In an increasingly competitive business environment, job seekers are discovering the need to move beyond traditional employment search methods to more dynamic and active techniques. Traditionally, people seeking employment do so by locating open positions listed in want ads or online job boards. Once they have located a suitable position, job seekers submit a resume and await a call for an interview. This type of job search is a passive one, because once the job seeker has submitted the resume, he or she sits back and lets the employer decide whether to initiate contact.

As a highly successful executive placement firm, The Top Gun Executive Group knows what it takes to secure top-level positions. The passive employment searches described above frequently yield poor results for executives seeking a job. In contrast, The Top Gun Executive Group recommends more active, less traditional forms of employment searches that put well-matched candidates in front of the companies that need their services.

1.    Network: This time-tested strategy often provides access to the “hidden” job market of positions that exist beyond those advertised on job boards and in want ads. Talking to everyone you know about your skills and abilities while asking them about their companies’ needs often serves as the perfect matchmaking method to link candidates and positions.

2.    Research: Many companies use social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. When researching a company, go beyond its ads on job boards and look at what it says in social networks. You may discover unadvertised positions for which you are the ideal candidate.

3.    Volunteer: Unpaid positions, such as volunteer jobs, board memberships, or internships, represent an opportunity to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers. The positions also serve as a means of extending your business network.

4.    Retain a placement firm: Executive placement firms such as The Top Gun Executive Group utilize active strategies to get your information in front of employers. With a 70 percent placement rate, The Top Gun Executive Group makes successful executive-employer matches on a regular basis. To learn more, visit www.topgunexecutivegroup.net.