2015 BlueSteps Job Outlook

Transcription

1 2015 BlueSteps Job Outlook A companion to the 2015 AESC Member Outlook report.

2 BlueSteps Job Outlook 2015 BlueSteps Job Outlook Contents: Page 3: Key Observations and Opportunities Page 4-11: Global Insights Page 12-15: Career Level Outlook Page 16-18: United States Outlook Page 19-21: Europe Outlook Page 22-24: South America Outlook Page 25-27: Asia Pacific Outlook Page 28-36: Navigating the Market: Expert Q&As Page 37: About Our Respondents

3 BlueSteps Job Outlook Based on predictions by management-level professionals worldwide, director-level through C-suite, who are members of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants BlueSteps career management service: The number of management-level jobs will increase in percent of management professionals share a positive outlook on the job market for 2015, meaning they feel confident about the opportunities that would be available to them if they decided to make a career move. This represents a 21.4 percentage point increase in positivity compared to 2014, and a 36.4 percentage point increase compared to Based on these results, it s evident from our sample that management professionals feel more positive about their career opportunities as part of the continued recovery from the Global Financial Crisis. In addition to having a positive outlook, 88.2 percent of these management professionals are open to new career opportunities in 2015, representing the increased competition for talent worldwide. USA and Southeast Asia present increasing opportunities. In 2015, management professionals expect to see the most growth in the USA, followed by Southeastern Asian countries (responses included Greater China, India and ASEAN). This prediction aligns closely with the sentiment of management-level professionals currently based in the US, 84.3 percent of which share a positive job outlook 11.9 percentage points more than the global job outlook. The job outlook shared by management-level professionals in the Asia Pacific region and Europe is less positive for 2015, but is by no means disappointing percent of management professionals in the Asia Pacific have a positive outlook, while 68.2 percent of management professionals in Europe also have a positive outlook. South America presents a less optimistic outlook for 2015, with 51.8 percent of management professionals sharing a positive outlook 20.6 percentage points less than the global outlook. Growing sectors are technology and healthcare/life sciences. When asked which sectors respondents believe will see the most growth in management-level opportunities, the global top three were technology, healthcare/life sciences, and financial services. In the USA, professional services stood out as a sector with the potential to see improved growth, ranking slightly higher than financial services in the country. The Asia Pacific s top industries also differed slightly from these global trends, ranking the industrial and consumer/retail sectors as having higher-growth potential above the financial services sector in the region.

4 BlueSteps Job Outlook: Global Insights

5 BlueSteps Job Outlook Overall Job Outlook How would you describe your outlook on the job market for 2015 in comparison to 2014? Positive, 72.4% Negative, 27.6% The vast majority (72.4 percent) of managementlevel professionals share a positive outlook on the job market for This represents a significant increase in positivity (+21.4 percentage points) compared to this time last year and a 36.4 percentage point increase since Most respondents agreed, and one commented: The economic conditions have improved significantly over Economic growth and expansion will force businesses to enhance their (executive) presence. During 2015 do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase or decrease? Decrease Increase Management Professionals 19.9% 30.5% Executive search consultants 69.5% 80.1% Most respondents (69.5 percent) expect the number of management-level jobs to increase in This coincides with the 2015 AESC Member Outlook report (survey of 172 executive search consultants), which found that 80.1 percent expect the number of executivelevel jobs to increase in 2015.

6 BlueSteps Job Outlook Market Outlook Which of the following markets do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three markets. Executive search consultants responses are from the 2015 AESC Member Outlook report. Management professionals Executive search consultants USA 68.8% 62.8% Greater China India 16.8% 32.3% 25.5% 25.6% ASEAN 22.4% 21.9% Africa UK Middle East Brazil Germany Canada Mexico Central and Eastern Europe Rest of Latin America 10.1% 9.5% 9.4% 7.3% 9.0% 12.4% 7.6% 5.1% 6.1% 8.0% 5.6% 8.0% 5.1% 8.8% 12.1% 12.4% 18.6% 20.4% Both management-level professionals and executive search consultants believe the USA, Greater China, India, ASEAN and Africa will experience the most job growth in The perspectives of individual management professionals reflected a similar outlook: Even though Europe is facing some big challenges, the US is recovering. We will see an increasing number of companies that will have to restructure their set up, which will result in an increase in job opportunities. Another professional said: 2014 was terrible for Brazil specifically. Some big events, like the World Cup and elections struggled, which caused the country and economy to retract. I believe this year will be a little better, but not by much.

