help smooth the transition for those who will be directly affected by your departure. Recognize that, in some scenarios, the departure of an executive will mean internal restructuring. Reassure your staff that they can depend on you to advocate for them, whether they need support in your remaining time as their leader or as a connection down the road.

Haven’t landed your dream job yet? We can help. Our executive resume writers have decades of experience in transforming C-level work histories into dynamic resumes. Call today for a free consultation.

Colleen September 21, 2018

Yes, Execs Should Utilize Job Boards – Here’s Why

By the time most people reach the executive job search level, they’ve long since dismissed job boards as irrelevant. The higher you climb the corporate ladder, the less useful traditional job search means become. Professional networks, headhunters, and a thriving digital footprint have replaced cold calls and emails as the best tools for finding fresh career opportunities. In fact, only 10% of C-suite jobs are found through career boards.

So why are we talking about them?

3 Benefits of Job Boards in an Executive Job Search

Get insider info. Many companies don’t list executive positions on job boards — or if they do, it’s often a show of compliance while they perform internal interviews to fill the role. Don’t let that dishearten you. Even if a job listing doesn’t get your foot in the door, it’s a good opportunity to study the terminology, skill sets, and experiences other companies may be looking for. That knowledge gives you an edge — maybe enough of an edge to land you a similar executive role.
Know who you’re dealing with. Job boards might not lead you to your next big career move, but if you’re already on the right trajectory, they can provide invaluable insights. Job boards aren’t simply a collection of job listings; they aggregate reviews from past and current employees, salary projections, and a reasonable forecast for company growth. Before leveraging your network to get an in at a company you’d love to work for, do your research to make sure their culture, goals, and expectations align with yours.
Land a position tailored to you. It may not be feasible for a big-name corporation to find their next CEO on LinkedIn, but execs with highly-focused goals might have more luck. If you have a wealth of leadership experience in a niche role, search industry-specific job boards for opportunities you wouldn’t find on more general listings sites. Not only will you have less competition, but your qualifications will be in higher demand by companies looking to hire an industry pro. If you find a promising listing, don’t just drop an application into the inbox of whoever posted the ad. Take the extra time to research the hiring manager on LinkedIn and reach out with a warmer, more personal introduction. It might be the difference that clinches a first meeting.

In today’s digital job search climate, it’s more important than ever to make a great first impression. The wordsmiths at Executive Resumes Atlanta lend decades of expertise to C-level professionals, crafting career documents that make an extraordinary first impression. Call today for a free resume and career strategy consultation.

Colleen August 31, 2018

The Hidden Benefits of Hiring an Executive Resume Writer

An executive resume writer is a major asset to execs searching for a new career, providing clear benefits throughout their job search. A certified master resume writer (CMRW) knows how to tweak your personal brand to land you an interview, whether that means nixing buzzwords to make your resume more dynamic or choosing appropriate verbiage to transform an unorthodox career history into an asset instead of a liability. But there are other, less obvious benefits to hiring a professional writer to update your executive resume.

3 Hidden Benefits of Hiring an Executive Resume Writer

Define your career trajectory. Many professionals realize that they’re unsatisfied at work, but have no clear path to finding career fulfillment. Our resume writers ask thought-provoking questions to help shape your professional documents and define your ideal career path — a crucial step in attaining your professional goals.
Determine your core messaging. Just as big brands have to determine the most marketable aspect of their products or services, an executive must determine their most marketable quality to promote their personal brand. Honing in on your marketable skills with a professional executive resume writer will help you identify the core messaging that will win you networking opportunities, job interviews and, eventually, a new job.
Practice for interviews. Resume writing services include consultations and informational interviews which function like job interviews. Prior to your consultation, you should dig up qualitative data about past initiatives, including specific metrics to highlight your successes. Discussing the facts of your career wins with us, we’ll help you better articulate them in actual interviews.

Learn what a CMRW can do for your resume. Contact Executive Resumes Atlanta for a free consultation.

Colleen July 31, 2018

Do I Need More Than One Resume?

