Being an experienced manager searching for a new role is a balancing act. Staying visible to peers without overdoing it. Letting people know a search is underway without coming across as desperate. Keeping up the image of a seasoned professional whilst acknowledging the need to rely on a network. Even for the most experienced managers, putting this into practice is not always straightforward. But here is the good news: smart networking is a skill that can be developed. And building the right support network opens even more doors. Here are some practical steps
Why a professional network is essential for managers
In Switzerland and internationally, the best opportunities rarely come through advertised roles alone. A professional network plays a decisive role, particularly for management positions. The Swiss Labour Market Monitor from the University of Zurich confirms this: around one in five positions is filled without ever being advertised. For managers and senior executives, the proportion appears even higher.
1 in 2
management roles may be filled without ever going through a job posting, according to some international estimates.
Relying solely on advertised positions means missing out on the majority of opportunities. For managers in a job search, a professional network is not a “nice to have”: it is essential. But how can it be used to best effect?
Professional network: what actually works
Reach out to your network, especially when you need nothing
Start here: stay in touch with your network even when there is nothing to ask for. Those who wait until they are actively searching before reaching out quickly become the proverbial elephant in the room. Everyone knows it, nobody says it
The key is to shift approach quickly: rather than coming across as a candidate “open to opportunities”, share, exchange and contribute. Be visible and useful, subtly. In practice, this might mean:
- Genuinely congratulating a contact on a promotion or achievement
- Introducing two people in the network who would benefit from knowing each other
- Offering insight on a topic where expertise has been built
- Commenting on or sharing articles relevant to a field of expertise
Quality over quantity
Sending the same generic message to 100 contacts hoping for a response is at best pointless, at worst counterproductive. It can even sting to receive no reply at all. But between you and us, how many messages of this kind have you left unanswered over the course of your career? For results, a more targeted approach is far more effective.
Identify around twenty strategic contacts: former colleagues in key positions, leaders in sectors of interest, people active in relevant professional networks. For each one, personalise the outreach. The golden rule: avoid “do you have a role for me?”, but equally beware of questions so generic they could have been asked of anyone. The best opening is the question that could only have been asked of that particular person.
LinkedIn: a tool, not a platform of desperation
LinkedIn and other professional platforms are therefore unavoidable. And your online presence sends a strong message, whether you intend it to or not.
On these platforms, it is tempting to advertise that you are actively looking; but this is often a mistake: you risk going from the professional others come looking for to the candidate waiting desperately for a response. And it is scarcity that drives value.
Instead, communicate as an active professional: share your thoughts on the sector, pass on what your years of experience have taught you, nurture your network and engage in meaningful discussions. This naturally positions your expertise and attracts the right opportunities.
Practical tip: activate “Open to Work” for recruiters only (invisible to the general public), and complete your profile with keywords matching the roles you are targeting. The algorithms then do part of the work. (Note: no confidentiality is ever fully guaranteed.)
Knowing who to turn to: the other key skill of successful managers
Many managers resist the idea of being “helped”. After years of leading, deciding and making tough calls, asking for help does not come naturally. And yet, the managers who land the best roles are rarely those who go it alone.
This is where a specialist recruitment consultancy like Finders makes a real difference. Not simply to “find opportunities”: a personal network can already do that. But to bring what a personal network cannot always offer: 35 years of relationships built with decision-makers in Switzerland and internationally, access to exclusive mandates that are never advertised for reasons of confidentiality, and an external perspective to identify the right match between a candidate and a company. In both directions.
Smart networking is a skill that can be developed. And building the right support network opens even more doors.
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For 35 years, from Lausanne, Geneva and Zurich, Finders has been supporting middle to top managers in their job search across Switzerland and internationally. Not to do the work for you, but to open the right doors at the right time.
Not all our roles are advertised online. We may have the right position for you.