The methods of job search deemed most effective by C-suite and senior-level executives alike are, of no surprise, networking (between 51-58% of job seekers at this level) and leveraging former relationships (34-53% of those responding). Fourteen percent of senior-level candidates found use of recruiters and using LinkedIn to be equally effective, while just 7% of C-suite execs ranked LinkedIn as very effective. Interestingly, when compared with their senior-exec counterparts, 11% of C-suite executives found working with recruiters to be very effective as a job-search method; 14% of senior-level executives considered working with recruiters to be among their top three most-effective strategies. One revealing finding: more than 52% of C-suite executives found that making direct contact via phone was either “very effective” or “effective” in securing their next gig: 47% of senior-level execs considered this method in the same light.

What isn’t working for candidates at this level in job search? Nearly 95% of C-suite executives describe use of Facebook and Twitter to be ineffective in their job searches. Sixty percent describe mail campaigns to be ineffective as well. Among senior-level executives, 90% of them think Facebook is not going to produce the desired results. The number drops to 85% among this group finding Twitter to be ineffective, while 67% find mail campaigns do not work well.

Other methods of job search given some credit by C-suite executives include nearly 24% finding use of such $100K websites as Execunet, Bluesteps, Ladders, and Netshare to produce results (”very effective” or “effective”); this compares with no senior-level execs experiencing results this strong (50% find it “not effective” and 50% would state only “somewhat effective”).

For more strategies in recruitment and job search at the executive level, please visit other highlights of survey at C-SuiteCareerCatalysts.com.

– Jan Melnik, M.A., MRW, CCM, CPRW, President, Absolute Advantage