There’s one question we hear over and over: “Do I need multiple resumes?” The more specialized your skills, the more pertinent the question becomes. Creating two or more resumes gives even an entry-level professional an edge in the job search, but it’s even more important for executives making at least six figures. Networking in the digital age may be night and day from the way it was 50 years ago, but how to clinch a new career hasn’t changed a bit. An impactful, tailored resume is the best weapon in an executive’s arsenal for scoring that first interview. Why does having more than one executive resume make you more likely to get the job?

3 Benefits of Having Multiple Executive Resumes

Streamline your skills. The best way to stand out is to fit in. A resume should highlight the skills and experiences that fit a specific position and leave the rest of your work history on the cutting room floor. By tailoring each resume, you can focus the hiring manager’s attention on the details that matter most. Ditch the clutter and keep HR’s eye on the prize: a new exec that’s just right for hire.
Stop and smell the success. If you have years of C-level experience under your belt, the old one-page resume rule doesn’t necessarily apply. Take advantage of the additional space to delve deeper into the qualities that make you a stand out candidate. Just remember to clarify, not add clutter.
Prove it. Hard facts are more compelling than soft skills. Creating multiple resumes gives you the laser focus needed to back up your most impressive achievements for each role. Numbers don’t lie, and with a tailored resume, they don’t equivocate either.

You’ve spent years honing the skills necessary to land your next job. So have we. Get an executive resume tailored to land your ideal career. Contact Colleen for a free consultation at Executive Resumes Atlanta.

Colleen July 25, 2018

How Busy Execs Can Engage on LinkedIn

A well-rounded LinkedIn account is crucial to personal branding in the digital age. But it’s not all about getting recommendations and preventing your boss from catching wind of your job search. LinkedIn has outpaced its original purpose of “online networking tool”, helping execs put their best foot forward before first contact even occurs. Not only does an active account make you an attractive prospect to executive recruiters, it helps you be found; the more you refine your brand on LinkedIn, the happier their algorithms will be, and they’ll show their appreciation by putting more eyes on your professional profile.

3 Ways to Advance Your Brand on LinkedIn

Be present. You can’t succeed if you don’t show up. If you’re not active online, recruiters will question your commitment to your career. Elevating your personal brand on LinkedIn can be as simple as sharing an interesting article—with a quick commentary to highlight your proficiencies and encourage engagement—or as advanced as writing regular blogs on topical issues in your field. Just don’t forget about LinkedIn’s roots! Network within your industry by engaging with posts made by other execs.
Be dependable. Every executive can empathize with a busy schedule, but long periods of inactivity on LinkedIn followed by bursts of updates are a sure way to undermine your credibility. Sporadic posting makes potential job candidates seem flaky and unfocused or, at the very least, desperate for a career change. If you find yourself relegating LinkedIn updates to the backburner, add it to your weekly calendar. Consistency is key, and as few as fifteen minutes a week can show recruiters that you’re serious about your professional brand — and your career.
Be real. Not every post needs to be a scholarly essay tailored to turn heads and influence recruiters. One of the most impactful ways to engage with followers on LinkedIn is to drop the professional facade. Talk about what matters to you, even if it’s not work-related. Many of the most successful execs on LinkedIn have made a name for themselves by giving followers a glimpse behind the curtain, proving themselves to be highly motivated in every aspect of their lives.

LinkedIn has transformed the world of professional advancement forever. Is a lackluster profile hindering your executive job search? Call Colleen at Executive Resumes Atlanta for a complimentary assessment of your LinkedIn profile.

Colleen May 31, 2018

In the Atlanta Job Market, Growth Continues – Slowly

Atlanta has developed a reputation for innovation and growth, launching careers to new heights in a variety of disparate industries. Everyone from high-level executives to first-time entrepreneurs can find fresh job opportunities, but attracting so many highly qualified professionals to one place means that competition can be fierce. Can the Atlanta job market keep up with the demand for executive-level jobs?

