Quote:
Originally Posted by susman
Jobs that I'm in search for are senior professional roles. I have an engineering degree, MBA, and a six sigma black belt certification.
I just want access to these non-advertised roles that I am supposedly missing out on.
I do have a small network of people that I'm in contact with but they are not at the level or in the areas that need my experience and skills. I have gone to professional group meetings and other functions but most people that I meet seem to be just looking out for their best interest. I have not meet people who have said "I have this great job at my company that is not advertised that you would be a great fit for let me have a copy of your resume and I will take it to the hiring manager." Most of the times it's "Hey just checkout our career website and see what we have opened."
I have to say that I have always been the reluctant type to randomly approach people I don't know and ask if they have a job. I know you wouldn't say it exactly like that but it's the whole idea of feeling like I'm kind of begging.
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Susman....
Hmmm, I specialize in recruiting Quality professionals trained in Six Sigma and Lean Methods.
So in a way, what I'm about to say exactly applies to you....
My first thought when I saw your query was that you would find out the same way I do- by speaking directly to HA's who hire for the job(s) you are seeking.
They are the ones who have not yet put in a req to HR and is not running an ad at the job boards and has not yet had HR put the vacancy up at their 'Careers' website.
Who else would know but the Hiring Authority who knows s/he is going to cut and replace someone but has not yet said anything and/or perhaps is handling this in a confidential manner and is not discussing this outside her or his department.
As I've said elsewhere here at C-D, I've run into such a situation more than once- where a HA had plans to cut someone and was startled to get my call, offering (by coincidence) someone who would make a good replacement.
Regardless of what has been said here by others about how hiring is not done without running ads and putting in requisitions with HR, the exact opposite is true enough. That accounts for that 'hidden job market' that is so often discussed.
I run right into it all the time when I am marketing a candidate vs searching for one.
So the answer to your question is to do this the hard way (the same way headhunters do it) - speak with the corporate MBB's who would know what, if anything, is going on behind the scenes.
If you are a corporate MBB, then you would want to hit on the VP, SVP or EVP who heads up [global] Quality for the company of interest. LinkedIn, Google and Annual Reports will give you the name of that person.
If I were you and was so interested in knowing the inside scoop on what SS jobs there may be that are not being discussed in the public domain, I would go about this by creating a list of the companies that I would want to work for and then (OMG!!! Just What HHP Has Been Saying All These Years!!!) call the top-most person heading up Quality/CI/Operational Excellence and wave your credentials past that person and see what s/he says.
If someone has a 'better' way, I'd sure like to know what it is.
Hmmm, I was about to hit 'submit' and then I thought of something else you might consider:
This is a long shot but were I you I'd consider it-
This is assuming your title is Director or VP....
The top five or so global retained search firms -Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart are three of them- would be recruiting for your level of job from time to time. They may or may not be confidential searches. So you might want to send each of them your resume.
Now, understand that 'if' they are recruiting currently for someone like yourself, you will get a call, depending on their take on your credentials. If, however, they are not currently recruiting for someone like you, your resume will be filed for the future. They do not 'market' candidates so they will not offer to make calls on your behalf nor will they agree to do so if you ask them.
But, it's another iron in the fire.
And, it occurs to me that you may have people in your LinkedIn Network who have relations with such headhunters- the ones who work for Korn Ferry, et al. You might want to go through your network's contacts and see if this is true. If so then as a courtesy, let that person know you want to connect and communicate with that recruiter and then take it from there.
But remember what I said- if s/he is not recruiting for someone at your level, in your specialty, there won't be anything they can do for you since those firms only recruit for clients, they won't make calls on your behalf.
Bonne Chance,
P.S. People here at C-D are going to react to what I've said by telling you that you should not be 'bothering' executives- that they won't take your call, they will think you cannot follow directions, they will think you cannot fill out a template at their ATS, that you are being intrusive, etc., etc., yadda yadda, harumph, harumph.
Yes, it's true, we [headhunters] have an advantage in this regard since they are used to getting our calls, are used to us arriving without their admin/executive assistant having stopped us at the door and by and large, they know we are calling with goodies so they take our calls, sometimes even suggesting they are open to a change, themselves, etc.
So, yes, it is a different dynamic when we call for ourselves and as you said, you don't like holding out your hand so maybe calling HA's is not for you.
You have to decide what it's worth to you.
Plus, yes, there is the matter of dodging administrative and executive assistants and this in itself takes some practice and know-how so you can get past them without being held up at the front desk.
Normally, I'd also suggest someone in your shoes get in touch with a contingency/retained search consultant and simply ask that person to make some calls for you and/or keep you in mind while that person makes their regular calls.
This is why you hear so many times it is a good idea to have a headhunter in your back pocket.
They keep you informed when they hear/are told of opportunities that might suit you.
Paul............
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