Some secrets to being headhunted

HEADHUNTING is an attractive way of finding your next career opportunity.

You may have seen the concept at work before: out of the blue, a colleague or friend received an attractive offer they didn’t actively seek out.

Headhunters can be a strong catalyst for your career, especially if you’re an experienced hire looking for a more senior role or a technical specialist with skills that are in high demand.

What is the secret to being headhunted?

It’s simple: build your personal brand.

Online education company GetSmarter has compiled a personal-brand guide that teaches how to leverage your personal brand to advance your career.

You can download the guide free from the GetSmarter website. wwwgetsmarter.co.za.

In the meantime, here are three simple ways to get started:

Treat every occasion as a networking opportunity. It is no secret that word-of-mouth is the strongest referral. The same goes for your personal brand. Make an effort to talk to people. Practise targeted networking. Ensure your name, title and organisation are prevalent at every opportunity.

Make allies who might refer you to others if they hear of an opportunity for which you would be suited.

Make sure you make an impact by by not just going but also taking part in a meaningful way. Make yourself as visible as possible. The only way a headhunter is going to know about you is if you make yourself easy to find. If you’re not online, get online.

Start with building a complete LinkedIn profile and perhaps opening a professional Twitter account.

Next, be active online by joining and taking part in groups and forums, or starting a blog of your own that demonstrates your thought leadership and expertise in your industry or field.

Finally, test your online presence by Googling yourself and see what comes up – would you want to hire you?

Demonstrate a willingness and ability to learn and grow because employers will target you if you come across as wellrounded in your career.

Headhunters will seek out people who demonstrate an ability to develop themselves, make visible efforts to regularly contribute to their industry and have something to show for it. If you lack a desired skill, go out there and gain it.

If the last meaningful form of learning you did was 10 years ago, make an effort to learn something new that is relevant to the career path you wish to follow. And flaunt that learning.

Go to getsmarter.co.za for more career advice or to download a free copy of the GetSmarter Personal Brand Guide.