In setting up and organizing a cross border job search, aside from being very well organized, one needs to prepare and equip oneself more thoroughly than if the search was local. Here is an overview of the process and execution that we will cover in coming months:
Determining Long Range Goals
This simple, but sometimes grueling act, is even more imperative when working globally. One needs to prepare for the contingencies of relocation back to one’s home country or other regions at a much later date. Knowing where you want to end up is more time-sensitive and geography-sensitive than if one simply continued to gain local employment.
Marketing Collateral
Building self-marketing pieces that appeal to the broadest audience or to a completely different geographic audience is a far greater challenge. Nowadays, a mere resume/CV doesn’t cover all contingencies. In fact, it is just the beginning in terms of building a professional brand. One should also include a professional business card, a professional website to highlight one’s achievements, a short executive summary, and of course well-designed profiles on all the social networking sites.
Of course building a well articulated profile in Bluesteps is always the first step and a given.
Tools and Techniques
Researching and uncovering opportunities globally presents a far greater challenge. It’s easy to say you want to work in the BRIC nations, but far more difficult to do the local leg-work to uncover lists of companies that may hire you. The motto may be to think globally and act locally first. That means to use the contacts, search firms and network you have at your current disposal to leverage you to other parts of the world.
Most major professional and trade associations are international in scope or have international affiliations. Beginning with the local group, one can quickly gain contacts and introductions to other chapters globally. For example, the Association of Strategic Alliance Professionals is an international group with worldwide chapters for professionals in business development. A client of mine in Germany used my connection with the local chapter president in San Francisco, California to gain introductions and entrée to the ASAP chapter in Frankfurt.
Search Consultants
Making full use of your BlueSteps membership is one of the most invaluable tools in your search arsenal. You have access to a global network of search consultants at your fingertips. Identifying search firms in China, Singapore, France, Dubai, South Africa, Canada and Columbia becomes simply, easy and quick to do.
Reaching out to contact them and introduce yourself in advance of your active search would not only lay the groundwork for future introductions into their search assignments, but gives you access to their breadth of experience in the local hiring culture, employment environment and hiring climate. They should always be the first best step on your way to initiating a full-blown search globally.
This article has been shortened for the BlueSteps Blog. Access the full article and global career management series by Patti Wilson by joining BlueSteps. You will receive access to the Executive Search Firm Directory, a worldwide database of over 300 executive search firms, and exposure to over 6,000 executive recruiters in 74 countries. Find our more below:
Gain International Exposure to Executive Search Firms
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.
Patti Wilson and BlueSteps Executive Career Services (BECS) provides expert career coaching with personal branding, Web 2.0 job search and Social Networks to give executive clients a competitive edge. Patti coaches Fortune 500 and startup executives on how to optimize their careers and successfully transition to new opportunities. She has a Masters in Career Development and consults to MBA schools and was an Employment Manager for SUN Microsystems and a recruiter for Apple.
All BlueSteps members can receive a complimentary career consultation with Patti. To schedule your appointment, please log into your BlueSteps account and visit the main homepage.
The digital age has ushered in unexpected changes, transforming the very fabric of how organizations operate. Let’s unravel the evolving role of senior executives in
As navigators of corporate strategy, your boardroom decisions carry significant weight, shaping the trajectory of your organization. But you already know that. In this blog,
