Several people apply for an executive-level job. Sadly, many of them fail even to get an interview. Way too often, this never-ending cycle is more than enough to leave you feeling frustrated and may even want to give up.
In our years helping clients get hired in executive-level jobs, we noticed they tend to commit quite some mistakes that are ruining their chances to get hired.
Landing an executive-level job is challenging, but it is not impossible. In this post, we will be calling out those things that are jeopardizing your chances of getting your dream executive-level job, how to overcome these, and more important, how to avoid them in the future.
Executive-level job hunting mistakes
Mistake #1: Having a novel for a CV
People tend to think that long CVs that tells every nitty-gritty detail about each achievement in the last ten years will work in their favour. That is as far from the truth as it could be. Recruiters usually don’t have the time to look at each aspect in detail. Thus, it would bode well for you to keep your CV precise and not too long, at the same time focusing on those things important enough for you to be considered for this job.
No matter how impressive your executive CV may be, the fact is that recruiters do not have the time to look at each aspect in detail. Keeping your CV short and sweet by sticking to the main highlights will help you shorten it without compromising your achievements.
A structure is also essential when writing your executive CV. Add a Selected Achievements section on the first page. That way, recruiters can quickly see your most significant work achievements, and decide to spend just a few seconds longer to read through the rest of your CV.
Mistake #2: Not saying nice things about your current job
Most recruiters ask candidates what they like about their current job, as a means of gauging how they will fit into the new scenario. If you cannot mention something definite and tangible, you might lose out on what might otherwise have been a perfect opportunity.
No matter how unhappy you may be with your current job, do your best to say something good about your current job. After all, at one point in time, this was your dream job.
Mistake #3: Not having a plan
Benjamin Franklin once said: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
When applying for an executive-level job, you need to make several decisions that can affect the company. Thus, you need to have definite plans for your future, of the company and be able to communicate these efficiently. Vision, therefore, is vital.
Mistake #4: Not having the right skills
This is especially important in an executive-level job. Most candidates are highly qualified, and you need to communicate how and why you stand out. Do this as precisely as possible, and you can have a high impact on your recruiter.
While applying for an executive-level job, it is essential to familiarise yourself with the company, as well as the role. Usually, highly qualified people fail to land a job they are more than eligible for due to simple things they might have overlooked. Hop on over to E1, and we can make sure that you land that dream exec job you want.
