Executive Resumes, Personal Branding & Executive Job Search

"Thanks for sharing this, Jean. You make some good points - particularly as it concerns the value of a site like LinkedIn in the application process.

In all my years recruiting I've only had one candidate reach out to me on the site (and not even for a position I was sourcing), but I was so impressed that I went out of my way to get the recruiter actually handing the job to give the candidate a phone screen."

Amazingly, some of the simplest tactics can pack the biggest punch when it comes to job search. Going into your target company's Facebook page and clicking "Like" is one. Rory, the recruiter I quote above, confirms that reaching out through LinkedIn can work well.

Here's how to do it:

Find a way to connect with the recruiter working for the company (or, in Rory's case, any recruiter in the group). You can do this by reaching out through your first or second degree connections or using one of your Inmails (~$10/connect). Or, if you aren't connected, join a group that the recruiter is in (see Groups lower down in their profile). That will enable you to connect with another member of the group.

What do you say when you connect? That you saw the job posting and wanted to reach out directly. State your value proposition for that position and add a comment about something unique to that company - a challenge they are experiencing you can help with, for instance, an acquisition, new product line, expansion, new contract etc. Tie that challenge to your experience. Ask if they would be free to talk for 5 or 10 minutes about how your specific experience could help the company with the current challenge. Thank them and give them a phone number and email where you can be reached. Always have a professional voicemail message.

What if you can't find the recruiter or hiring authority on LinkedIn? Go to the company search bar and type in the name of the company. For many companies, employees who are on LI will be shown. Is there someone there who can connect with your target person because they are in the same dept, do a similar job, or are in the same location? Ask if they would like to talk for a few minutes about the company's culture and what it's like to work there - because you are interested in the company. If, when you are talking, the occasion arises for you to say you would like to submit a resume for a posted job, would they hand it to the hiring manager, all the better.

What if you can't find the recruiter or hiring authority on LinkedIn or don't have the name? Try a general Google search on the company name. Or go to Manta.com and find the company - they will often have officers of the company listed.

The short of it? LinkedIn offers a number of ways in - take advantage of all of them - become a LinkedIn athlete!

PS Taking non-obvious routes to get noticed in your job search are worth taking the time for. Another is to send a US Mail letter (no resume) directly to the hiring authority for the particular job. Do it overnight delivery and it will get opened.