Atlanta Jobs for Execs in 2018

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics report released in April 2018, Atlanta area employment rose 1.5% year-over-year. The Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University projects that metro Atlanta will add 13,000 premium jobs in 2018, a 14,400 decrease in new opportunities from the previous year. That number is expected to decline further in 2019 with only 11,400 new premium job opportunities. Atlanta’s job market peaked in 2015 and, while there is no recession yet in sight, job growth continues to slow. High-level professionals in the manufacturing sector may struggle to find qualified job leads. The financial trade and transportation sectors, however, should see slow, continuous growth over the next two years. Professionals in wholesale trade and technology are primed for even greater job growth as those sectors continue to thrive.

The Best Places to Work in Atlanta

Each year the Atlanta Journal-Constitution releases a list of the top workplaces in Atlanta. This year’s #1 places to work span law, software, and finance, but many employers who didn’t make the list were given special recognition for exemplary employee satisfaction. What set these businesses apart? “Employees said time and time again that there was a genuine care from their employer and an investment in each and every one of their employees.”

Even in a competitive job market, there’s no reason to settle in your career. Want to compete in the executive job market? Contact Executive Resumes Atlanta to schedule a no-obligation phone consultation.

Colleen April 30, 2018 Leave a Comment

How to Protect Your Privacy on LinkedIn

In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, social media privacy, including LinkedIn, is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. But many remain unaware of just how easily their online actions can come back to haunt them.

Executive Resumes Atlanta received a call one morning from an executive requesting a phone consultation. Let’s call him “Barry.” After scheduling a meeting, Barry followed up with a LinkedIn invitation. When we called for his consultation, he told us that 45 minutes after we accepted his invite, his boss was in his office asking if he was on the job market. Until that point, Barry was unaware that his company was scrutinizing the LinkedIn activity of their senior-level employees. Simply connecting with a career services company had raised a red flag!

Barry’s story is all too common among high-level professionals. LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for finding career opportunities, but when confidentiality is compromised, it can undermine an executive’s credibility with their current employer. How can you impress recruiters with your LinkedIn profile without catching negative attention at work?

How to Protect Privacy on LinkedIn

Start cautiously. With an active LinkedIn profile, high-ranking professionals can craft a personal brand that’s compelling to both recruiters and potential employers. But if you’re starting from scratch, proceed with caution. Creating a new LinkedIn profile can raise a red flag with your current employer.
Keep an ear to the ground. Is there internal chatter about your boss monitoring LinkedIn? Subtly feel out other senior- and executive-level leaders to determine if those in charge actively monitor LinkedIn activity to find out which employees are seeking new career opportunities. If you’re waging a confidential job search and you’re not sure who may be watching, err on the side of caution.
Check your privacy settings. It’s easy to overlook this simple tool for keeping your job search confidential, but regularly updating your privacy settings should be a prerequisite for any online activity. Turn off activity broadcasts to ensure people in your network don’t receive alerts when you update your professional resume. You can also choose who sees your connections, endorsements, and whether or not you’re currently active on LinkedIn.

Now that you have your privacy settings locked down, how can you make your LinkedIn profile stand out?

Create a custom url to boost professional credibility and make your profile easier to find.
Create a secondary, custom email address for your job search that matches your custom LinkedIn url. Both your custom url and your professional email should include your first and last name.
Upload a professional, high-resolution headshot to your profile.

Want to learn more about optimizing your professional job search by building a LinkedIn profile that complements your executive resume? Contact Colleen at Executive Resumes Atlanta.

Colleen August 15, 2015

Mastering the Informational Interview

For executives between careers, the daily grind of the job search becomes more stifling every day. Connections go unanswered, interviews becomes stressful and unrewarding, and discouragement always seems just around the corner. But one executive tool not only strengthens connections and increases industry knowledge, it boosts job search verve. If you’re struggling to find a new career, meet your new business partner: the informational interview.

The Importance of Informational Interviews

Informational interviews have many facets, all of which benefit job seekers. They build a connection with someone who may help you land a job, they prepare you for the position (or industry) where you’d like to work, and they give you unique insights into the inner workings of a specific company. Informational interviews help executives approach potential jobs with clear goals and insider information on how to accomplish those goals.

