The Leader's Guide to Executive Search: 5 Ways To Be Magnetic
Executive search can be a mysterious process for many product leaders. In this article, we'll break down 5 key topics to help you navigate executive search and become a "job search magnet" based on insights from 20+ year executive recruiter Somer Hackley, author of Search In Plain Sight, and product leader Colin Lernell (myself), former product leader at Patreon, Noom, and Udacity.
Understanding Executive Search: Learn how search firms operate, their relationship with clients, and how to effectively engage with different types of firms.
Becoming a "Job Search Magnet": Discover how to develop a compelling personal brand and create a memorable "Think of me when..." statement that resonates with recruiters.
Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile: Understand how recruiters use LinkedIn and learn strategies to make your profile stand out in search results.
Engaging with Recruiters: Master the art of building meaningful relationships with recruiters, including effective outreach and ongoing communication.
Navigating the Interview Process: Prepare for recruiter interviews with strategies to articulate your value proposition and showcase your leadership experience effectively.
Interested in taking action on your job search? Consider applying to my intensive Maven program on the product executive job search starting Oct 29.
1. Understanding Executive Search
Recruiters find candidates for jobs—not jobs for candidates.
—Somer Hackley, Search In Plain Sight
Executive search firms are hired by companies to find top candidates for senior roles.
Some key points to understand:
Recruiters find candidates for jobs, not jobs for candidates
Their priority is to find candidates that make them look good to their clients
They typically present only the top 5-10 candidates to the hiring company
Different firms specialize in different company stages, industries, etc.
"We're working for the hiring company to find the top five, 10 people in the world for that job." - Somer Upload
How it works:
Company engages search firm for a specific role
Firm develops search strategy and target list
Recruiters create market map of potential candidates
Initial outreach and screening
Present top 5-10 candidates to client
Tips:
Build relationships with multiple recruiters, not just one
Understand a firm's specialization before reaching out
Don't assume contacting one recruiter at a firm means you're considered for all their roles
Research the different types of firms: big firms (e.g., Korn Ferry), mid-market tech firms (e.g., True Search), and boutique firms
Do:
Research firms and individual recruiters to understand their focus
Engage with recruiters at various levels, from associates to partners
Ask your network for introductions to reputable recruiters
Don't:
Spam generic messages to every recruiter you can find
Expect recruiters to find you a job; instead, position yourself as a valuable candidate for their searches
Ignore boutique firms; they often have strong relationships with specific clients
2. Becoming a "Job Search Magnet"
To attract opportunities, focus on:
Developing a clear personal brand
Cultivating relationships with recruiters
Staying visible in your industry
Offering value to recruiters
The key is to be memorable so recruiters think of you when relevant roles come up.
"It's all about realizing recruiters aren't helping you get a job. So how do you frame these conversations with them so that you're the person they think of in a month from now, three months from now, in a year from now, in three years from now?" - Colin Lernell
How to craft a "Think of me when..." statement:
Identify your unique combination of experiences and strengths
Consider the specific problems you've solved and transformations you've led
Think about the stage and type of company where you add the most value
Craft a concise statement that captures these elements
Examples:
"Think of me when a SaaS product is growing beyond initial traction and needs to scale from $10M to $100M ARR with a team of 10+ PMs."
"Think of me when a consumer product company is looking to transition into the enterprise space. I've led this transformation, building teams from scratch to 60+ across geos and landing Fortune 500 clients."
Tips:
Be specific about your experience and value-add
Highlight unique journeys/transformations you've led
Include metrics and tangible outcomes
Mention specific industries or company stages where you excel
Do:
Focus on problems you've solved and value you've added
Update your "Think of me when..." statement as your career evolves
Practice delivering your statement succinctly in conversations
Don't:
Use generic descriptions like "seasoned product leader"
Make your statement too long or complex
Forget to tailor your statement based on the recruiter's specialization
3. Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile is often the first thing recruiters see. Understanding how recruiters use LinkedIn can help you optimize your profile effectively.
