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(PRWEB) February 14, 2013
Finding the job you want instead of the first one to come along can be a daunting task in today’s economy, and in a sea of corporate mergers and bankruptcies, even battle-tested, top-level executives find the grind and results of a job search to be quite bleak. And, according to the most recent 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook, employment of top executives is expected to grow 5 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.
“These statistics shed light on the reality that executive applicants face even stronger competition for jobs, making it painfully clear that the executive recruiting landscape must change,” says Craig Chrest, founder of Executive HHG, a leading Houston-based executive placement firm. The company is helping top-level executives find permanent job placement—even in a weak economy—with a different approach.
The nations’ pool of executive-level talent is extensive. For example, a single job posting for an executive position paying just $200,000 yields approximately 750 resumes the first two days and over 2,000 more during the next five days. The reason for such fierce competition for a single job explains Chrest is that “Many CEOs are being displaced on account of corporate mergers, bankruptcies and general downsizing.”
Executive HHG is responding to this reality with a different approach. Unlike the usual executive recruitment firms that represent a limited number of employers they have arrangements with, Executive HHG’s loyalty is to its client candidates. A specific recruiter works closely with each client to develop a list of target companies and positions, which are then approached through Executive HHG’s network of contacts. The company then provides one-on-one mentoring to client candidates for the duration of their job search.
According to CNNMoney.com, only one in 10 people who have been unemployed for the long-term eventually find work. “This is why it is so important to work with a firm that will do more than fax over your resume and make a few phone calls,” adds Chrest. He also notes that statistics show that 64 percent of successful executive placements occur through relationships with top decision-makers, not through HR departments. “We have never failed to identify and reach the proper hiring authority on our candidate’s behalf.”
A longtime Houston resident, Chrest played college football for the University of Wisconsin, was inducted into the UW-Lacrosse Hall of Fame and went on to play professionally for the Green Bay Packers. “Much like football players, job applicants must be able to quickly adapt to changes,” he says. “Our firm is helping out-of-work CEOs and executives adapt to the realities of jobs’ marketplace and make changes to the game plan that will ultimately help them land the right job.”
Judging by published results, Executive HHG’s approach seems to be working – in the last year, the company boasted a 74 percent success rate, placing executives into positions paying from $200,000 up to $2.9 million.