Last month we wrote a blog post sharing our experience about navigating an Executive Leadership Search from the vantage point of an organization who is hiring candidates. But as we work with the hiring organization, we read the resumes and interview hundreds of candidates. Here are a few do’s and don’ts for navigating the search process.

  1. Write a thoughtful and engaging cover letter. Gone are the days when your cover letter was all about you and your professional highlights. Now it needs to be about the company and how you are going to help it succeed! Your cover letter is your chance to tell TSG that you have the skills and background to add value, that you’ve read the job description, and to connect the dots between you and the company. But don’t go on for more than two pages and there is no need to send attachments or references.
  2. Follow instructions. Make sure to read the job description for what you are being asked to submit and in what format. When you are applying for a high-level executive job, it’s expected that you can follow directions. Don’t get knocked out of the gate for this.
  3. Dot your I’s and cross your T’s, and be professional. While a typo won’t necessarily knock you out, multiple mistakes don’t look great and bad formatting doesn’t help your game. Also, using someone’s first name in a cover letter who you haven’t yet me isn’t a good practice. When in doubt, address your cover letter to “Dear Search
  4. Do your research. You are going to be asked about the company at some point along the way. There is a ton of information at your fingertips these days – the company’s website, their annual reports, their 990, board and staff LinkedIn profiles. If you haven’t done a deep dive before your preliminary interview, you won’t be invited back for a first interview.
  5. Thank you notes. While a post-interview thank-you email probably isn’t going to make or break your chances of getting a job, you should probably send one anyway. Sending a thank you letter after your interview is a great way to express your enthusiasm for a position. Make sure to be short, sincere, and have attention to detail (don’t call someone Deb if her name is Debra!). Highlight what your draw to the organization is and express your continued interest.
  6. Be humble. If you come to the search thinking you are the one we’ve been waiting for, the search is bound not to go well. There are many good candidates today vying for the positions we post and you need to bring your A game and stay humble and work hard throughout the search. This is even more true if you happen to be an internal candidate. Don’t assume the crown is yours before the race is over.
  7. Do not settle. TSG wants to see you in the best job at the best time, and as we work with you in a search, if at any time you feel that position isn’t right, you need to feel comfortable taking yourself out of the search. Our job is to work with both candidates and the organization to find the perfect match.

If you are a candidate looking for a job, TSG regularly posts jobs on its job board, so check back often: https://www.thestrategygroupllc.org/jobs/.