How (Not) to Prepare for Your Next Career Move

 How can you set yourself up to find greater career opportunities, whether within your company or across your industry? On today’s episode of the Digital Enterprise Society Podcast, Thom Singer is joined by senior level executive recruiter and Managing Director at Stanton Chase International David Harap. David has interviewed close to 10,000 executives who were searching for jobs in varying industries, and he knows exactly what potential candidates need to do — and avoid doing — in order to secure their next position.  From maintaining an active and robust presence on LinkedIn to staying connected to your industry network, investing in yourself, and nailing your next interview, this episode is filled with actionable steps that you need to take today, regardless of when you might find yourself making your next career move.   On today’s podcast, you will learn:   The what and why of recruiters The three main types of recruiters each perform different searches based on the needs of the hiring organization.  Recruiters always work for the best interest of their client- the hiring company.  Recruiters are not looking for a job for you, they’re looking for the right fit for the position they’re working to fill.  Recruiters are generally not going to proactively help you find a variety of career opportunities.    Steps to increase your visibility Recruiters use LinkedIn as their primary source for potential candidates. Focus on updating your LinkedIn profile first, including a list of searchable keywords. Select “ready to work” rather than “open to work”.  LinkedIn recruiter is a service that works to find the best candidates for open positions.    Mistakes to avoid when interviewing  Negativity is the biggest mistake candidates make when interviewing.  Avoid speaking negatively about past companies, coworkers, or experiences.  Positivity is the best approach to every interview.  Focus on your key takeaways and lessons learned from any experience.  Be articulate about your impact on past organizations.    Advice for internal or external advancement Staying current with professional development is key to advancement within your organization.  Stay visible within your networking groups as well as within your organization.  Invest in yourself and your personal brand.  Networking across your company is always a good idea, especially before you are looking for a new position.  Prepare for internal interviews just as you would for an interview with a new company.  Internal candidates have a position of strength over external candidates.  Getting to know people across your company will have the highest ROI on your time. Position yourself to be as visible as possible, especially on LinkedIn and in industry groups- activity on LinkedIn is just as important as your robust profile.    Negotiating your new salary and getting references ready  Understand the marketplace for your position.  Do not expect to negotiate every aspect of your salary — select two or three top priority line items.  Long negotiations are unprofessional and start your new career out on the wrong foot.  Have a list of six to ten references ready to offer when requested.  Stay in touch with your network and maintain a running list of people you could use as references.    Continue the conversation with us within the Digital Enterprise Society Community at www.DigitalEnterpriseSociety.org.   Digital Download: Virtual Round-Table Series