Senior & Executive Job Search Strategies
Stop wasting time on Easy Apply and job boards. At your level, blasting apps doesn't work. Reaching the right people does.
The Senior-Level Challenge
If you've worked 15+ years, you know the truth. What worked when you started your career doesn't work now. The game has changed.
Overqualification Filters
Software rejects senior people on sight. Your 15 years of work trips "overqualified" flags before a human sees your resume.
Fewer Open Positions
People at the top don't leave often. Most senior roles get filled through networks before they ever go public.
Compensation Expectations
Your pay history can hurt you. Companies assume you cost too much. They won't even talk to you first.
Age Bias
Age bias is real. Online hiring systems make it worse by filtering on things that hint at age.
Strategies That Work
Senior job search needs many angles. No single tactic is enough. Here are four pillars that work.
Send your resume right to decision makers. Physical mail skips all the filters. It shows you mean business.
- Pick 10-20 target companies
- Find the decision maker for your role type
- Send a custom packet with cover letter
- Follow up by email after 5-7 days
At your level, most jobs come through people you know. Build your network before you need it.
- Reach out to old coworkers each month
- Go to industry events
- Join peer groups for leaders
- Help others first (make intros, share tips)
Get to know recruiters who focus on your field and level. They know about jobs that never get posted.
- Find small firms in your industry
- Reach out with a clear pitch
- Stay in touch even when you have a job
- Help connect others in your network
Get your name out there. When leaders know who you are, they come to you with offers.
- Post useful ideas on LinkedIn often
- Speak at industry events
- Write for trade journals
- Build a body of public work
What NOT to Do in Your Senior Job Search
You spent years building skills, leading teams, and getting results. But the wrong moves can bury you in a pile of apps. Here are the traps to dodge.
LinkedIn Easy Apply
That one-click button feels good, but it's a trap. Hiring managers don't dig through piles of quick apps. Your deep skills get lost in a stack of bad fits.
Bulk Apply Tools (LazyApply, Sonara, Simplify)
These tools blast your resume to hundreds of jobs. For senior roles, this looks desperate. You land in the same filters as everyone else, with no custom touch.
The "Apply to 100 Jobs a Day" Advice
This old tip might work for entry-level jobs. For senior roles, it's a waste of time. These jobs are rare and most get filled through people, not portals.
Job Boards (Indeed, ZipRecruiter)
These sites are built for volume, not value. Senior roles rarely show up there. If they do, the flood of apps drowns you out. Filters often reject you for being "too qualified."
Do's and Don'ts
Do
- Lead with results, not years ("Grew team to $50M" beats "20 years of work")
- Tailor every app to show why you fit this job
- Use many channels at once (mail + email + network)
- Target firms that value your skills, not ones that see you as too pricey
- Show up as a fixer, not a job seeker
Don't
- Fall for Easy Apply or mass-apply on Indeed and ZipRecruiter (you get buried)
- Lead with years of work (this trips "too qualified" filters)
- Use bulk tools like LazyApply, Sonara, or Simplify (filters reject seniors)
- Wait for the perfect role (senior jobs often aren't posted)
- Follow "apply to 100 jobs a day" advice (that's for junior roles)
Why Physical Mail Matters More for Senior Roles
Signal strength: At your level, effort counts. Sending mail shows the same sharp thinking you'd bring to the job.
Direct access: Mail lands on desks. No filters. No recruiter queue. The hiring manager sees you first, not last.
Stand out: When every other senior applies online, the one who shows up in the mail gets noticed.
Easy follow-up: "I got your application" starts the talk. It gives you something real to bring up in calls and emails.