7 BlueSteps Job Outlook Functional Outlook Which of the following functions do you think will see the most growth or change at the top in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three functions. Responses are from the 2015 AESC Member Outlook report. CEO / Board of Directors 53.3% Finance / CFO / Finance Director Sales / CSO / Sales Director 39.4% 43.8% Supply Chain and Operations / COO Cyber Security / CISO Information Technology / CIO / CTO Marketing / CMO / Marketing Director General Counsel / Legal / Risk / Compliance Human Resources / CHRO / HR Director 29.2% 29.2% 24.1% 22.6% 18.2% 17.5% According to executive search consultants across all specialties, the CEO/Board of Directors, finance/cfo and sales/cso functions will see the most growth or changes at the top in It is also important to note that all functional areas were identified as experiencing at least some growth, which is good news for all management-level professionals. In addition to the more traditional roles, the cyber security/ciso role has become one to watch out for in the coming years. In support of this emerging trend, executive search consultant respondents noted that they expect to see a sharp increase in cyber security-related officer positions this year. It was also reported by the US Department of Homeland Security that of the roughly 200 cases of hacking attacks handled in 2013, more than 40 percent were in the energy sector. Therefore, cyber security professionals from the energy sector are likely to be one of the highest-growth roles over the next few years.

8 BlueSteps Job Outlook Sector Outlook Which of the following sectors do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three sectors. Executive search consultants responses are from the 2015 AESC Member Outlook report. Management professionals Executive search consultants Technology 44.7% 63.7% Healthcare/Life Sciences 45.4% 55.8% Financial Services 32.5% 29.8% Industrial 31.4% 46.8% Professional Services 30.5% 29.1% Consumer/Retail 28.5% 33.3% Not For Profit / Education 5.1% 15.6% Management professionals rank technology, healthcare/life sciences and financial services as the three sectors that will experience the most growth in This is slightly misaligned when compared to the views of executive search consultants, which show that the industrial sector ranks in the top three with the most growth potential, not financial services. Executive search consultants also appear to see more potential in the not for profit/education sector than the majority of management professionals who responded.

9 BlueSteps Job Outlook Management-Level Professionals on Mobility in 2015 Are you looking or planning to look for a new management-level position in 2015?* *Respondents are from the AESC s BlueSteps database, which consists of individuals who are or were at one point interested in having their resume noticed by executive search consultants. No, 11.8% A greater percentage (88.2 percent) of management professionals are open to new career opportunities in This represents a minor increase (+1.2 percentage points) compared to this time last year. Yes, 88.2% One respondent commented: I am receiving many more calls regarding VP and above employment opportunities will create an environment where those seeking their next challenge will feel comfortable moving from a secure position to one with more risk. How long do you expect it will take you to find a new position? More than 2 years 1-2 years 6-12 months 1.9% 12.2% 44.1% The majority of management-level professionals (44.1 percent) expect the average timeline for finding a new opportunity in 2015 to be 6-12 months. 3-6 months Less than 3 months 7.6% 34.2% This is similar to responses from the last two years, 45 percent in 2014 and 41 percent in 2013.

10 BlueSteps Job Outlook Management-Level Professionals on Transition Strategies in 2015 How were you hired for your current or most recent position? Moved to a new company 44.9% Moved to a new company with the help of an executive search firm 28.4% Promoted from within my current company 26.6% The majority of management-level professionals (73.3 percent) secured their current or most recent position by moving to a new organization, with over a quarter (28.4 percent) doing so with the help of an executive search firm. According to the 2014 AESC State of the Industry report, executive search activity is on the rise. This hints at an impending increase in the number of management professionals moving to a new company with the help of a search firm in the next year as companies try to find the best people for their leadership positions.

11 BlueSteps Job Outlook Continuing Education Which of the following additional training/education should help management-level professionals stay relevant in the job market?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three types of training/education. Executive coaching 61.6% MBA 39.5% Industry accreditation 35.7% EMBA 26.0% Post-graduate degree 16.6% Doctorate 7.4% Executive coaching is viewed as the most helpful form of training/education for those looking to stay relevant in today s job market. This ranked higher than MBA, EMBA and industry accreditation percent of this survey s respondents had an MBA, 37.8 percent have participated in executive coaching and 24.3 percent have at least one type of industry accreditation. These results indicate that executive coaching appears to have a high appeal to both those who have and have not utilized executive coaching services, compared to other types of training and continued education.

12 BlueSteps Job Outlook: Career Level

13 BlueSteps Job Outlook 2015 Plans by Career Level Are you looking or planning to look for a new position in 2015? No Yes CEO/President 18.4% 81.6% Other C-level (not CEO) 16.2% 83.8% EVP/SVP/VP 6.6% 93.4% Director 9.7% 90.3% The majority of C-suite executive respondents to this survey are open to new career opportunities in 2015, yet a significantly higher number of non-c-suite management-level professionals are also open to the idea of a new career opportunity in Management-level professionals seeking a new position in 2015 should expect increased competition. Even though the competition is likely to be higher, executive search consultant respondents state that the number of companies looking for non-c-suite levels will continue to increase, allowing for more management-level professionals to successfully find a new role.

