Widening the net just might catch a “Purple Squirrel”
A Job Seeker’s Perspective on Executive Job Search

The Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC), announced that 80% of global executives share a neutral to positive attitude about the executive job market for the second half of 2013 (42% neutral; 38% positive). As a marketing professional seeking opportunity in financial and professional services, this is good news. The bad news is the study also reveals one of the biggest challenges executives face is the “ability to find qualified candidates.”
 
I am not an economist. Nor, am I an expert on labor trends. I am an executive job seeker looking to join an organization where I can add value and use my skills. Despite Herculean efforts sending out executive resumes; filling out countless online applications; networking; hiring career coaches; joining several professional associations, landing even a phone interview has been a challenge in this environment. My time away from a corporate position has apparently put me into the category of the “long-term unemployed.” I have unknowingly and involuntarily joined the millions of other Americans who have been unemployed 6 months or longer. Until executive recruiters and hiring managers remove this screening criterion from their hiring practices, there will continue to be a shortage of talent, unfilled positions and an unemployment crisis that will not be going away any time soon.
 
When an executive or search consultant makes a hiring decision, it generally comes down to three major factors – gut instinct, chemistry and experience. So, really, what difference does it make how long a person has been out of work?  Automatically eliminating a candidate, who is an exact match for the job, just does not make any sense. There will always be a lack of talent if this screening practice continues. Our economy will be unable to recover and productivity overall will go down. Not to mention, this type of stereotyping is ridiculous. Yes, I am sure there are some people who are gaming the system and not really wanting to work but a large majority of us do.
 
Again, I can only speak from my own experience. Since losing my job on Wall Street in 2008, through no fault of my own, I have been forced to reinvent myself. I have had to get creative with my executive job search and push myself way out of my comfort zone. In the last 5 years, I co-founded a company; worked for a quarter of my salary with start ups; attended entrepreneurial programs; applied to graduate school; acted as interim director of marketing for a professional services firm, and several other small consulting jobs. With things improving, I no longer want to struggle to pay the mortgage. I want an office, a steady paycheck and benefits. I want to take what I have learned and apply it back in a corporate setting.
 
In reality, doesn’t this make me (and a large percentage of the folks in similar situations) a better executive candidate and potential employee?

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