These days, company restructures can be announced out of nowhere and changes to your role are often the norm. With competition fierce for the best roles the smart HR professional is already on the front foot. But do you need to be out there actively applying for roles? No. You can still make yourself known and be proactive whilst remaining what’s known as a Passive Candidate.
Here are 5 strategies to help you do that.
1. Build relationships with a couple of Specialist HR Recruiters. It is worth building a solid relationship with one or two credible and experienced specialist recruiters in HR. This doesn’t mean that you will be speaking to them every week, or even every month. It might only be a coffee once every 3 or 4 months, but in that way you stay close to what is happening in your particular area of speciality and the Recruitment Consultant will get to know you really well. The strength of these relationships cannot be underestimated. Throughout that time, you will build a ‘wish list’ of companies that you’d ideally love to work for and, at the appropriate time, they will introduce you to contacts at some (or all) of those places.
2. Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date. There is little or no point having a LinkedIn profile if it is not up to date. Try to avoid having a carbon copy of your resume and instead have a profile that complements it, perhaps highlighting a few high level responsibilities. Some strong recommendations from peers and previous bosses also don’t go unnoticed. Don’t worry about your current employer becoming suspicious about your up-to-date profile as it’s taken as best practice now to maintain an up to date LinkedIn profile.
3. Network. This means attending relevant and interesting breakfast and lunch events where you get to hear an expert in their field speak and share ideas with other HR professionals. Additionally, make sure you dedicate time to catching up with old colleagues, referrals from others etc… the diversity of one’s network cannot be underestimated.
4. Recognise you do not have control of your current employment. Know that even if you are not doing any of these things and have no plans to move in the coming few years, there are greater plans at play, particularly in larger corporates. These days, it is not uncommon for top performers to face redundancy through restructuring or off-shoring.
5. Increase your market awareness. By raising your head above the parapet every now and then you can determine how well you are faring in your current position. A little market evaluation and self-analysis goes a long way in terms of benchmarking your salary in comparison to external opportunities and where you might be in the hierarchy of your current organisation. The information you glean from learning about what is happening in the HR recruitment market will stand you in good stead during salary reviews and appraisals/performance reviews.
