Navigating the Executive Job Market. A Diary of Landing a Leadership Role

In November, I made the difficult decision to leave my job without the safety net of another offer in hand. It was a daunting leap into the unknown, starting my job search from square one.

Now, after a few weeks at a new company, I’m eager to share my journey, insights, stats, conversion rates, and key considerations that helped me secure a contract with an outstanding organization. I’ll also delve into job search strategies and potential roadblocks.

Brace Yourself: Winter is Coming

Returning to the narrative, in November, I made the pivotal decision and embarked on my job search in December — a seemingly perfect month, right? Festive and filled with holidays and time off. Yet, from December 15th to January 15th, the recruitment world seemed to pause, focusing instead on rest, enjoyment, setting goals, and, for many, breaking those resolutions.

Moreover, I refined my search to B2B companies, prioritizing a cultural fit with the team, my future boss, and the company itself.

Exploring Different Company Cultures — From Big 4 to Startups

My quest for a new role took me through a diverse landscape of companies:

• Big 4 consulting firms
• International product companies
• Mid-sized software development firms
• Startups

I engaged with companies across the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, and Poland, leading to several observations:

1. Formality Larger companies exhibited more formality, distance, and indirect questioning. Smaller companies favored direct and informal communication.
2. Decision-Making In smaller companies, CEOs often sought to influence marketing strategies, sometimes based on limited information from sources like LinkedIn or various books. Larger organizations featured complex structures and hierarchies, sometimes making it unclear which project you’d join or who your boss would be.
3. Marketing Strategy in Software Development Companies A common issue was the lack of clear marketing strategy, goals, or metrics. Many companies struggled with aligning marketing and sales efforts. Economic downturns and layoffs were frequent topics of discussion.
4. Ego Larger firms, especially the Big 4, had high self-confidence levels and offered salaries comparable to smaller companies. Overtime was often expected, and the prestige of the brand was a significant draw. Large but not top-tier companies were self-conscious about their market position. Smaller companies emphasized unique benefits beyond brand recognition.
5. International Perspectives Salary negotiations were more common with companies in the US and Sweden. UK and Swedish companies preferred a hybrid work model, showing less openness to fully remote arrangements.

Numbers and Conversion Rates

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that over a third of unemployed workers had been jobless for more than 27 weeks. Job searches, especially at the executive level, can be daunting:

• The average job search takes 5–6 months.
• About 83% of candidates hear back within two weeks.
• The interview process can take 3–5 weeks, with job offers following 1–2 weeks after interviews. Executive positions may take longer.

My experience involved 28 recruitment processes, fueled by my network and LinkedIn presence. My funnel looked like this:

• Declined before screening: 25%
• Invited for screening: 57%
• Advanced to further stages: 75%
• Received offers: 84%

I began my search in early December and received my first offers in early January. After careful consideration, I accepted a position two weeks later.

Job Seeking Tips for Leaders

For those seeking leadership roles, consider the following:

• Be authentic

about your strengths and weaknesses. As a leader, manager, or director, it’s impossible to excel in everything. Embrace your unique skill set, but if it doesn’t align, don’t pretend until you make it.

• Tailor your resume

for the positions you apply for, customize it for each company, and adjust the job title accordingly. While design may not be paramount, investing in a professional, minimalist, and clear layout is worthwhile.

• Update and enhance your LinkedIn profile

— the job postings you’re interested in can guide what to emphasize. Additionally, active engagement and sharing your views demonstrate your involvement.

• Craft a cover letter

when genuinely interested in a position to avoid appearing indifferent or taking shortcuts; indiscriminately sending out resumes without careful preparation is like throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Focus on conversion rates rather than sheer quantity.

• Stand out

When speaking with recruiters, I learned that for certain positions, a recruiter might receive between 300 to 1,000 resumes, emphasizing the importance of standing out.

• Conduct thorough research —

examine companies, their case studies, revenue, and stability.

• Reach out to active LinkedIn users

associated with these companies for recommendations and an honest perspective on the company culture, the role, and the team.

• Be willing to experiment.

Persistently applying the same unsuccessful tactic is futile. After a rejected application, I always sought feedback to avoid misconceptions and to refine my resume accordingly.

I hope my experiences can assist those struggling to find their next opportunity. Remember, success is possible with the right preparation and mindset, even during challenging times.

Till next time,

Best wishes,

Klaudia