Set a Plan
Determine exactly what companies and industries you want to apply for work. If you want to stay in a particular city, be prepared to extend the amount of time it will take to land the perfect position. If you are willing to relocate, determine up front what part of the country would be best for you and your family. Consider if you would be willing to pay for the relocation or if you would need the company to pay for relocation. Ensure that you research each company to understand the opportunities and threats that exist in the marketplace. If you are trying to land a marketing position, learn about all of the products the company sells, as well as what the competition sells. It is as important to understand the successes as well as the failures these companies had. The better you prepare for the interview, the more the management team will see that you want the position. This is expected in higher paying positions.
Work with a Top Recruiter
Jobs that pay over $100,000 are rarely posted in newspapers. Good job recruiters work with the Human Resources departments, helping your resume pass the first screening. There are two types of recruiters: those who are paid by the company and those who are paid by the job seeker. Some companies work with recruiters to bring in top talent. When you look for a recruiter, find out if they have experience placing people in your field with companies you have targeted. If they don’t, then move on.
Join Professional Organizations
Almost every field has a professional organization or society. The key is joining the organizations before you need a position. It is better to become friends with members rather than swoop in and look for connections. If you are in Human Resources, the Society of Human Resources Management has local chapters as well as national meetings to attend and network. If you are an engineer, the American Society of Quality has national and local chapters. For marketers, the American Marketing Association has numerous chapters in major cities around the nation.
Not only are professional organizations great for networking, the meetings generally review the innovative issues and tools for your field. Understanding the current issues in the industry will show a prospective employer that you take personal and professional development seriously, as well as help show that you understand current issues and trends.
Volunteer
Many major cities have volunteer programs to support the arts and non-profit organizations. Business Volunteers for the Arts allows you to build your resume of consulting, while helping a local non-profit arts organization with a business project. These projects let you try new skills that you may have picked up in professional organizations. It is also helpful in a behavioral interview to be able to give a concrete example of when you used a cutting-edge technique and how it worked. If you are switching fields or professions, it is important for you to build a portfolio of successful implementations to show prospective employers. If you have decided to switch from sales to Human Resources, find groups that need job descriptions written, or need a salary survey completed. That way, you have relevant experience to show. More than one volunteer project may be necessary if the career switch is major.
It is also possible that you will meet other business people who work for companies you would like to work for, in the high paying jobs you want. Boards of directors for theaters and ensembles often are members of major companies. If a board member likes your work, your network just grew. If they do not have a position, an influential person as a reference could help with your next interview.
Special Projects
If you are currently employed and looking for a $100,000 position, offer to do special projects in your company. If you are considering moving up in management, find out if you could have an interim assignment as a department manager for anybody who is out on leave. If you are interested in moving out to field sales and are able to move around the country, there may be opportunities elsewhere for interim management positions to gain more experience.
If your company has project management departments, working with the Program Management Office (or Project Management Office) may be an excellent opportunity to learn more about other parts of your company. Work closely with your supervisor to set up new developmental opportunities.
Learn Behavioral Interviewing
If you are familiar with the situation/task, action and result style of interviewing, then you are a step ahead. Behavioral interviewing uses questions like “describe a time when you used a specific technique”, or “tell me the last time the technique worked for you,” and then “what were the results?” To prepare for behavioral interviewing, study your own background. What projects have you worked on that would be important to the employer? While your resume is a synopsis of your experience, put together a list of all of your projects, accomplishments or results. By studying your background and studying the company you have an interview with, you are more likely to be able to give an effective response that will land the job.
Conclusion
Companies who pay over $100,000 for a position are looking for a person that will meet their needs. Careful preparation before the interview is critical to success. Hiring managers want to minimize their risk of making an employment mistake. Give the potential employer every reason to hire you. If you have a connection in the company through your networking, let them know when and with whom you are interviewing. If you use careful preparation, you should be able to find that high paying position you want.
