Most careers begin at the bottom. From an entry-level position, a worker moves through various ranks in the workplace and, at a later stage, is on the cusp of an executive-level role within a company. This role might be a department head or a general manager, such as a chief executive officer, of a company or organization. If you’re planning to move from a mid- to upper-level career, how do you go about taking the next step up?

An executive job search starts with your resume. If an upper-level position is open in your company, you can submit your resume for consideration. Of course, as in all applications, the information on your resume needs to be up-to-date. When you apply from within the company, your immediate supervisor can back up information regarding your recent achievements, but these accomplishments also need to be listed on your resume. Before you apply to an executive position, add any new information to your resume and then submit it to human resources for consideration.

Even when you go for an executive-level position inside a company, you still need references. Make sure that the coworkers and supervisors you list are aware of your executive job search and career aspirations and ask them for their most recent contact information.

But, getting to the top is still difficult for the most accomplished and likeable candidates. No matter the background, achievements, and references you have, networking will increase your chances – especially in an executive job search. Knowing someone already at the top will help you get pulled into a similar position.

While networking within the company is often beneficial, what should you do if you aspire to the top in an outside company? As an external applicant, networking – and knowing who’s who at this company – is essential. Get to know those in your industry for short and long-term possibilities in working together and for future job opportunities and promotions.

When you’re an external applicant looking for an upper-level role, you can find many top-tier positions through a job search engine like ManagementJobs.net. Browsing through positions in your field will indicate which companies are hiring and the positions open within them. Send your resume to any number of these executive jobs and always make sure it and your cover letter are specifically tailored to their description.

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