"I love LinkedIn because LinkedIn is fresh and new and people keep their own profiles up to date. And it reminds me of who I already know a lot of the time." - Somer Upload
How recruiters search LinkedIn:
Use Boolean search strings with specific titles, keywords, and company names
Look for active LinkedIn users (they appear higher in search results)
Scan headlines and current roles quickly
Click through to read detailed experience for promising candidates
Check mutual connections and endorsements
Key elements to optimize:
Headline:
Use a specific headline, not generic terms
Include your current title, company, and key area of expertise
Example: "VP of Product at TechCo | Scaling B2B SaaS from $10M to $100M ARR"
About section:
Focus on your unique value proposition
Include a concise version of your "Think of me when..." statement
Highlight key accomplishments and areas of expertise
Experience:
Include details on team size, company stage, and specific accomplishments
Use bullet points for easy scanning
Start with a brief overview of your role and impact
Skills and Endorsements:
List relevant technical and leadership skills
Seek endorsements from colleagues and direct reports
Tips:
Include metrics and specifics in your experience descriptions
Highlight career progression and growth
Make sure your industry and location are accurately tagged
Regularly update your profile, especially after major accomplishments
Do:
Use your headline to clearly state your current role/level and key expertise
Include a professional, current photo
Engage on LinkedIn by sharing insights and commenting on relevant posts
Don't:
Use long narrative bios with fluffy language
Leave large gaps in your work history unexplained
Neglect to customize your LinkedIn URL
4. Engaging with Recruiters
When interacting with recruiters:
Start by giving, not taking
Offer market knowledge, referrals, or leads
Be responsive and professional
"I think as a recruiter, I care so much about the gold stars that people are putting. If Colin sends me a candidate, I'm like, you know what? That's a good candidate. I can trust that's a good candidate." - Somer Upload
How to approach recruiters:
Research: Identify recruiters specializing in your area of expertise
Warm introduction: Seek introductions from mutual connections when possible
Initial outreach: Craft a personalized message highlighting your value
Follow-up: Be persistent but respectful in your follow-ups
Ongoing engagement: Stay in touch with periodic updates on your career
Example of a good outreach message:
"Hi [Recruiter Name],
I hope this message finds you well. [Mutual Connection] suggested I reach out to you given your expertise in placing senior product leaders in the B2B SaaS space.
I'm currently the VP of Product at [Company], where I've led the team through our growth from $5M to $50M ARR over the past three years. While I'm not actively looking, I'm always open to interesting opportunities that align with my experience in scaling product organizations.
I'd love to connect and learn more about the types of roles you're currently working on. Additionally, I'd be happy to share insights from my recent experience leading a major platform overhaul, in case it's relevant to any of your searches.
Looking forward to connecting,
[Your Name]"
Tips:
Personalize your outreach
Be prepared to discuss your career journey and motivations
Always be polite, even if processes are frustrating
Follow up after interviews with thank-you notes and additional insights
Do:
Refer great candidates for roles that aren't a fit for you
Offer valuable market insights or feedback on job descriptions
Stay in touch periodically, even when not actively searching
Don't:
Send generic "please place me" messages
Pester recruiters with constant follow-ups
Speak negatively about previous employers or other recruiters
5. Navigating the Interview Process
During initial recruiter calls:
Be prepared to discuss your career journey succinctly
Highlight specific examples of impact and leadership
Ask thoughtful questions about the role and company
"If you're answering a question, answer it with something you did, not what you would do or should do in a specific situation. They need to give an example back to the client, not a hypothetical." - Colin Lernell
How to prepare for recruiter interviews:
Research: Study the company, role, and recent news
Reflect: Review your career highlights and prepare specific examples
Practice: Rehearse your "Think of me when..." statement and key stories
Prepare questions: Develop thoughtful questions about the role and company
Technical setup: Ensure a quiet environment and stable internet connection
Example STAR responses:
Situation: "At my previous company, we were struggling to expand into the enterprise market."
Task: "As the newly appointed VP of Product, I was tasked with developing a strategy to land our first Fortune 500 clients."
Action: "I led a cross-functional team to develop a new enterprise-grade feature set, implemented a pilot program with three target clients, and personally oversaw the onboarding process."
Result: "Within 18 months, we secured contracts with five Fortune 500 companies, increasing our ARR by 150% and positioning us as a leader in the enterprise space."
Tips:
Practice articulating your key accomplishments
Research the company and role beforehand
Be clear about your motivations and career goals
Prepare questions that demonstrate your strategic thinking
Do:
Provide specific examples of past successes
Ask about the company's challenges and how the role contributes to solving them
Follow up with additional thoughts or questions after the interview
Don't:
"Soapbox" or speak in hypotheticals
Badmouth previous employers or colleagues
Discuss compensation details too early in the process
By understanding these key topics and following the advice from experienced recruiters and leaders, you can position yourself to become a "job search magnet" and navigate executive search processes more effectively. Remember, it's about building long-term relationships and clearly communicating your unique value proposition.
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