Executive search in Germany is more process-driven
Jo Heirman is not only a Client Partner focusing on Consumer Goods & Retail at Schelstraete Delacourt Associates in Belgium, but also Head of Consumer & Retail Europe in the Global InterSearch Network. As a result, he is familiar with both the Belgian and the European executive search markets. Heirman does not see any serious differences between the executive search business in Belgium and Germany or other Northern European countries. “If I had to pinpoint the main difference to the German approach, it would be that we are less process-driven in Belgium. I see our approach as more pragmatic and flexible, tailor-made to the needs and cultural particularities of our customer.” In Belgium, it is also customary to ask candidates about their salary expectations and not to start the process with a fixed salary offer from your client.
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Lindsey Kornelis joined Charles Aris Executive Search as an associate recruiter on March 17. In this role, Kornelis identifies and places world-class leaders in client organizations across an array of functions and industries.
As an executive recruiter, my focus is people. I learn about them, hear their stories and give my opinion on whether or not they’re a technical and cultural fit for my client. I look at a lot of résumés and combinations of experiences, but one thing that typically doesn’t read from a résumé is emotional intelligence (EQ).
Working with tops, more and more often we are confronted with a request: “Here I have reached the position of General / Commercial / HR Director, settled into that role and completed all the tasks – and that’s all, ceiling. I don’t understand what to do next.”
And they start asking questions: “Who am I? Why am I doing this? Am I in the right company? Maybe it’s time to change jobs? If so, where to go? And how not to lose or to regain a foothold? “.
Make a stop. The first piece of advice: stop and think about what your apathy and anxiety are really related to. What drove you to burnout, and is this really the maximum you are experiencing?
Professional coaches often help to get out of this state. Through dialogue, they can expand your picture of the world and look at your condition and problems in a different way (it may turn out that there is a great influence of your life outside the working path). Today, many successful top managers start working with coaches and career consultants long before the moment of burnout or the question of changing jobs comes. They work out their goals, dreams, write down their track and move along it in stages.
What is the next point?
Learn and learn again. Not so long ago, we conducted a study among owners and CEOs, who at one time decided to restart their careers and chose a new path of development. And we once again confirmed the assumption that those who do not stand still and are not afraid to sacrifice comfort for the sake of development, achieve success. You have to learn a lot to make a career change. Therefore, those top managers who support the lifelong learning trend, reveal their educational potential, study new approaches and technologies, achieve significant results and make the “reset” easier.
Top success factors from Owners and CEOs who restarted careers
34% Education, business schools
33% Network of colleagues and executive search companies
21% Support from loved ones
19% Financial cushion
14% Communication with a mentor / coach
Prioritize. Our survey confirmed that top managers often have to sacrifice certain things – comfort, income level, status, but in the end, no one regrets the choice they made, rather than the decision was not made in a timely manner.
42% of CEOs make a decision to leave within more than 2 years
So, think about what is more important to you now? Often, when leaving the CEO position (especially with a good income at the current place) into a new direction or own business, income decreases, and it can be restored only after 4-5 years. But at the same time, other important things of value are achieved: self-realization in a new business, recognition, drive from new tasks and disclosure of one’s potential.
So, ask yourself the question: Am I wasting my time? Maybe it’s time to make up your mind now and not put off until tomorrow?
Choose a further track for yourself. The experience of top managers who have gone through a career restart makes it clear that it is not enough to be open to new opportunities, you need to actively look for them and not be afraid to make decisions about changes.
This can be, for example, a transition to a larger company (and most top managers choose this path), or a vertical transition in the current company, or a transition to another industry. You can try yourself in interim projects or take part in the Board of Directors, which will also provide an opportunity to develop strategic skills, enrich your knowledge and experience, and draw new ideas. Another option is to start your own business. Risk? Yes. But when to try, if not now? After all, a crisis is the moment when the market is being rebuilt and there is an opportunity to come out with a new product that will satisfy new needs.
Most believe that now, during the pandemic and crisis, is not the best time to change jobs. But there are segments that continue to actively develop, for example, food retail, e-commerce, medicine, hi-tech and fintech, and it is normal practice to move from segment to segment, as well as to attract people with entrepreneurial experience to the team.
And remember: no matter where you are, only an engaged leader who is doing something that gives him energy and drive, can motivate the team and move the company to new achievements!
When you kick off that search for your next career opportunity, it’s natural to sift through the lists of open positions on job sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter. While this is one way to approach a search, there are several pitfalls for those who exclusively rely on this method:
Job postings might be outdated: Organizations often don’t remove postings or update job boards. You could be applying for a position that’s already been filled or canceled.