14 BlueSteps Job Outlook Length of Job Search by Career Level How long do you expect it will take you to find a new position? 1-2 years 6-12 months 3-6 months Less than 3 months CEO/President 10.7% 15.5% 33.3% 36.9% Other C-level (not CEO) 8.4% 10.8% 39.8% 41.0% EVP/SVP/VP 6.1% 10.5% 32.5% 49.1% Director 5.7% 12.5% 31.8% 48.3% Most non-c-suite management-level professionals believe it will take 6-12 months to find a new role, while most C-suite executives believe it will take 3-6 months. This further proves that non-c-suite management-level professionals expect to take longer to find their next opportunity than C-suite executives.

15 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expat vs. Domestic Mobility Are you looking or planning to look for a new position in 2015? Working as an expatriate Working in country of nationality No Yes 20.0% 10.4% 80.0% 89.6% Almost 10 percentage points fewer expatriate management-level professionals plan to look for a new position in These professionals are more likely to stay on for a longer tenure than their domestic counterparts. How were you hired for your current or most recent position? Working as an expatriate Working in country of nationality Moved to a new company 32.2% 49.5% Moved to a new company with the help of an executive search firm 28.7% 29.4% Promoted from within my current company 21.1% 39.1% 18 percentage points more expatriate management-level professionals were promoted within their current organization than domestic professionals. This indicates that employers tend to invest more to retain professionals abroad. It also implies that it may be more difficult for expats to transition.

16 BlueSteps Job Outlook: United States

17 BlueSteps Job Outlook USA Outlook How would you describe your outlook on the job market for 2015 in comparison to 2014? Negative, 15.7% The vast majority (84.3 percent) of management-level professionals in the USA share a positive outlook on the job market for Responses indicated that this outlook was 11.9 percentage points more positive than the global job outlook. Positive, 84.3% This positive sentiment on the job market for management-level professionals further emphasizes the resurgence of the US economy. Executive career experts and search consultants also expect the job market to continue to grow stronger throughout During 2015 do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase or decrease? Decrease, 18.8% Increase, 81.2% Most (81.2 percent) management-level professionals in the USA expect the number of management-level jobs to increase. One professional in the USA commented: USA corporate earnings are up. Consumer sentiment has gone from neutral to positive. Pent up demand for executive talent should result in selective hiring after several years of rightsizing and belt tightening. Favorable economic indicators should continue to fuel investment for expansion. Evolving consumer needs, and innovation to meet those needs will contribute to higher executive-level hiring.

18 BlueSteps Job Outlook USA Growth Sectors Which of the following sectors do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three sectors. Healthcare/Life Sciences 69.0% Technology 67.5% Professional Services 36.5% Financial Services 30.5% Industrial 29.9% Consumer/Retail 20.3% Not For Profit/Education 4.6% Management-level professionals in the USA rank healthcare/life sciences, technology and professional services as the three sectors that will experience the most growth in Diverging from the global and foreign regional trends, professional services stand out as a sector that may see significantly improved growth. This hints at an increased demand from companies using these services due to the improving business outlook in the country.

19 BlueSteps Job Outlook: Europe

20 BlueSteps Job Outlook Europe Outlook How would you describe your outlook on the job market for 2015 in comparison to 2014? Positive, 68.2% Negative, 31.8% Most (68.2 percent) of management-level professionals in Europe share a positive outlook on the job market for In comparison to the global job outlook of management-level professionals across the world, Europe has a slightly less positive (-4.2 percentage points) outlook. Europe s economic outlook is more positive in specific countries, as indicated in the World Economic Forum s Global Competitiveness report. Switzerland, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, UK, Sweden, Norway and Denmark were among the top 10 listed as having the best potential for economic growth. During 2015 do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase or decrease? Decrease, 34.7% Most (65.3 percent) management-level professionals in Europe expect the number of management-level jobs to increase. Increase, 65.3%

21 BlueSteps Job Outlook Europe Growth Sectors Which of the following sectors do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three sectors. Technology 61.8% Healthcare/Life Sciences 44.7% Industrial 35.3% Financial Services 32.4% Consumer/Retail 29.4% Professional Services 27.6% Not For Profit/Education 6.5% Management-level professionals in Europe ranked technology, healthcare/life sciences and industrial as the three sectors that will experience the most growth in These results are on-trend with the global sector outlook expectations for 2015, with the industrial and consumer/retail sectors ranking slightly higher in comparison.

