Do you find yourself on the executive job search for the first time in more than 10 years? If you’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy a long, consistent career with the same company, the prospect of unemployment or a career transition can be unsettling — especially in light of the brave new world of online job searches.
Even if you’re Internet savvy, it's easy to get lost in a maze of job boards and company databases. Remember: While it’s critical to employ the Web in your job search, it should only be a portion of your job-search strategy.

Try these tips right now to re–brand yourself, revive your network and reposition your experience for top–paying career opportunities.

1. Know where you want to go. Before burying yourself in a pile of resume and cover letter drafts, determine your target. Do you want to stay in the same field, are you using this opportunity to pursue your dream job, or are you only interested in a lateral move until retirement? Once you've narrowed down the companies you want to pursue, use resources like hoovers.com, wetfeet.com and vault.com to find critical insider information about them.
2. Promote your personal brand. Your job search is not worth the effort unless you have clearly identified your personal brand (or unique value proposition) for potential employers. You must be able to articulate why a company should hire you and highlight consistent achievements in a narrative that encompasses your career. Are you the cost-savings guru, have you been repeatedly called upon to lead high–profile initiatives, or can you be classified as the turnaround agent?
   For example, a manufacturing executive’s personal brand could be focused on his use of cutting–edge technologies to increase productivity.
3. Produce an achievement–driven resume. Your executive resume should be a strategic career-marketing document, not a career obituary. Focus on relevant content supported by career–defining, “WOW” achievements throughout the resume. Use the Situation–Task–Action–Results formula to develop achievement statements. For example:
   
   • Situation: Synthesized finance and operations departments following the merger of two manufacturing companies.
   • Task: Eliminated duplication of resources, increased operational efficiency, work productivity and results.
   • Action: Developed a short–term strategy and execution plan by developing a team of key representatives for technology, finance and operations divisions.
   • Results: Reduced company’s overhead costs by $5 million in six months and improved efficiency 25 percent.
   • Achievement statement for resume: Shrunk annual overhead costs by $5 million in six months by assembling a core operations team that further eliminated duplication of resources and increased operational efficiency by 25 percent.
4. Rehearse a memorable 30–second commercial. Once you get to the networking phase of your job search, you need to display confidence in your verbal presentation. Build on your personal brand to create a unique, 30-second commercial that speaks volumes about what you can bring to the table. For example:
   “Hi, my name is Carl Brown. As an experienced manufacturing executive, I have enjoyed a progressive career with top companies like ABC Plastics, Newform Manufacturing and TechNec Corporation. With a reputation for engaging cutting–edge technologies that help global manufacturing companies achieve aggressive revenue growth and improve operating cost objectives, I am seeking new executive opportunities at global companies that would benefit from my strengths in P&L management, product innovation and turnaround operations.”
   
5. Start networking. Join professional and industry–related associations, alumni groups and Chamber of Commerce committees. Identify key industry leaders you want to meet, schedule informational meetings/interviews and start building your own team of alliances.
   Don’t forget to use online social networks like LinkedIn.com, E–cademy.com, Zoominfo.com and Ziggs.com to connect with former associates and friends. These sources can also be used to search for industry experts and top people in your target companies.
6. Work with specialty recruiters. Many recruiters focus on specific industries and functions. Sources like TheLadders.com provide online databases for recruiters that may specialize in your area.