How to Maximize an Informational Interview

Develop a strategy. Like yourself, each interviewer has motives for conducting an informational interview. He may be doing a favor to a mutual friend, he may be screening you for a future with his company, or he may have his own research in mind. If the interview is secured through a mutual contact, prepare a series of questions. Keep the interview casual, but work your skills and job history into the conversation. If the interview is secured directly, approach it as an unofficial interview. Keep a polished resume on hand and come prepared to not only to ask, but also to answer questions.
Take notes. No matter how high on the food chain your interviewer is, he or she will have valuable insights about the current climate of the industry and the inner workings of his or her company. Jot down information that may prepare you for your next career — or help you land it.
Ask the right questions. And no, “Do you have openings available?” is not one of them. Come prepared with 5-10 thought-provoking questions about the industry and the interviewer’s role within it. Only discuss your executive talents in the framework of casual conversation. If your interviewer has questions for you, allow him or her to redirect the conversation at his or her leisure.
Follow up. Informational interviews take just as much time as job interviews. Thank your contact for sacrificing personal time to give you insights into his or her position. Send an email or handwritten note within 48 after your interview.

For more information about building an executive career, contact Colleen at Executive Resumes Atlanta.

Interview Image from FreeDigitalPhotos

Colleen August 7, 2015 1 Comment

How to Negotiate a Better Salary

A job offer may seem like the solution to executive career woes, but that anticipated phone call is only the beginning. Salary negotiation is a minefield, even for execs experienced in the art of asking for more, and periods of unemployment often put professionals in a “take what I can get” mentality. Stop settling for mediocre pay. Negotiate a salary worthy of your expertise.

4 Tips for Negotiating an Executive Salary

Know market value. What are professionals with your experience, skills, and talent for growth earning from your potential new employer? Google takes most of the guesswork out of researching salaries for specific positions, even within specific companies. Do a quick internet search of your title + “salary” or “compensation.” For more specific information, use the salary estimation feature on almost any job aggregator website.
Negotiate smart bonuses. It doesn’t matter how generous the bonus structure is if the criteria are unattainable. Before accepting a job offer, research how frequently the company pays out bonuses to high level employees. If payouts are low, renegotiate your bonuses before accepting the job.
Be vocal. Many companies are more willing to bend than they lead candidates to believe. Be upfront about your deal breakers, whether those include salary, bonuses, healthcare plans, or paid vacation.
Ask about resource allocation. How well will your employer equip you to succeed? Think beyond base salary and bonuses to the resources you’ll need to excel. Will your company give you a team, financial resources, and an opportunity to promote growth? If not, you’re likely fighting a losing battle, no matter how extraordinary the benefits may be.

For more information on career building and negotiating executive compensation, contact Colleen at Executive Resumes Atlanta.

Salary Image Source

Colleen July 31, 2015 Leave a Comment

How to Exit an Unfulfilling Job

Career transitions present their own challenges, whether you’re leaving because of another job, dissatisfaction at work, or performance issues. The mark of a great leader isn’t finding 100% success, but in knowing how to behave when closing a chapter in your career. If you’re leaving your current career, build your personal brand by making a graceful exit.

Know When to Go

Whether you’re stepping down voluntarily, abdicating for a new position, or simply reading the writing on the wall, how you leave a company can determine job recommendations, career opportunities, and your reputation with your former coworkers. If you’re leaving voluntarily, give your boss sufficient notice to replace you. Be honest about your reasons for leaving, but don’t burden your supervisors with too much information. Thank your team for the experiences, relationships, and skills you cultivated during your tenure at the company. If you’ve been let go, it’s still a good career move to strengthen relationships with your partners in the trenches. Gracefully recognize that one stage of your life is complete, and thank your board for the opportunity.

Make a Smooth Transition

Gain a reputation for competence and class by easing the transition for your executive replacement. Finish incomplete projects, document procedures, and forward any pertinent emails to the new exec in charge. Consider a few days of hands-on training with your replacement if asked.

Network

Just because it didn’t work out with current position doesn’t mean you wasted time. Maintain relationships with coworkers, clients, and supervisors you built connections with along the way. They’ve seen your leadership traits firsthand and may keep you in mind when executive positions become available in the future.

Transitioning jobs? Call Executive Resumes Atlanta to build your executive career.

Businessman Image from FreeDigitalPhotos