Britain’s Senior Executives Give Job Hunters Secret Tips For The Top
If you have been inspired by Sir Alan Sugar’s Apprentice and enter 2010 full of bright ideas and CEO aspirations be warned, you may have to wait and work longer than you think. A study of TheLadders.co.uk’s members and senior positions reveals the average tenure of a Board level executive in the UK is 21.7 years.
TheLadders.co.uk discovered that nearly all of its CEO level candidates had 21 years plus experience. Whilst reality style TV persuades ambitious managers that they can become a CEO overnight or at the very least expect to be fast-tracked, evidence shows that be prepared to put in the time. However if you have your sights set on promotion, here are ten golden tips from the top as provided by C+ executives registered with the site:
1. Ensure you have a good knowledge base from different businesses and industries.
2. Network, network, network. Online and offline, a good network is invaluable.
3. Leadership skills that have been challenged.
4. Dedication. Job hopping from one position to the next for more money or a title does not always reflect favourably on the individual.
5. A profile. PR yourself and your work. Win accolades for your business and demonstrate your worth.
6. Be brave! Senior executives who have made big Career Moves when they were young, have often managed to hang on and be part of a company’s big succession plan.
7. Work across different industries, taking-on different positions to show you know how a business works from all aspects of the chain.
8. Having a broad range of skills. This means that you will be well equipped to handle most situations thrown at you.
9. Listen. To your teams, to your peers, to your predecessors. This is not a natural skill for an entrepreneur which is why the best ones work alongside a CEO.
10. Stick at it!
Monday, 21 December 2009
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
POUNDING THE PAVEMENT WHILST OTHERS ARE PARTYING COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOB MAKE OR BREAK IN 2010
For the 2.46 million workers unemployed, this Christmas presents the perfect reason to loosen the tie and hang up the interview suit for a few weeks fuelled by the false belief that "no one hires during December," particularly when half of British companies will be nursing their heads after Christmas parties.
But according to TheLadders.co.uk, the careers site for Britian’s senior executives, pounding the pavement now may make the difference between starting 2010 settling into a new position and competing for one with the hordes of job-seekers who slacked their search for the festivities.
“It's a myth that no jobs get filled during the last six weeks of the year”, said Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk, which lists many of the UK’s £50K plus positions.
"January is the busiest job hunting time of the year, but the people who are hired in January are usually those who applied and interviewed in prior months. You don't hire somebody on Jan. 5 that you met on Jan. 3, you hire somebody you met in November or December," Pilcher continues.
To help job-seekers pounding the pavements this festive season, TheLadders.co.uk has developed a series of tips designed to secure that new position for the New Year.
Create Your 2010 CV: Look back over 2009 and what has happened in your career. What have you learned from your experience and what new skills have you acquired. Update your CV so you can translate even the most recent experiences into opportunities for 2010.
The Pre-Christmas Push: Companies with open jobs will often push to fill them before year end, especially if there is any concern about losing positions in next year's budget, so review all jobs you have seen advertised and / or applied for over the last four weeks. Follow them up and close the opportunities.
Leave no stone unturned: There are jobs out there and a deadline to fill them. Ensure that you use every available avenue – personal contacts, the web, agencies to leave no stone unturned.
Make the Most of Party Season: Christmas is all about parties and what better place to network and spread the word about your skills. This may present new opportunities for 2010 or even secure an interview for the perfect position. Who knows the first interview you get in the New Year could be from the Christmas party.
Stay focused. It will be hard to keep your head when all about are losing theirs, but staying focused, even between Christmas and New Year will mean that yours may be the call that reaches the boss whilst the PA is away. Don’t lose sight of the opportunity that less competition presents.
And Be Creative. If you have interviews lined up before Christmas, be creative. Find out when the company is having its Christmas party and if it’s the day before your interview take some hangover treats, coffee, muffins to make sure your interviewer remembers that you did your homework.
But according to TheLadders.co.uk, the careers site for Britian’s senior executives, pounding the pavement now may make the difference between starting 2010 settling into a new position and competing for one with the hordes of job-seekers who slacked their search for the festivities.
“It's a myth that no jobs get filled during the last six weeks of the year”, said Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk, which lists many of the UK’s £50K plus positions.
"January is the busiest job hunting time of the year, but the people who are hired in January are usually those who applied and interviewed in prior months. You don't hire somebody on Jan. 5 that you met on Jan. 3, you hire somebody you met in November or December," Pilcher continues.
To help job-seekers pounding the pavements this festive season, TheLadders.co.uk has developed a series of tips designed to secure that new position for the New Year.
