5 JOB SEARCHING TIPS FOR UNEMPLOYED EXECUTIVES

Dani Davies, Social Media & Marketing Manager

If you've been out of work for longer than a year you may find there's two main things you're competing with: other executives who have been out of work for a shorter period of time and other employed, possibly more experienced, professionals. You're not alone here. In fact, the average time for executives and senior professionals to be out of work is actually 9-12 months. Here are 5 tips that can help you get out of that unemployed rut. 

1. Evaluate your current situation

Ask yourself these questions to evaluate what is and isn't working:

• What's going well?
• What needs improving?
• Am I getting any responses to my CV?
• How far into the interview process am I getting?

Analyse where you barriers are and diagnose the problems from there. Use any feedback you may be getting from interviewers to improve on these weaknesses. 

2. Keep networking

Don't let employers think that you've lost your competitive edge. Try to attend networking events and make yourself known. Keep on the ball and fill your diary with as many networking events you can.
If you can, find some volunteering or contracting work. Employers will favor you over others if they know you're trying to build upon your experience. Plus staying active during unemployed periods will help with those awkward moments in interviews when you're asked about those blank spaces on your CV.

3. Show off

If you've previously been in an interview process by big companies (whether they were successful or not), subtly let other companies know this.  The recruitment world is a small one, so don't lie about why your offer didn't come into fruition, but mentioning that you're in high demand will be attractive to a lot of executive search firms.

4. Reevaluate your options

Change nothing and nothing changes. It may be time to start thinking about widening your geographic perimeters, consider alternate job titles or maybe even go down another career path entirely.

5. Don't look for the perfect role

Sometimes almost perfect can turn out to be exactly what you need. No job is absolutely perfect but it may lead to some prosperous career advantages. For example, the salary may be great and the role is what you're looking for, but the location could mean a tricky commute. Try and be as flexible as you can, if you keep holding out for the perfect job, it may never come.