Executive search firms are hired by companies to find, vet, and introduce to them highly qualified candidates for given positions. Many people confuse these firms with recruitment companies to a point where they use the two terms interchangeably. Recruitment companies are tasked with the sourcing of junior positions including those in lower-level management.

Executive search firms, on the other hand, primarily focus on experienced and high-skilled executives or senior managers. Therefore, for you to even appear on the initial shortlist, you must be highly-experienced and have built a name in your field of specialization. Despite this success, some people still fail to attract the attention of executive search companies. So, what should you do to make sure that appear at the top of the list during an executive search?

1. Build A Great Reputation

Perhaps one of the best ways to attract the attention of executive search specialists is to make a name for yourself. There’s no denying the fact that you’ll need to be successful in your field for you to gain any consideration from these companies. Remember, headhunters are always seeking people who are not only highly-skilled, but also experienced in their respective jobs. However, having a successful career life isn’t enough to convince the specialists. Therefore, you’ll need to build your reputation.

So, how do you achieve this? Well, it’s not the simplest thing to do, but that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. Actually, your reputation is based on how other people—including your friends and family—see you. Do they associate you with leadership qualities? Can they trust you with their tasks or to take care of their property? These are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself. Of course, to gain positive feedback, you’ll need to showcase your skills for everyone to see. This way, you’ll have a number of people willing to recommend you if asked to refer someone.

2. Be An Expert In Your Field

Executive headhunters such as M&A Search are always on the lookout for professional experts in various fields. Building a great reputation in your area of specialization will give your publicity a boost. However, you need to back that up with your skills so that you can be considered ahead of other competitors. So, how do you work towards being an expert in the industry?

Well, one of the best ways is to attend seminars and industry events where you’ll not only be able to meet with other professionals, but also share your knowledge. Seeking to become a speaker in these events will also show your confidence and ability to lead the rest. However, always be careful not to overdo because that can be a dealbreaker for some headhunters.

Another way of showcasing your expertise is by making sure that you do whatever assignment you get wholeheartedly. Of course, this should be part of your professionalism but not everyone gives the seriousness required whenever they’re assigned a small duty. You never know when the spotlight is on you; therefore, always give your best in whatever you do.

3. Increase Your Visibility

Being visible both online and offline is one of the best ways of ensuring that you’re noticed by executive search firms and you can get in with the big boys if you play your cards right. The key here is to build your social media sites’ presence and to do all that, you need to get listed among the top candidates in a given category. There are many ways to achieve this but the easiest is to join a few of the popular social sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. By doing this, you’ll be seen by hundreds of thousands of people and you’ll have the opportunity to leverage off of that.

So, how do you make sure that you increase your social media presence after joining those platforms? Well, one thing you should do first is ensure that you build a great profile. It’s more like marketing your business, but in this case, your skills and job experience are what make your brand. LinkedIn, for instance, is where most executive search specialists source their candidates. Therefore, including all your academic qualifications, skills, and job experience in this social media platform will go a long way in putting your profile on the spotlight.

One factor that many people forget while building their profiles is the inclusion of keywords. Remember, headhunters always use certain popular words in a given field to search for their ideal candidates. Therefore, for you to appear in the results, you’ll have to ensure that you include those phrases in your profile.

However, building a social media profile and including keywords is not the end of your visibility project. It’s imperative that you take part in as many relevant forums as possible. This way, you’ll be able to showcase your knowledge and prove the credibility of all the information on your profile page. Just like a traditional seminar, you’re likely to meet many executive search specialists who might be lured by your expertise and professionalism shown by how you articulate your thoughts in these forums.

4. Build Your Network Consistently

As earlier mentioned, creating an active social media account gives you a chance to meet with many executive search specialists. This is what’s actually known as networking, and it’s very vital if you’re looking to find a fitting job to enhance your career journey. It’s imperative that you work towards meeting as many headhunters as possible. Make sure to follow up with everyone you meet, but be careful not to spam their mail boxes because that’ll work against you.

Conclusion

Executive search specialists, or headhunters, are tasked with finding the best candidate for given positions. To appear on their radar, you must be an expert in your field and have a profile that shows the same. However, that’s not the end of it because most headhunters would like to see tangible results that prove whatever you’ve mentioned on your profile. As such, making an appearance in as many seminars and industry activities as possible could be crucial. Also, being an active member of an online forum could be beneficial in building your professional image.