Create Your 2010 CV: Look back over 2009 and what has happened in your career. What have you learned from your experience and what new skills have you acquired. Update your CV so you can translate even the most recent experiences into opportunities for 2010.
The Pre-Christmas Push: Companies with open jobs will often push to fill them before year end, especially if there is any concern about losing positions in next year's budget, so review all jobs you have seen advertised and / or applied for over the last four weeks. Follow them up and close the opportunities.
Leave no stone unturned: There are jobs out there and a deadline to fill them. Ensure that you use every available avenue – personal contacts, the web, agencies to leave no stone unturned.
Make the Most of Party Season: Christmas is all about parties and what better place to network and spread the word about your skills. This may present new opportunities for 2010 or even secure an interview for the perfect position. Who knows the first interview you get in the New Year could be from the Christmas party.
Stay focused. It will be hard to keep your head when all about are losing theirs, but staying focused, even between Christmas and New Year will mean that yours may be the call that reaches the boss whilst the PA is away. Don’t lose sight of the opportunity that less competition presents.
And Be Creative. If you have interviews lined up before Christmas, be creative. Find out when the company is having its Christmas party and if it’s the day before your interview take some hangover treats, coffee, muffins to make sure your interviewer remembers that you did your homework.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
THE GLOOM IS LIFTING
The recession is lifting, a study of over 3000 of Britain’s bosses reveals. Senior executive jobs site, TheLadders.co.uk, has found that 50% of bosses believe that the UK will be out of recession by Q4 2010, more than twice as many as six months ago when the figure was just 20%. 41% also believe that the job market will recover next year with new roles available for Britain’s 2.46 million unemployed.
Many bosses are buoyed by the recent quarterly unemployment figures which showed an actual decrease of 3.92% in unemployment amongst white collar workers during the last Quarter*. However, 58% of Britain’s bosses studied say that future job opportunities are at entry level.
Technology (27.1%), internet (25.1%) and food and beverage (24.1%) are the sectors most likely to recover earliest according to TheLadders.co.uk study which also reveals that 26% of Britain’s management believe that export due to the weakened pound could be a major catalyst to recovery. Other catalysts cited include growth and profit in the financial sector (24%) and domestic support of UK producers (20%).
TheLadders.co.uk found that 32% of bosses felt their organisations had become more efficient as a result of the recession whilst a further 31% felt the downturn was “a reality check” for business.
One in five said the biggest barrier to economic recovery is likely to be our own attitude to work. 21% of management questioned by TheLadders.co.uk cite the British attitude to work and “our strike culture” as impairing recovery, almost as many as believe that we are dependent upon a global shift to recovery (25%).
And finally whilst last year’s election of President Obama inspired many US businesses, 73% of bosses here see the forthcoming UK General Election as offering little hope to British business. Twenty percent say that the election may cause a temporary blip, 23% say the downturn is bigger than the UK and 30% believe that the UK economy is “in too big a hole” to spring back that quickly.
“While our survey results recognise the downturn will continue for some time to come, it’s encouraging to see optimism when six months ago, the study revealed much despair,” said Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk. “In adapting to the current climate, and becoming more efficient with time and resources, bosses are giving their businesses the best possible chance of not only surviving the recession but of emerging with a stronger proposition as a result.”
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Many bosses are buoyed by the recent quarterly unemployment figures which showed an actual decrease of 3.92% in unemployment amongst white collar workers during the last Quarter*. However, 58% of Britain’s bosses studied say that future job opportunities are at entry level.
Technology (27.1%), internet (25.1%) and food and beverage (24.1%) are the sectors most likely to recover earliest according to TheLadders.co.uk study which also reveals that 26% of Britain’s management believe that export due to the weakened pound could be a major catalyst to recovery. Other catalysts cited include growth and profit in the financial sector (24%) and domestic support of UK producers (20%).
TheLadders.co.uk found that 32% of bosses felt their organisations had become more efficient as a result of the recession whilst a further 31% felt the downturn was “a reality check” for business.
One in five said the biggest barrier to economic recovery is likely to be our own attitude to work. 21% of management questioned by TheLadders.co.uk cite the British attitude to work and “our strike culture” as impairing recovery, almost as many as believe that we are dependent upon a global shift to recovery (25%).
And finally whilst last year’s election of President Obama inspired many US businesses, 73% of bosses here see the forthcoming UK General Election as offering little hope to British business. Twenty percent say that the election may cause a temporary blip, 23% say the downturn is bigger than the UK and 30% believe that the UK economy is “in too big a hole” to spring back that quickly.
