Problems Faced By The Top Executive
Like the senior manager who feels that he might be "punished" in his job hunt for ; imply being an older job hunter, the top executive feels that age might be a disadvantage. Furthermore, many people look at the top executive and think "expensive." Another problem faced by the top executive is that he simply has fewer possible organizational options because he is seeking a spot on the top levels. The competition is intense for those top spots, especially when you consider that the executive may be an "outsider" rather than an organizational veteran. Research has shown that most chief executive officers (CEOs) get their jobs through a slow promotion over more than 20 years of loyal service to the organization.
A practical problem of the top executive is often how to "cram" all his information onto one page. Should the resume of the top executive be longer than one page? We don't think so, although it certainly is not "against the rules" to have a two-pager. Remember that a resume is usually accompanied by a cover letter and, even if you are a top executive, prospective employers don't want to read more than two pages about you in order to decide if they want to meet you! Remember, too, that the more you tell people at the resume stage, the more opportunity you provide to get yourself "screened out" by some details.
Advantages Of The Top Executive
Almost by definition, the top executive has had an exciting career, so it should be possible for her to open many doors. Showing a track record of accomplishments and achievements is usually not hard for the top executive! The top executive frequently has accumulated an extensive network of contacts both inside and outside her industry, so she can utilize those contacts in opening some doors. Networking works extremely well for top executives in a job hunt.
Does the top executive job-hunt differently than other workers?
Not really. The top executive may answer ads in his job hunt, just like other job hunters, although many of those ads may be in "The Wall Street Journal" and other prominent business publications. The top executive may seek help from employment placement specialists, but his form of help may be a "headhunter" or executive recruiter rather than a regular employment agency. Like all other job hunters, the top executive would be smart to choose his next employer by deciding if he wants to look (1) by industry or (2) by geography, or both. For example, a top executive may identify employers to approach by deciding that she would like to live in Seattle, Atlanta, or Houston and that she would prefer working in the telecommunications, banking, or credit card industry. By using the "direct approach," the top executive can then identify employers for whom he would like to work and send a resume and cover letter making attractive potential employers aware of his availability and interest in the company. The top executive, like all the rest of us, must try to figure out what he really wants to do next!
