Mr. Kelly participated in Episode II of the CEO Speaker Series in October 2009. He is the President, CEO, and Director of the executive search giant Heidrick & Struggles; the world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. Below is the job search advice he shared with our listeners.

Hiring Expectations

We have witnessed an interesting phenomenon. Not only was there a financial crisis but also somewhat of a leadership crisis in terms of recruitment. Now we are starting to see stabilization and may have hit the floor or bottom in July or August of 2009. The great news is that we have hit bottom and hiring for talent is starting to pick up a little bit.

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How to Create Your Own Job Market

We can actually call this economic crisis a “Repression” which is a good word to describe the leadership freeze that quickly followed the credit freeze. For a while decisions were impossible due to the quickly changing landscape and supply of money stopping in its tracks.

Likewise, you must keep refining your understandings of your own strengths. Times like these provide you with the opportunity to reflect on what makes you stand out in an organization. Next you really need to understand what potential employers want and focus on the ones that are the best fit for your strengths.

Use of Social Networks

Recommend that you use social media during your job search since it has made networking easier. The promise of networking sites is not quite matched with the delivery of jobs but networking is essential to finding new opportunities. Instead of sending a group of resumes to employers, you could use social networks to develop connections. Do not underestimate social networks and leverage them the best you can.

How to Distinguish Yourself

This downturn has been cruel to A, B, and C players alike. However, someone who is a B or C player will not necessarily be a B or C player in another organization. The same holds true for A players. All job seekers should assume they are up against good people. To standout, fit is really relevant here and you must find opportunities where your skill sets are natural and obvious to potential employers.

Confidence is a related point. Some people who are upbeat and confident are more attractive to potential employers. While other individuals regularly fail to convince potential employers since they do not believe in themselves. Self confidence may be lacking in many individuals due to this tough environment. However, it is something that is required in terms of employers who like to engage and hire great people.

How to adapt by entering a new profession or starting your own business

The good news is that this is a time to get a pass over the course of the next 2-3 years to really get exposure or gain a skill set that you might not otherwise have had. Specifically you have an opportunity now to gain experience that can help your career over the long term. The goal is to really think long-term.

This is a challenging time but especially for mid-career professionals. First, do not underestimate how tough this change will be. The process may take years and not months. Therefore focus on the long term. Secondly, people who succeed in reinventing themselves experimented through paid or volunteer work. Experience through trial and error helped them adapt their skills to their current opportunities. This is also vital for you to successfully adapt and change. Finally, conduct a candid assessment of what you can offer versus available opportunities. This exercise will reveal skill gaps you need to fill. Training can improve your marketability and keep you stimulated and sane.

How to find work as a consultant but not necessarily a job

The interim market has never been more useful for organizations that need expertise but cannot justify the fixed cost of hiring a full-time employee. Particularly small firms or start-ups, that cannot hire a full-time CIO, CFO, and so on, are looking for individuals with specialized skills that can add value short-term. As market demand increases from people looking for strong specialized skills, your chances of getting hired will increase. However, gaining exposure or experience is a fantastic way to do it.

Most importantly, you need to ask yourself this crucial question: What are people going to buy? Answering this question helps to make your decision much easier and forces you to refine your target market to the most appropriate one (for your offering).

CEO activities you can perform and demonstrate to land your ideal job

Decide on the one thing you will accomplish before sun down and make sure it is a smart move that can help you move your master plan forward on that day. At the end of the day stop and check to see if you did it to make sure events do not control you but you are in control of events.

There is a lot of pressure on you when you are looking for work and you must remember to be yourself and remain patient. You are in the business of winning trust and you cannot do this if you dare to be someone else because employers’ instincts are about trustworthiness. At the end of the day there are jobs out there for people and you will find a job. Although this is easier to say than do, do not put too much pressure on yourself.

Feel free to leave feedback or ask questions in the comments section. Remember the wisdom of a crowd is more valuable than the knowledge of a few individuals. So get engaged in JobRadioUSA’s free online career community and persuade others to do so as well.

Bonus Lens and Hub Articles (Not Posted on JobRadioUSA) You Should Read

• How to Successfully Conclude Your Job Search in 2010
• How to Supercharge Your Stalled Job Search
• How to Get a Job by Networking with Your Warm Contacts
  
• Tap into the Hidden Job Market via Cold Calls
• 4 Ways to Uncover Hidden Jobs
• 6 Step Process to Ace Any Job Interview
• The Four Components of a Dynamic Cover Letter
• How to Prepare for an Upcoming, Potential Layoff
• How to Cope with a Difficult Job Search
• The Characteristics of a Dynamic Resume