Ask the Expert: Career Transitions

Q. “I am a senior executive that has been away from traditional company leadership for just over a year – in that time I have been consulting. I have decided to re-enter the traditional job market and now seek an executive role. I have re-energized my contacts, created target companies and communicated with them, contacted all the major executive recruiters and targeted Venture Capital and Investment Banker organizations.

I have also been in contact with a career management company who provide access to a large number of job boards, rewrite and distribute resumes, write introductory letters and offer coaching on job placement and re-entry for a fee with no guarantees for success. What is your opinion on using such a firm to support my current job search?”

 

Valerie El-Jamil, Career and Executive Coach from Career Services International, discusses career management:
 

"A good career management company (CMC) can be a tremendous asset in a career search and beyond. Think of a CMC as a team of experts dedicated to formulating and executing a business plan to get you in front of the right people with a message that communicates value. With a CMC, you are an active participant, the leader of a dynamic team.

You are correct that no one can guarantee success; however, a good CMC provides materials, assistance, and guidance that can greatly enhance your opportunity for success. You mention a number of actions you are taking. The professionals in a CMC support these actions by providing an objective perspective that gives you a competitive edge. For instance:

• A good coach facilitates formulation of value propositions and development of powerful interviewing techniques, including answering tough questions that could arise because you left and now seek to return to corporate.
• A writer skilled at infusing professional career writing with adult reading methodologies will produce documents that help executives quickly scan and absorb your critical information.

Typical CMCs have experts with decades of experience in career searches, but better CMCs have career sustainment experts. Since many executives now employ coaches for continued career development, working with a coach during your career search can be the foundation for a long-term partnership once you’re in a position. Ideally, look for a CMC that is recommended by a trusted friend, colleague, or other source (for instance, Bluesteps)."

BlueSteps is the exclusive service of the AESC that puts senior executives on the radar screen of over 6,000 executive search professionals in over 70 countries. Be visible, and be considered for up to 50,000 opportunities handled by AESC search firms every year. Find out more at www.BlueSteps.com.