“While our survey results recognise the downturn will continue for some time to come, it’s encouraging to see optimism when six months ago, the study revealed much despair,” said Derek Pilcher, Managing Director of TheLadders.co.uk. “In adapting to the current climate, and becoming more efficient with time and resources, bosses are giving their businesses the best possible chance of not only surviving the recession but of emerging with a stronger proposition as a result.”
J7CEBX6TVS29
Friday, 20 November 2009
Job Hunters Turn to Tech Tricks to Optimise their Chances
As the UK job market continues to face unprecedented levels of redundancies, both employees and employers are embracing a variety of online tools to increase their opportunities.
This week TheLadders.co.uk, the careers site for executive job seekers has announced that they have reached a total of 300,000 members in less than two years of business. According to Jean-Michel Boujon, Marketing Manager at TheLadders, this is just the beginning of the internet as a recruitment tool.
He explains: “The Internet is a tool that we use in all areas of our lives, and so it makes sense that we should use technology to help us get ahead in our careers. Many mature web users, often in senior management positions are now comfortable sharing personal details like their CV over the web, as long as it is with a trusted and reputable brand”
In the past, those looking for new employment have become discontented with recruitment agencies who have failed to deliver against the brief given to them by the job-seeker, especially in the area of management jobs. An online service allows recruitment agencies to provide a tailored and more specific service by making all the jobs visible within a specific sector. The user can access tools to search and specify the types of jobs, salary, location and job title, and know that they have direct access to that recruiter. Job-seekers are able to regain control of their career progress and ensure that they are not missing the right opportunities.
TheLadders.co.uk has been able to monitor the trends and requirements of its members, showing that some business sectors are reaping greater benefits of online recruitment services than others. Jean-Michel Boujon continues: “There are, inevitably, certain sectors which perform better than others as the job-seekers in these sectors tend to change jobs more frequently. These sectors are Consulting, marketing, technology and Sales Individuals working in these sectors tend to be very entrepreneurial in nature and are often looking for a more challenging opportunity.”
For a company like TheLadders.co.uk to be so successful, it must provide the right service for employers as well as job seekers. Recruiting has previously been an expensive and time consuming process for employers, who now look for a more efficient and cost effective way of reaching exactly the right job candidates. Using the web is quick, incredibly targeted and job posts can start from as little as £100 or a regular subscription fee, which is a significant saving during these cash strapped times. Jean-Michel recounts: “One employer recently told us that he posted his job on TheLadders.co.uk and immediately heard from seven candidates with the exact credentials for the position. He was able to interview and recruit the perfect candidate in less than two weeks, saving time and money but delivering absolute quality”
So, it would seem that there is a science behind providing the perfect online recruitment service for the UK’s top earners. Creating the right cocktail of great opportunities, top talent and a service which is both cost effective and straight forward is why TheLadders.co.uk is increasing its membership at such a rate.
Whether in good times or bad, it is reassuring for both employers and job-seekers to know that there are still the right opportunities available to further both the careers of the individual and the progression of businesses.
Top Tips for On Line Job-Seekers
1) Stick to the Arial font, size 11 or 12 with your on line CV wherever possible
2) Google yourself – they will so make sure there is nothing out there that will wreck your chances.
3) Observe Netiquette – online courtesy is still a valuable asset – if you don’t know how to present something, research – don’t just ‘wing it’.
4) Your online profile is a reflection of yourself, but without personal contact/body language/colloquialisms’, so if you wouldn’t say it, don’t display it.
FHHNJAW55ZPE
This week TheLadders.co.uk, the careers site for executive job seekers has announced that they have reached a total of 300,000 members in less than two years of business. According to Jean-Michel Boujon, Marketing Manager at TheLadders, this is just the beginning of the internet as a recruitment tool.
He explains: “The Internet is a tool that we use in all areas of our lives, and so it makes sense that we should use technology to help us get ahead in our careers. Many mature web users, often in senior management positions are now comfortable sharing personal details like their CV over the web, as long as it is with a trusted and reputable brand”
In the past, those looking for new employment have become discontented with recruitment agencies who have failed to deliver against the brief given to them by the job-seeker, especially in the area of management jobs. An online service allows recruitment agencies to provide a tailored and more specific service by making all the jobs visible within a specific sector. The user can access tools to search and specify the types of jobs, salary, location and job title, and know that they have direct access to that recruiter. Job-seekers are able to regain control of their career progress and ensure that they are not missing the right opportunities.
