In today’s job market, your executive search partner plays a vital role in connecting highly skilled candidates with employers. However, like any professional relationship, building a good rapport with your search partner takes time and effort. In this article, we will discuss some executive job search tips for building and maintaining good relationships during the search engagement.
- Be Honest: The foundation of any good executive recruiter relationship is honesty. Being upfront about your skills, experience, and expectations is the foundation of good recruiting. This will help them match you with suitable job opportunities and build trust in the relationship. Also, if you have any skeletons in your closet, don’t be afraid to bring them up. Not only does this save time, but it also gives the opportunity to address any concerns strategically so no one ends up with an egg on their face.
- Be Clear About Your Goals: While we have killer instincts, we are not mind-readers, and it is up to you to communicate your career goals and aspirations. Whether you are looking for a particular job title, industry, or salary range, be clear about your objectives, so we can help you achieve them. Especially when working with a niche search partner, they can evaluate all of the open positions in the firm.
- Keep in Touch: No one likes being ghosted. It is crucial to keep in touch with your search partner regularly. This will help them to keep you in mind when new job opportunities arise, and you will be the first to know about new openings that match your skills and experience. Also, we get hit with distractions all day long. I recently found an email to a candidate sitting in my drafts from 3 months ago!
- Provide Feedback: After every job interview arranged by your search partner, make sure to provide feedback. This can help them accurately relay your enthusiasm about the role but also address any concerns you had walking out of the interview.
- Be Responsive: Networking with recruiters who reach out is essential. If someone in executive search contacts you about a potential job opportunity, respond promptly. We work on tight deadlines and need to move quickly to secure the best candidates for our clients. Being responsive can also help to build a good relationship with the firm, and they may be more likely to work with you in the future.
- Build a Professional Relationship: While executive search partners are primarily focused on finding the right candidates for their clients, they also value building professional relationships. Take the time to get to know your search partner and understand their specialty and work style. This can help to build trust and make the process more comfortable for everyone involved.
Building executive relationships may take time and effort, but it will pay off in the long run. By being honest, clear about your goals, keeping in touch, providing feedback, being responsive, and building a professional relationship, you can increase your chances of finding the right job. A good executive search firm can be an invaluable resource in your job search, and investing in the relationship can lead to long-term success.
About Kristen Perez
Kristen has over 18 years of executive recruiting experience, Talent Acquisition, and Organizational Development. She joined The Christopher Group as a Recruiting Manager in 2021 and was promoted to Recruiting Director in 2022. Kristen’s focus is on filling Human Resources executive roles nationwide. She has a strong background in the manufacturing, logistics, aviation, and healthcare industries. To learn more about Kristen Perez visit her bio page.