How to Switch Industries from Executive Search Consultants Perspective [Podcast]

Podcast #209 – Glenn Zweig, an Executive Search Consultant, and Podcaster Discusses How to Switch Industries

Description:

This week I have a great discussion with Glenn Zweig. Glenn provides executive search and leadership advisory services in Egon Zehnder’s Digital, Tech-Enabled Services, and Healthcare practices.

He is also the host of the podcast called, The Art of Excellence, where he interviews high-achieving people across all walks of life to find common threads of success.

I wanted Glenn on the show for 2 reasons. The first reason is that he has a deep understanding of the executive search process and I wanted his perspective on what is he looking for when candidates are switching industries. The second reason is he has a great podcast, The Art of Excellence, that is completely separate from what he does as an executive recruiter. Glenn suggests that you need to put yourself out there when pivoting industries and I want you to hear a bit of Glenn’s podcasting story.

This episode is sponsored by Career Pivot. Check out the Career Pivot Community. Make sure and pick up my latest book, Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life Third Edition.

Now on to the podcast…

Changing industries happens all of the time.

What skills do you have that transcends industry borders?

Some companies only want people who speak the industry language. However, some companies want to disrupt.

Glenn mentions an episode from his podcast where he interviewed Jim McKelvey: Co-Founder of Square on Art, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. They didn’t hire anyone from the payments industry because they wanted to disrupt it.

It is about the skill sets.

What are the skills you bring to the table that can help a company get where the company is going? It will take some amount of research about what is going on in the industry and this company.

You need to position yourself on LinkedIn. You cannot be all things to all people. To be a jack of all trades is to be a master of none.

Massive Transformation

We are all being transformed. There is no industry that is immune to the Amazon, Google … effect.

Companies are being forced to think outside of the box.

If companies are looking outside for talent, are you the person that want? It is how you position yourself.

Have you written about what you know? Have you published on LinkedIn, Medium, or some other platform? This takes time, discipline, research, and effort.

It is scary and you have to be willing to be vulnerable. You will need to get out there and develop the skills.

Check out Daniel Elizalde’s episode, How to Pivot Industries Using a Blog and a Podcast.

Glenn’s Advice

Executive recruiters fill a very small percentage of positions. Assume that 90-95% of jobs are not filled by recruiters or by job boards. Find your lane. What are you an expert at? What do you feel passionate about? What do you bring to the table? Then have discussions with people at the company you want to work at with no agenda.

The Art of Excellence Podcast

You can email Glenn at Glenn@theartofexcellence.com

Glenn can be found on the Egon Zehnder website.

He can also be found on LinkedIn and Twitter.