Learn how to land coveted senior jobs, including C-suite and upper management roles

Securing an executive role demands a blend of strategy, insight, and persistence. Whether you're defining your career ambitions, refining your executive CV, or tapping into professional networks, each step is crucial in navigating this competitive landscape. Here, we'll explore actionable advice on how to find executive jobs and elevate your candidacy for top management positions, from optimising your LinkedIn presence to partnering with executive recruiters and directly engaging with prospective employers.

What are executive jobs?

Executive jobs, the pinnacle of organisational hierarchy, are the most prestigious positions. They encompass strategic planning, decision-making, and leadership. As the most influential individuals in an organisation, executives steer departments, set goals and objectives, and ensure their achievement. 

Executive positions are sometimes known as the C-suite. That's because executive jobs typically start with “chief.” Here are the most common types of C-level executive roles:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Sets the overall company vision and strategy

  • Chief Operating Officer (COO): Oversees daily operations and implements the CEO's strategy

  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Manages financial planning, reporting, and risk management

  • Chief Information Officer (CIO): Leads IT strategy and infrastructure to align with business goals

  • Chief Marketing Officer (CMO): Directs marketing efforts to enhance brand and market presence

  • Chief Human Resources Officer (CHMO): Oversees recruitment, employee relations, and HR policies

  • Chief Technology Officer (CTO): Drives technological innovation and product development

  • Chief Compliance Officer (CCO): Ensures legal and regulatory standards adherence

  • Chief Risk Officer (CRO): Manages risk identification and mitigation strategies

  • Chief Strategy Officer (CSO): Develops and implements long-term strategic initiatives

Executive jobs are most common in large companies, particularly those with a functional organisational structure where employees are grouped into different departments based on specialisms and expertise. 

How to find executive jobs – top tips

If you're wondering how to find upper management jobs or how to get director-level jobs, remember that there are few places to find them. In fact, it's more likely that executive jobs will find you through the hidden job market as they're unlikely to be publicly advertised.

Whether you currently hold an executive position or are looking to step up to the lofty heights of the C-suite, here are a few tips, tools, and strategies to draw on when looking for an executive role:

Define your job ambitions 

Before beginning your job search, decide what executive role you want and the type of industry or company you want to work for. 

For example, if you currently hold a CFO position, do you want to transition into another CFO role in an entirely different industry or pursue a CEO role for a company in the same industry? 

Similarly, if you're currently the marketing director or vice president of marketing, are you targeting a CMO position or a different executive role?

You must be sure about the type of executive-level job you want, or you'll struggle to achieve your job search objectives.

Create an executive-level CV

An executive professional needs a worthy CV that effectively condenses a long and successful career into a concise and polished document. 

Unlike entry-level CVs, an executive CV should emphasise leadership, strategy, and change, showcasing higher-level skills and significant achievements.

Key points to consider when writing an executive CV include:

  • Highlight leadership and strategy: Focus on your ability to understand and impact the entire business, not just your role

  • Include your unique selling point (USP): Identify and emphasise what differentiates you from other candidates

  • Showcase results: Highlight achievements and contributions, not just responsibilities, and quantify positive outcomes wherever possible

  • Emphasise recent and relevant experience: Concentrate on your career's last 10-15 years and summarise earlier roles

  • Craft a professional summary: Start with a powerful personal statement that outlines your expertise, achievements, and unique value

  • Include LinkedIn and portfolio links: Include links to your LinkedIn profile and any relevant portfolios

  • Optimise for applicant tracking system (ATS): Ensure your CV is ATS-friendly by avoiding photos, images, and complex formatting

  • Double-check CV length and structure: Keep your CV concise, ideally two pages, and use a professional format with varied vocabulary

Work on your personal brand

A strong personal brand is crucial for securing an executive position. Establishing a professional brand is easy through LinkedIn. 

Before submitting applications, ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date with a professional headshot, a compelling headline, and a well-written summary highlighting your executive leadership expertise and career achievements. Also, demonstrate your top-management accomplishments in your experience, skills, endorsements, and recommendations sections. 

Once your LinkedIn profile is in good shape, stay active by posting updates, sharing industry news, and commenting on relevant discussions. This keeps you visible and demonstrates your engagement with the industry.

Another way to harness your personal brand is to regularly contribute to industry publications and participate in conferences, webinars, and panels. Sharing your insights can establish you as a thought leader in your field and expand your professional network.

Leverage your professional network

When looking for an executive job, it's best to focus on networking with people you know rather than forging new connections, as building trust and a positive reputation takes time. 

Don't hesitate to ask your professional network for referrals or recommendations if you're actively seeking a C-suite job. A referral from a trusted connection can significantly increase your chances of landing an interview. 

Remember to track your networking efforts and follow-ups, and always express appreciation for your network's assistance, advice, and referrals. Continue building a positive reputation by offering referrals to deserving contacts in your network, too.

Contact executive recruitment agencies

Recruitment agencies and consultants specialising in executive jobs will be a key asset in your executive job search. Examples of executive recruitment agencies – also among the best executive job search sites out there – and headhunters include:

Some of these firms are generalists, while others specialise in specific industries and sectors. Plenty of well-known recruitment agencies, like Hays, Michael Page, and Morgan Mckinley, help fulfil all levels of roles, including executive positions. 

Reach out to a handful of recruitment agencies and ask them about the companies they work with, their track record, and their processes to determine whether they are a good fit for your job search.

Target employers directly

Know which companies you'd like to work for in an executive-level position? Go ahead and contact them directly with your interest. 

Thorough research is essential – explore their current needs, issues, or pain points to see whether your skill set is a match. Also, look into the company culture and their employee benefits packages to see if they're a good fit for you in return.

During your search, pinpoint the most suitable hiring manager. Consider reaching out to a specific talent acquisition team member as your primary contact. Alternatively, direct communication with the CEO may be most effective for very senior executives. If you are at a lower seniority level, connecting with the head of your department – like the CFO for finance or the COO for operations – could be advantageous.

Stand out in the executive job market

In the quest to learn how to find executive jobs, it's normal to feel impatient as hiring times can vary. Finding one is nuanced too because C-suite positions are so rarely advertised and hard to come by. But, as outlined in this blog, there are things you can do to speed up your executive job search. If an opportunity does arise, remember that having a powerful CV is essential for your next goal: landing yourself that executive job interview.

Don't take any chances, and submit your CV for a free critique to ensure it's up to par, or enlist the help of the experts with our Executive Priority Package, designed specifically for leaders.

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