Want Better Executive Job Offers? 2 Savvy Strategies To Help You Succeed
By: Andrew Russell

With all the recent optimism in the economic recovery and improving job market, many executives are still struggling to secure decent senior level positions. Why? The answer usually comes down to two factors that can either slow down or accelerate your job search and career progression. Knowing these is essential for any executive who wants to get ahead and stay ahead:

1. Offer more than candidates with similar backgrounds and qualifications

An average recruiter's database has thousands of executive applicants' names. In fact, established recruiters add hundreds of new candidate contacts every week. Why is this important to you? If you are one of many applicants who submitted an application to numerous headhunters or corporate recruiters and got little response, you may need to re-consider how you promote yourself. When corporate managers hire, they specifically look for candidates who are undisputed leaders in their respected areas of expertise. To put it in simple terms, employers will prefer to hire you over another if you have specialized knowledge that is not readily available in the marketplace and can offer significantly better benefits than other comparably qualified applicants.

IN A NUTSHELL: To get attention of hiring decision makers, identify specific benefits that will quickly differentiate your candidacy from others and focus your job search on this unique differentiation. When approaching any corporate recruiter or headhunter, immediately convey why talking to you is worthwhile for them. Concentrate on what makes you a one-of-a-kind executive and translate this into a personalized value proposition that is hard to refuse. Employers act when they know the risk of not hiring you is greater than the risk of bringing you on board.

2. Have a paper proposal that is market-focused and rejection-proof

Taking self-promotion for granted is a guaranteed formula for rejection. Yet many executives waste months of time, magically hoping to get a worthwhile offer. The truth is, executives who don't advertise themselves properly rarely get short-listed for top opportunities. To be seen as an 'A list' applicant, an executive needs to have a resume that is not just factual but impactful and market-focused. Forget recycled formats, overused keyword lists and boring examples. Your presentation needs to be about you, not some guy whose career history remotely resembles yours. Customization and a strategic message are the key. Advertising only works when the intended product is seen as high potential and must-have. Before you embark on your job hunt, start with an attention getting document that implies "dear employer, your search may be over". Don't be easy to forget, be hard to ignore!

IN A NUTSHELL: Prepare your resume with the same mindset you would prepare an executive proposal -- to secure interest of investors. This must be done meticulously and strategically to justify why you are the top contender for the type of positions and the salary you want. Never use a canned, fill-the-blanks format, as it will weaken your presentation. Start with this goal in mind - to make your message outstanding and powerful enough to give employers a clear incentive to be interested in hiring you.

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About the author:

Andrew is an executive career expert with ABCExecutiveResumes.com, one of the leading executive resume writing firms. If you are looking for a senior management or executive position, get a FREE resume review at: http://www.ABCExecutiveResumes.com