Recruiting for Senior-Level Job Opportunities

Senior-level recruitment requires a different approach than for entry- and mid-level positions. Recruiters must do much more than copy-paste job descriptions and schedule interviews to solidify top-level talent.

External hiring for positions generally obtained by internal staff climbing the ladder is stressful yet exhilarating, as it brings fresh perspectives into potentially stagnant roles. How can recruiters ensure they have the right person for the job for such influential upper-level opportunities? Here are the most important things recruiters should consider.

What’s Different From Entry- and Mid-Level Hiring

Hiring senior-level talent signifies applicants with vastly different priorities, expectations and experiences. Entry- and mid-level candidates will likely have a greater sense of urgency, begging for and relying on consistent communications to fire motivation. Senior-level positions require talent acquisition to focus on passive candidates — workers not actively seeking new employment. Still, they could be convinced if the right offer comes along.

Senior-level applicants often have connections from previous jobs or multiple offers as a safety net when on the hunt. Automated messages might work for lesser positions but won’t entice experienced professionals with human-driven, personalized communications who appreciate more respect.

Ideally, they want recognition instead of vying for it during a job application process. Recruiters can use tactics like attraction marketing to interest potential senior-level candidates without them feeling overtly targeted.

Recruiters must also consider the competition. Only well-known names in the industry fill senior-level roles, and sourcers must get creative in making their opening stand out among others. More market research is essential for senior-level roles, which can be done through market mapping. It hones the talent search to narrow the scope of ability and company priorities. Recruiters must know how similar job descriptions read and how successful their competitors are at solidifying top talent that falls into similar funnels as they do.

What Recruiters Can Do to Better Hire Senior Positions

Hiring for senior-level jobs is a delicate balance between skill specificity and branding training. In many circumstances, high-ranking roles are held by dedicated company tenures who have acclimated to the business for decades. They have a rapport with staff and have intimate familiarity with policies and workplace culture.

Recruiters performing external hiring must find a way to translate those details into the sourcing process. Otherwise, candidates will feel disadvantaged walking into a role where they suddenly manage people they’ve never met.

Companies must ease the concerns of high-ranking candidates who almost certainly have the hard skills and qualifications to back up the reason they’re applying. Still, they may not have the internal advantage others below them might possess.

Recruiters can also include information in descriptions about tech stacks. Many companies use niche programs or software with a high learning curve until internal training primes someone for its requirements in higher-level positions.

Precise information about these technologies will help locate more specified talent — especially if the rest of the job description is highly detailed without drowning in text. Outside applicants for high-level roles have years of experience behind them. The more accurate and clear a job description is, the better it will be for hyper-specific job-seekers. Here are some key points to highlight in a senior-level job description:

• List a specific starting salary without drastic ranges
• Place job specifics first, company information and culture information second
• Describe day-to-day operations
• Note what’s essential versus desired
• Explain who they will communicate with and manage

How Pipeline Reinforcement Secures Talent

Recruiting for senior-level jobs doesn’t start when the previous tenant puts in a notice — it’s a constant obligation. Having a list of previously screened candidates eases stress, mainly if a hiring opportunity arises unexpectedly. Executive positions cannot remain vacant for too long. Otherwise, corporate structures degrade, potentially scrambling as the chain of command remains altered for a lengthy time.

These stressors affect internal morale and mobility, as workers wonder what will happen with team dynamics as people move around to fill positions.

However, senior-level recruitment in the talent pipeline can’t become strong with data. Acquisitions teams must leverage technology like AI and machine learning to streamline obtaining employees by reviewing analytics.

Clarity on the types of people succeeding in roles and comparing them to competitors will further hone what requirements and soft skills incoming C-suite candidates can possess to prevent quick turnover.

Crafting Customized Roles for Senior-Level Positions

The talent from outside an organization is full of potential. These new individuals could have more sway in a company than people with years of experience there. Understanding the nuances of advertising to high-level positions is necessary before curating job descriptions and performing outreach. It could make all the difference in attracting the ideal candidate for the job.

Authors

Devin Partida

Devin Partida is a business technology and talent recruitment writer. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of ReHack.com.