TheLadders.co.uk has been able to monitor the trends and requirements of its members, showing that some business sectors are reaping greater benefits of online recruitment services than others. Jean-Michel Boujon continues: “There are, inevitably, certain sectors which perform better than others as the job-seekers in these sectors tend to change jobs more frequently. These sectors are Consulting, marketing, technology and Sales Individuals working in these sectors tend to be very entrepreneurial in nature and are often looking for a more challenging opportunity.”
For a company like TheLadders.co.uk to be so successful, it must provide the right service for employers as well as job seekers. Recruiting has previously been an expensive and time consuming process for employers, who now look for a more efficient and cost effective way of reaching exactly the right job candidates. Using the web is quick, incredibly targeted and job posts can start from as little as £100 or a regular subscription fee, which is a significant saving during these cash strapped times. Jean-Michel recounts: “One employer recently told us that he posted his job on TheLadders.co.uk and immediately heard from seven candidates with the exact credentials for the position. He was able to interview and recruit the perfect candidate in less than two weeks, saving time and money but delivering absolute quality”
So, it would seem that there is a science behind providing the perfect online recruitment service for the UK’s top earners. Creating the right cocktail of great opportunities, top talent and a service which is both cost effective and straight forward is why TheLadders.co.uk is increasing its membership at such a rate.
Whether in good times or bad, it is reassuring for both employers and job-seekers to know that there are still the right opportunities available to further both the careers of the individual and the progression of businesses.
Top Tips for On Line Job-Seekers
1) Stick to the Arial font, size 11 or 12 with your on line CV wherever possible
2) Google yourself – they will so make sure there is nothing out there that will wreck your chances.
3) Observe Netiquette – online courtesy is still a valuable asset – if you don’t know how to present something, research – don’t just ‘wing it’.
4) Your online profile is a reflection of yourself, but without personal contact/body language/colloquialisms’, so if you wouldn’t say it, don’t display it.
FHHNJAW55ZPE
Thursday, 22 October 2009
How Executives can Reinvent Themselves in Order to Enhance Job Prospects
Faced with redundancies, decreasing budgets and unemployment, many executives are now confronting the first major setback of their careers. Here at TheLadders we have been casting a watchful eye over the serious current challenges facing the executives to whom we offer our career services. As a result of our findings, we have devised our Top Ten ways in which executives can re-evaluate their skills and recreate their careers. We believe in turning necessity into the mother of invention.
Whilst latest figures suggest that the increase in unemployment is slowing, the ONS reports that even those who have retained their positions throughout the recession are now at risk as corporations continue to cut overheads. However, we are not the bearers of doom and gloom. According recruiters posting jobs on TheLadders.co.uk, salaries continue to rise in areas such as consultancy jobs and financial management jobs.
In early 2009, an executive survey carried out by The Korn/Ferry Institute asked over one thousand unemployed executives about their experiences and expectations for the continuation of their careers. The results showed that twenty nine percent of those partaking in the survey had never previously required more than three months in which to find a new position. In stark contrast, eighty three percent said that they now expect it will take them upwards of four months to find their next position.
With statisticians predicting a long haul ahead before our economy allows for the same opportunities as before, we are offering the following suggestions to executives to enable them to find the best managerial jobs in areas such as marketing, finance and technology in order to move forward with confidence in the current climate:-
1. Confidence. Change your attitude and discover personal confidence. For many long term employees, believing they are
part of a company and a skilled individual is the first hurdle.
2. Have an idea of what you want to do. Before packing up your desk it is important to know what makes you tick. What
pastimes do you enjoy? What challenges do you relish? What motivates you? Write them down and think about them. This
may indicate a new direction or highlight skills you can bring to your existing organisation.
3. Be ambitious but be realistic: Everyone dreams of writing a novel. However,
without any experience of writing a story, the leap is simply too risky. Invention is
about turning what you know into a reality.
4. Make sure you have a market. Research your new career goal online to ascertain
if there is a need for your new skill package. Look at which companies are doing
well and how your skills could transfer into a role there.
5. Rebuild your CV. Look at your career
goals, your skills and your experience and go to a professional CV writer. Their
experience will enable you to translate those skills into demonstrable claims on your
CV.
6. Go back to school. Learning new skills may be important to your career change. T
his process will require commitment, so consider carefully which classes will
enhance your prospects. Additional training and University courses can lead to
qualifications which can help you move to the next level, or make a change in
direction with confidence. Network at local business events, attend Conferences
and go to exhibitions.
7. Discuss your career change. Confide in trusted colleagues past and present. Seek
the help and advice of their friends and businesses colleagues. They may be able
to give you directional feedback and help you focus with the benefit of their
wisdom and insight.
