Every week during advisory calls and over coffees, we’re asked a version of the same question: “I’m ready for a change, but how should I actually go about securing my next role?”
It comes from professionals at every level – those who have given a decade or more to one organisation; someone who has recently been made redundant or recently relocated back to Ireland and is looking at the Irish market for the first time in years. Or someone who is simply ready to explore their next move.
That’s why we’ve written this piece; the structure we come back to again and again when we’re partnering with talent on their next move. It ultimately rests on three pillars – your recruitment partner relationships, your network, and your professional profile. And the thing that matters more than anything is: consistency.
Let’s explore in more detail below!
Why the question feels bigger than it should.
If you’ve been in one organisation for a long time, the market has moved while you’ve been busy delivering in your role. Your network, once close at hand, has quietly scattered. And if a redundancy is what brought you here, there’s often a knock to confidence on top of all that, a sense of starting again.
None of this is a disadvantage; it’s about being consistent with your approach to getting back on the market. It’s about becoming visible and reconnected in a structured, steady & consistent manner.
The advice we give
Our advice is normally structured across 3 core activities or pillars. Where individuals spend their time across the 3 pillars will be dependent on how active they have been over the last few years. Let’s explore in more detail!
#1 Build a small group of trusted recruitment partners
The right partners do far more than send you roles. They get to know you, understand what you’re working towards, and they will advocate for you in the market. We suggest partnering with two to three sector-specific firms, treating each as a long-term relationship rather than simply securing your next role. No single firm has access to every role on the market, because many organisations build up exclusive relationships to fill particular positions. A wider group of trusted partners keeps you covered across your market and ensures you get the call when the right role goes live!
#2 Reconnect with your network
Your network is one of your greatest assets (at all points in your career), and connecting, or indeed reconnecting with it, is often where the best conversations and opportunities begin. A good place to start is LinkedIn – you can export your LinkedIn connections and then create a shortlist of those you wish to reach out to. Frame it as reconnecting, not asking for a role. So, for example, ask about their experience, their organisation, and any pipeline projects close to your centre of expertise.
If you’ve recently returned to Ireland after time abroad, this pillar can feel harder, because your network may still sit in your previous location. An approach to start building your network is getting out there, attending events and breakfast briefings in your niche. Be comfortable in the uncomfortable – walking into a room where you don’t know anyone can feel a bit overwhelming. If you feel that way, rest assured others do too! Leaving with one new connection is a win.
#3 Refining your CV and LinkedIn profile.
Let’s talk about your CV first – a strong, well-crafted CV is what lets the right people find you and understand your value at a glance.
- Ensure you open your CV with a professional summary that will capture the reader’s attention in the first 30 to 60 seconds. A challenge that exists at the moment is the sheer volume of applications being received by organisations directly or recruitment firms. Part of this is due to the use of AI for applications, which is resulting in high volumes of applications regardless of qualification for the role. In reality, only a very small percentage of those applications are close to centre in terms of experience for the role, so making sure you capture the reader’s attention is even more important in the current market.
- Be specific about tangible outputs, and quantify wherever you can, especially at the senior level. A recruitment partner should provide tailored advice on your CV, and at Barden, that is a key part of our engagement.
- Don’t overuse AI when refining your CV. We see 100s of CV’s in Barden every week, and the ones that overuse AI are quick to identify.
Recruiters and internal talent acquisition teams search on keywords, so use the specific terminology for your area of expertise and career vertical rather than generalist terms. A good test: “If an organisation is looking for someone with my experience, will they find me?” AI can help you build this out, but it should always be factual to your experience and written in your tone and your language.
How to engage with three pillars
There is no perfect formula for how to split your week, and one week will rarely look like the next. Some weeks your focus will sit almost entirely within one pillar, and that’s completely fine. What matters is keeping all three turning over time, coming back to each one and doing a little across them on a regular basis.
So start where you have energy today. Send the message. Update your CV. Connect with a recruitment partner. Book the coffee catch-up. Then do a little more next week, and the week after. Momentum builds quietly rather than all at once.
You don’t have to work it all out alone. Whether you’re taking your first step back into the market after a long tenure, navigating a redundancy, or simply testing what’s out there, Barden is here to support and partner with you on that journey. Stay connected and reach out in confidence for an advisory call whenever it would help.
If you’re looking for bespoke advice and help with your next career move…
Drop us a note at hello@barden.ie and one of our Talent Advisors will reach out to you.
