How and When the Modern Executive Should Seek a Job

Besides a good résumé, the moderneconomy early in the year and, the second, in
executive should have the skill to understand how hisSeptember/October, owing to the correction of course
market behaves and the capacity to adapt speedily toof projects and the projection of goals for the
its transformations. Only thus will he have the possibilityfollowing year.
to survive in a scenario of globalized economy, inThis data also shows that companies usually plan their
which the speed of decisions is directly proportional toactions of admission and dismissal with an average
the velocity of the information.advance of four to five months, always with an eye
If we could write a "Manual of the Modern Executive,"on the economy's performance. This means that
its first chapter would be "How and when to seek awhen the companies begin to hire, they expect a peak
job." This is where the ability to understand the marketin the market within the next four to five months. In the
begins, to perceive its movements and anticipate them.same manner, when they stop the admissions it is
Years of experience in the selection of executivesbecause they foresee a decline in the business within
shows that the simple task of preparing thefour to five months.
résumé already gives indications of theSince those who occupy the top of the corporate
professional's profile. Through it, we know whether thepyramid prepare these policies, a good network of
candidate is objective, strategic, bureaucratic, etc.contacts acts as a thermometer of the professional
Companies that recruit and select executives receivescene, enabling a good overall notion of the panorama.
hundreds of résumés per day and theThe modern executive also has to know which
consultants, no matter how great their good will, do notqualities the market seeks for its future players in
have the required time to read them in full. Thus, theaccordance with the hierarchical level to be filled, and
candidate who assembles a sheaf of papers to talksomehow qualify to develop them. It is interesting to
about his professional career may lose the chance toknow that according to the demand perceived in the
be indicated for a vacancy simply owing to themost significant segments of the industry in the past
consultant's lack of time.five years, there are qualities which are held to be
Therefore, the résumés must be succinct,indispensable in all the hierarchical levels: ethics,
direct, setting forth in two or three pages what theemotional intelligence, adaptability to the environment
candidate has to offer, his skills, competencies and hisand tenacity.
objectives, stirring the curiosity and interest of theFor the functions at the top of the corporate
consultant. It is important to show in palpable terms thepyramid-CEO, Managerial Committees and Upper
knowledge of the business and his achievements.Management-the companies seek in their future
Thus, if the candidate is a sales professional, foremployees negotiation skills, strategic vision, leadership,
instance, it is important that he show what he has sold,capacity to build teams, capacity to delegate and
the results achieved, what was the quota, how muchencourage subordinates, orientation towards results,
he exceeded the quota, what he did to access themanagement of changes and fluency in other
customer, etc.languages.
It is also part of this concept to understand the market,With this data in hand, the professional in any segment
perceive the most appropriate time to break into it,of activity can begin to prepare the career in the
whether for a first opportunity or for a new challengesearch for a first job, or modify his course, with the
in another company. Statistics based on data obtainedaim of rising through the levels not yet reached.
in the industrial segment over the past five years showThe modern executive should achieve the objectives
that, in general, there are two yearly peaks in theproposed by the company, but he must not forget that
contracting: the first in the period of March/April/May,as a professional he is an individual company and must
owing to the natural expectation of a boost in thego forth in search of his objectives.