In our modern business world, the only thing we really can be certain of is uncertainty. Every day, there seems to be a new piece of news, whether it is a governmental policy, technological advancement, or consumer insight, that impacts the way organizations do business. Changes move so quickly that companies are looking for new all-stars to help right the ship and steer the organization towards where it needs to go. 

An impactful highly-optimized LinkedIn profile can be the gateway to new networking and executive job opportunities. But what will make you stand out among the other 450 million profiles?

I find it interesting how many senior executives still develop cold feet, when it comes to the executive interview process, despite several years of experience of being on the other side of the fence! A casual conversation on the topic with a couple of friends at the club led to conversations with others, research… and, lo and behold, I have a treatise ready on the process! 

Executive job seekers possess a breadth of operational and leadership skills that can be applied to a diversity of industries. Perhaps you are interested in enhancing your skills set or maybe your current industry is one of those dying breeds, affected by the evolution of technology and the ever-evolving business landscape. To maximize your chances for success, you will want to source job opportunities within those industries that are growing and have higher executive growth.

A strong relationship between executives and executive search consultants is one that helps both succeed in their career. For search consultants, this means having a strong network of executives who can act as sources and provide them with important market insights. To learn more about sourcing, we sat down with Rachel Roche, President of Smart Search and the AESC's consulting trainer for Researchers and Associates.

The CFO role requires a strong candidate able to lead the charge. But, the qualifications needed and the route to get there is ever-changing. BlueSteps sat down with Debbie Ellis, one of our BlueSteps Executive Career Services Advisors, to learn more the status of the position and the attributes needed to obtain a CFO position.

Peter Tulau, Director at AltoPartners, shares his “insider’s view” on the preparation good executive search consultants do to optimize the 60-minute interview time and get the most pertinent information from candidates during the executive search interview. As you prepare for your next executive interview, consider the crucial questions executive search consultants will ask themselves as they evaluate candidates’ suitability for the position.

The Executive Search Interview – a Search Consultant’s Perspective

Most directors would describe their first non-executive board role as a major professional milestone, a terrific growth opportunity and something they are very glad they did, even though it represented a significant commitment. Given the demands of a board position — 20-30 days a year up to nine or more years — it pays to carefully weigh the pros and cons of a given opportunity. 

As professionals age, each individual is accountable to apply their intellect to mitigate the risks associated with ageism. Since the last publication, Warren Buffett, at his annual shareholders meeting noted that one of his top executives is 92, and still running one of his largest business units. This statement speaks for itself.