Navigating Your Career: Twenty-One of America's Leading Headhunters Tell You How It's Done

There is more than one way up the corporate ladder and the choices are not always easy. In the past, top executives built their careers in a single company or within a single industry. Today, reaching the top often requires one to work for different organizations, in different departments or functions, and sometimes even in different industries. This summary is geared to help those climb the corporate ladder in today's economy. There are questions that often get asked as one climbs the corporate ladder: Is my career stalled? Should I make the leap to a new industry or function? What do I look for in compensation from my new employer? This book offers answers from twenty-one of America's leading headhunters, including the most prestigious executive search agencies including Heidrick & Stuggles and Korn/Ferry International. Some advice from these agencies includes: · Learn that while companies are no longer intent on recruiting from with or from their own industries, outside candidates must possess skills that will have a significant impact on generating revenues and cutting costs. · Know that the most sought after executives are grounded in fundamentals of business but also display superior "emotional intelligence." They also developed people skills, cultural sensitivity, intuition, and long-term perspective. · Learn why John F. Johnson, chairman of LAI Ward Howell, strongly advices candidates to not push hard for a fancy guaranteed severance package. The underlying message here is to avoid having a new employer question your commitment to your new job. The authors sees career management as a lifelong process. One must be armed with the right frame of mind, the right attitude, and, most importantly, the best possible information. This book is designed to aid in all these areas.