8. Find the Opportunities. A new direction may mean a new route to finding roles.
Look on executive job sites like The Ladders to find positions that tick your requirements. Identify
which type of companies and recruiters are advertising these roles. Look at industry
associations, networking groups online and offline to produce a target companies
list.
9. Don’t leave it to the letter. Too many job applicants send their CV and wait to hear
whether they made the shortlist. A new career seeker needs to sell his or her self. Be prepared to call recruiters and outline why you should be considered for the role. Sell yourself as you would sell your business.
10.Stay focused. Your ideal role may not fall into your lap immediately so you may
end up having to work elsewhere to continue to earn. However, stay focused and
keep applying. Don’t lose sight of the opportunity that
this downturn could present. Be positive and honest about what you offer.
There are still many important and exciting opportunities out there to be filled. Companies are looking for talented individuals, so executives may need to start showcasing skills that they have thought of as unimportant until now. Being part of the recovery is a valuable position to hold, and executives who have the experience and skills to reinvent themselves and the sectors in which they will work are worth their weight in gold. Stay positive and be flexible. Change means opportunity and it’s often a time when individuals can make an even greater impact.
Whilst latest figures suggest that the increase in unemployment is slowing, the ONS reports that even those who have retained their positions throughout the recession are now at risk as corporations continue to cut overheads. However, we are not the bearers of doom and gloom. According recruiters posting jobs on TheLadders.co.uk, salaries continue to rise in areas such as consultancy jobs and financial management jobs.
In early 2009, an executive survey carried out by The Korn/Ferry Institute asked over one thousand unemployed executives about their experiences and expectations for the continuation of their careers. The results showed that twenty nine percent of those partaking in the survey had never previously required more than three months in which to find a new position. In stark contrast, eighty three percent said that they now expect it will take them upwards of four months to find their next position.
With statisticians predicting a long haul ahead before our economy allows for the same opportunities as before, we are offering the following suggestions to executives to enable them to find the best managerial jobs in areas such as marketing, finance and technology in order to move forward with confidence in the current climate:-
1. Confidence. Change your attitude and discover personal confidence. For many long term employees, believing they are
part of a company and a skilled individual is the first hurdle.
2. Have an idea of what you want to do. Before packing up your desk it is important to know what makes you tick. What
pastimes do you enjoy? What challenges do you relish? What motivates you? Write them down and think about them. This
may indicate a new direction or highlight skills you can bring to your existing organisation.
3. Be ambitious but be realistic: Everyone dreams of writing a novel. However,
without any experience of writing a story, the leap is simply too risky. Invention is
about turning what you know into a reality.
4. Make sure you have a market. Research your new career goal online to ascertain
if there is a need for your new skill package. Look at which companies are doing
well and how your skills could transfer into a role there.
5. Rebuild your CV. Look at your career
goals, your skills and your experience and go to a professional CV writer. Their
experience will enable you to translate those skills into demonstrable claims on your
CV.
6. Go back to school. Learning new skills may be important to your career change. T
his process will require commitment, so consider carefully which classes will
enhance your prospects. Additional training and University courses can lead to
qualifications which can help you move to the next level, or make a change in
direction with confidence. Network at local business events, attend Conferences
and go to exhibitions.
7. Discuss your career change. Confide in trusted colleagues past and present. Seek
the help and advice of their friends and businesses colleagues. They may be able
to give you directional feedback and help you focus with the benefit of their
wisdom and insight.
8. Find the Opportunities. A new direction may mean a new route to finding roles.
Look on executive job sites like The Ladders to find positions that tick your requirements. Identify
which type of companies and recruiters are advertising these roles. Look at industry
associations, networking groups online and offline to produce a target companies
list.
9. Don’t leave it to the letter. Too many job applicants send their CV and wait to hear
whether they made the shortlist. A new career seeker needs to sell his or her self. Be prepared to call recruiters and outline why you should be considered for the role. Sell yourself as you would sell your business.
10.Stay focused. Your ideal role may not fall into your lap immediately so you may
end up having to work elsewhere to continue to earn. However, stay focused and
keep applying. Don’t lose sight of the opportunity that
this downturn could present. Be positive and honest about what you offer.
There are still many important and exciting opportunities out there to be filled. Companies are looking for talented individuals, so executives may need to start showcasing skills that they have thought of as unimportant until now. Being part of the recovery is a valuable position to hold, and executives who have the experience and skills to reinvent themselves and the sectors in which they will work are worth their weight in gold. Stay positive and be flexible. Change means opportunity and it’s often a time when individuals can make an even greater impact.
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