Routes to market...

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There are 4 routes to market to think about when considering your next role:

 

1. Networking

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As a result of thinking about your networks and exploring opportunities, think about where your network may be happy for you to use them as an introduction to further contacts, when getting in touch with these contacts consider:

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• Why are you getting in contact using your networked individual as an introduction - e.g. - “Tom suggested I get in touch as I might have the skills you are looking for”.

 

• Think about the kind of roles that you are looking for and the experience you are offering to the market and how it could be helpful to the contact.

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• What are you hoping to get from being in touch, e.g. setting up a meeting/telephone chat to discuss any opportunities and your skills further.

 

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2. Head Hunters and Recruiters

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The job search market is continually changing and there are more and more small boutique headhunters and recruiters in the marketplace, so it is important to do your research to establish the more suitable recruiters that best fit your needs and the sectors in which you want to work within.

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Consultants working within head hunter organisations and  recruitment agencies normally specialise in:

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• Marketing

• Finance

• HR

• Operations

• IT

• Retail

• Leisure Industry

• Local Government

• HE

• Healthcare

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Once you have established the recruiter or headhunters you would like to use, you then need to explore their website to establish the best consultants connected with your needs and then set up a telephone call or a face to face meeting, don’t just send through your CV without having a discussion about the following:

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• How you want you CV to be used?

 

• Non-circulation of CV or other personal documents without firstly agreeing when and how it should be used and if there are any organisations you do not want to approach or work for?

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• Confidentiality is critical and this needs to be discussed upfront with any consultant you decide to work with.

 

Signing up to job boards is a critical component part of managing the job search process and working with recruiters who consolidate and seek out job opportunities.

 

How to build relationships and maximise opportunities with headhunters:

• A Recruitment consultant does not have time to develop a relationship with you, therefore you need to proactively be in touch on a regular basis.

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• Organise times to speak with or meet with a consultant face-to-face to develop the relationship.

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• Treat any meeting with the recruiter in the same way as you would treat your job interview, prepare well.

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• Don’t just register and leave your name on their database, this will serve no purpose.

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• Keep your name in the forefront of their mind by contacting them regularly.

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• Be persistent but polite and professional (remember they are dealing with several hundred candidates at any given time).

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• Choose your agencies carefully identify those who specialise in your specific field.

 

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3. Job Advert

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When you see a job advert that you are interested in, review the advert, decide if it is a good opportunity for you and if applying, ensure you include your updated CV, a cover letter as well as any application forms that have also been included as part of the process.  

In your cover letter, make sure you include; your are responding to the advert in ……(media) for ….(role),  draw attention to your key points in support of you application and close with you are very much looking forward to the opportunity to meet to discuss the role in more detail. 

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4. Speculative

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A speculative approach is the least successful way to land a job, much research needs to be done about the organisation you are approaching.

Having completed your research about the company and the person to write to:

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• Identify your hooks  i.e. the reason for your direct approach/reason for making the approach, research the best/ideal person to contact within the organisation, E.g.:

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• HR Director for general and HR roles

• Director of Operations for Operational roles

• Director of Marketing for Sales and Marketing roles

• Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer for Finance and possibly IT roles

 

• Research the person you are connecting with, what their roles and responsibilities are and if possible what they are responsible for delivering.

 

• Ensure you include your current role, what you are involved in and your awareness of their organisation and their current activity.

 

• Attach your ideal CV dependent upon where you feel you fit within the organisation or where you feel you would bring added value.

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• Outline what you can offer, "with this in mind you may be interested in some of my major achievements in my sector etc" (so sell your offer).

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• Ensure you are compelling with your approach and leave your written communication with the final sentence confirming you will make contact to discuss further.  I.e. don’t leave the ball in their court - “I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you”, “with this in mind I will telephone you in the next few days to determine whether you would find meeting useful at this stage”.