Listings may be misleading: When you search for a specific role on job boards, chances are you’ll come across listings which don’t match what you’re seeking. You end up spending more time struggling with search algorithms than finding opportunities.
You’re competing against a large talent pool: Hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of people are viewing and applying for these same opportunities, making it more difficult to set yourself apart.
Automation in the organization’s hiring process may work against you: When there’s a high volume of applicants for one position, especially within a larger organization, you’re up against automation processes which “read” applications, résumés and cover letters in search of specific keywords. If your application doesn’t make the cut, there’s a good chance a bot determined you weren’t right for the role.
If you’re not reaping rewards from looking at job boards and applying to listings there, it’s time to try different strategies to improve your career quest. Here are four practices you can implement to expand your opportunities:Find companies you’d be interested in working for within your area
Start with your community. Whether you’re moving or planning to stay in the same place, do some research on organizations in the area. Check out small businesses, nonprofit organizations, corporations, public and private universities … don’t overlook anything! When exploring these organizations’ websites and social media channels, can you see yourself working there? Dig deeper into individual departments and take note of the potential value you’d add.
If you identify an organization that clicks, find someone there to talk with about your interest; the goal is to find a professional who makes decisions about hiring. Finding this person can be tricky because organizations might not list that her as a hiring authority to avoid an influx of emails – or perhaps the titles there don’t point in a specific direction. If you can’t find a hiring authority, cold-call the organization.
Make cold calls to organizations
Cold-calling might seem scary, but this is a great strategy when searching for a job. It shows the organization of interest that you’re willing to take the initiative. You’ll likely get an answer right away about any prospective openings. When you call an organization, you might hear a panel of options and may not be sure which number to dial. In this case, listen for Human Resources or the department in which you’re interested. You might also reach a receptionist who likely is willing to transfer your call to the appropriate department.
Whether you reach a panel of options or a receptionist, know what you’re going to say. Introduce yourself; describe how you found out about the organization; and express your interest in potentially working for them. When introducing yourself, go beyond just dropping your first name; give them details. If you’re new to the job scene entirely, mention that you’d like an opportunity to gain some experience. If you’re a recent graduate looking for a part-time or full-time opportunity, put in a plug for your college, academic program and budding career interests. If you’re a seasoned professional, bring up your recent opportunities and describe how you can help that specific organization.
If the organization doesn’t have any roles available, ask if there’s a way to stay connected by subscribing to job notifications, asking for a hiring authority’s email or phone number, and following the organization through social media. The goal is to keep them on your radar in case relevant positions open.
Take note of the person you talked with and write down their name(s) and title(s). This information will make it easier to introduce yourself to a new person or reintroduce yourself when you check back in with the organization.
Contact hiring authorities directly
Whether you’ve found a leader through your research or received her contact info when cold-calling her organization, take the next step and reach out to them to talk about open roles there. Keep in mind: This message might need to be formatted differently, depending on the channel you’re using.
If you have a phone number for a hiring authority: Call and introduce yourself (in real time or in a voicemail); briefly describe your background; provide context; and express interest. Let the conversation play out and set up next steps or ask how to stay connected.caree
If you have an email address for a hiring authority: Provide the same info above and aim to keep it short. Include your résumé for review by attaching it to your email. If you can access her LinkedIn profile, invite her to connect and be sure to include a message as you do … just beware of the 200-character limitation for InMail messaging. Here’s a template you can follow:
Hi, [name of hiring authority]:
I hope you’re doing well. My name is [first name] and I’m actively seeking career opportunities in [your location / planned location]. [Brief background and reason for contacting]. If you have time in the coming days, I’d love to chat about how I can help you and your organization!
Best,
[your name]
Tap into the hidden job market by using your network
When you’re seeking a new career opportunity, tell your network! It can include colleagues from previous workplaces, friends, family and even family friends. Tap into your network for advice on applying and securing a job as well as help with your résumé and cover letter. Ask your network for leads: Are there openings where they work? Do they know of organizations that are hiring? Would they be willing to share your résumé or recommend you? Could they provide you with any updates or word of developments? Asking these questions can help you improve your chances of finding and ultimately landing a right-fit opportunity.
These four practices can help change the results of your job search and discover more opportunities than you thought existed. If you’re feeling discouraged about your job search or find that looking at job boards isn’t helpful, we hope that these strategies can prove useful. Best of luck!
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