Job Hunting Advice for Senior IT Execs - Quoted in Techrepublic

Organizations have been, in recent years, holding CIO's to the same standards as other executives: You must have a positive effect on our bottom line; you must justify the cash drain. Likewise, CIO's are finding what garden-variety executives are also experiencing: The risk-averse; molasses economy, and the heartbreak of just missing getting the offer, of coming in second. This is not the world they'd bounded into.

Job-searching Coos must be mindful of the following: (1) Companies are being extraordinarily choosy. If they list 15 requirements and you only have 14 capabilities, the employers are correctly betting that the "15" guy is lurking in that pile of resumes. (2) When they interview, CIO candidates must demonstrate a breadth of knowledge about the business of the business and how they can aid in the struggle toward a positive bottom line. Stress having the "exact" qualifications. (3) Look on this process as a numbers game. Don't bank on one candidacy. While awaiting the interview results, get going on the next, and the next. (4) Make a list of what went well during the interview, what seemed to bomb. Any clues about how to behave in the next interview? (5) If no offer comes, it's possible the recruiter or the employer may give counsel about why the other candidate was selected. More often than not, the response will be something like, "We found the guy with 15 capabilities and you only had 14." It isn't about YOU; it's that they found more of what they want.

IT executives run the same risks other execs do in looking at career options. They haven't been on the market and aren't willing to admit the job they want isn't there anymore. It may be offshore, their acquaintance with technology may be 'way too old, and they may lack skills to manage today's workforce. It may be worthwhile to see a career coach and discuss the realities of the job search, the possibilities of a location or career change, or how to buff up the job hunt skills.

You are encouraged to share the content of this article with others or to reprint them (in a blog, e-zine or company newsletter, for example). Please use Rose's name and contact information. Feedback and publication information are appreciated. (Author photo)

Rose Jonas, Ph.D.
The Job Doctor
jobdoc@aol.com
www.jobdoctoronline.com