Getting Expert Advice

Recently a number of people I work with, in different parts of the world, have gone through a transition phase as they have chosen to explore new career options.  This process can surely suck your mojo from your soul. In listening and working through this process, I decided to seek out an expert, drink coffee, and extract the tips and tools we need to consider should we go choose to go down the road of looking for new careers utilising the services of a recruiter. 
I sat with Alan Locke Executive Director of EIM, an international recruitment firm and chatted about how to approach recruiters. Alan has been a Partner in one of the senior executive search firms and now focuses on senior level interim management appointments.
Here is what Alan suggests:

• Send your CV to the headhunters/recruiters you know, expect to receive an acknowledgement but plan on the assumption that nothing will emerge from them.
• Manage your own expectations…. Send it, but don’t expect them to jump onto it, it could sit in a file for many months! Your career is going to be a whole lot more important to you than to a recruiter who is getting loads of CV’s every day. However Alan did say that you do need to get in their system, so it is worth sending your CV.
• Make a list of everyone you know and inform them about your availability and career preferences – your personal network is more prospective than all the headhunters/recruiters put together. 
• Further, when you are speaking with members of your network ask them what recruiters they know and add them to your list.  This is very important and a great idea - Reid Hoffman, founder of Linked In, talks about this in his book "The Start up of You" . The guys I have worked with found this invaluable.
• When something arises, apart from the financial due diligence you will do on the company offering you a role, it is more important to do non-financial due diligence - asking former staff, former directors, customers, suppliers and any other stakeholder 'How would you describe the culture, ethics and style of this company, how do they treat people, what is the CEO like to work for, do theyobey the law?”

Alan also said that recruiters are interested in the companies/brands you have worked with… so impress them. If the names are not familiar to most people, ensure you qualify the size, scale and scope of the businesses you worked for, as this can help recruiters gain a better appreciation of your experience. 
One other thing I would add, tell whoever you are speaking with that you are prepared to get in, work hard and get it done…. Alan agreed, as today we need thinkers and doers!
So there you go…. great advice from the best, to consider, should you decide to act upon a change in career. You can find details on Alan and the team at EIM at  www.eim.com.au  ©GB