Kevin Kohleriter ⋅ Dallas, TX ShockWatch, Inc ⋅ 12 years experience

Agree with the above. most key senior positions are not advertised. I would use LinkedIn and start reaching out to recruiters and headhunters in the field you want to get a job in as they are fairly well connected. I would also start doing information interviews and using your personal network as much as possible. Referrals through your network are key.

Heather Markell ⋅ Oak Park, IL AECOM ⋅ 11 years experience

Often the very best opportunities are not advertised. Networking, both in person and through social media like LinkedIn are by far the best ways to be considered for the unadvertised positions. Most often, a search committee is formed and a recruiter (inside or outside) engaged to locate pre-qualified candidates to reduce wasted time on the part of the committee (very expensive wasted time).

You do not necessarily need to pay for a resume update, but you do need to whip it into shape for sites like LinkedIn and then also for the search committees to consume. This is not trivial, but critical to your success.

Tailoring all messages (networking, resume, LinkedIn profile, etc.) to the industries and your areas of expertise is needed to really make your message resonate with the target market.

Heather Gillbanks ⋅ Houston, TX General Electric ⋅ 26 years experience

All good advice. Depends somewhat on your field. Example: The Ladders is aimed mainly at senior level technical people (used to be obly jobs over $100k).

On your LinkedIn Profile, ensure you have enough key words for your field that if a recruiter is searching for people there (and I am told that the do), they will find you. Also, be somewhat careful about accepting invitations from people you don't really know (having them as a Connection is a tacit approval of them).

For recruiters, understand whether you are dealing with a retained, or fee-for-placement person. Retained usually have a leg up with the hiring managers.

Keep in mind that when dealing with a recruiter, they work for the hiring managers, not you (unless you have paid a recruiter a fee to help place you). Feel free to deal with multiple recruiters, BUT you must not let more than one submit your name to the same role!!

Finally, there are scam artists out there posing as recruiters, but who just take people's money. They tend to have very "thin" but slick web sites, so beware!

James Harper ⋅ Cave Creek, AZ U.S. Army Reserve, Lieutenant Colonel ⋅ 34 years served

The Ladders, Eagle Network Forum on linkedin, Pay a headhunter for a percentage, pay 700 to have your resume updated.