22 BlueSteps Job Outlook: South America

23 BlueSteps Job Outlook South America Outlook How would you describe your outlook on the job market for 2015 in comparison to 2014? Positive, 51.8% Negative, 48.2% A little over half (51.8 percent) of managementlevel professionals in South America share a positive outlook on the job market for This is a significantly less positive (-20.6 percentage points) outlook on the management-level job market compared to the global outlook. While there are a few markets in South America that continue to experience economic growth (impacting job growth), the most substantial hit has come to Brazil. As an emerging BRIC market, Brazil s economy was expected to see drastic growth over the last few years. Instead, its economy has recently fallen into a recession. During 2015 do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase or decrease? Decrease, 51.8% Increase, 48.2% Almost half (51.8 percent) of managementlevel professionals in South America expect the number of management-level jobs to decrease. Agreeable with the job outlook trends in South America, the number of jobs in the region are expected to be lower when compared to the global job numbers. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Argentina and Venezuela are seeing decreasing GDPs, while Brazil s GDP will only increase slightly. All other countries in South America will see an increasing GDP, likely making them prime countries for management-level job opportunities.

24 BlueSteps Job Outlook South America Growth Sectors Which of the following sectors do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three sectors. Technology 66.1% Financial Services 51.8% Healthcare/Life Sciences 35.7% Consumer/Retail 35.7% Professional Services 33.9% Industrial 23.2% Not For Profit/Education 3.6% Management-level professionals in South America ranked technology, financial services, healthcare/life sciences and consumer/retail as the sectors that will experience the most growth in Differing from the global trends, the consumer/retail sector is expected to see slightly more growth in South America, ranking as the fourth highest-growth sector in the region.

25 BlueSteps Job Outlook: Asia Pacific

26 BlueSteps Job Outlook Asia Pacific Outlook How would you describe your outlook on the job market for 2015 in comparison to 2014? Negative, 32.5% The majority (67.5 percent) of managementlevel professionals in the Asia Pacific region share a positive outlook on the managementlevel job market for In comparison to the global job outlook, the Asia Pacific region has a slightly less positive outlook. Positive, 67.5% Despite this slight decrease in optimism, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), South and East Asia expect to see the highest GDP growth, which makes this part of the region prime targets for business, and in turn management-level jobs. During 2015 do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase or decrease? Decrease, 35.0% Increase, 65.0% The majority (65 percent) of managementlevel professionals in the Asia Pacific region expect the number of management-level jobs to increase. One professional commented: In India, the economy is poised for higher growth. The reduction in oil prices has helped the Indian economy; and investor confidence is at a much higher level.

27 BlueSteps Job Outlook APAC Growth Sectors Which of the following sectors do you think will see the most growth in 2015?* *Respondents were asked to choose up to three sectors. Healthcare/Life Sciences 62.5% Technology 56.3% Industrial 36.3% Consumer/Retail 33.8% Financial Services 28.8% Professional Services 20.0% Not For Profit/Education 7.5% Management-level professionals in the Asia Pacific region ranked healthcare/ life sciences, technology and industrial as the sectors that will experience the most growth in Similar to the global trends, healthcare/life sciences and technology are the sectors expecting to see the most growth in this region. Differing from the global trends, the industrial and consumer/retail sectors are expected to show more growth, while financial services expects to show less growth in comparison.

28 BlueSteps Job Outlook: Navigating the Market

29 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expert Q&A: Is It Time to Transition? Both management-level professionals and executive search consultants expect the number of management-level jobs to increase in Does this indicate that it will be easier for management-level professionals to find a new role in 2015 than it was in 2014? Is now the time to make a move? It won t necessarily be easier for executives to find a new role in Companies have higher expectations for new executives and this high exigency on new hires will make the competition for new roles very strong. Despite that, executives will be more open to making a move and evaluating new possibilities. ~ Adriana Prates, Dasein Executive Search, Brazil Trying to time the job market is like trying to time the stock market: It s difficult and risky. I recommend that executives always stay alert to opportunities and be ready to move quickly when they re spotted. Executives should make time for regular career maintenance activities and be conscious of how they re positioning themselves. ~Louise Kursmark, BlueSteps Executive Career Services, USA While there is growth in the overall number of roles available, the mix of what is required is changing. New skills (and even completely new roles) are emerging as the digital world continues to evolve. Some sectors, like technology and healthcare, appear to be creating opportunities faster than others. So yes, it may be a good time to look, but executives will need to be sure that their skills and experience are the ones in demand today! ~ Alastair Paton, Signium International, United Kingdom The Market is better now, but not as strong as prior to There are definitely more opportunities which will lead to increased hiring but this depends on the situation and interest. ~ John Ryan, TRANSEARCH, USA

30 BlueSteps Job Outlook In Brazil, the economic and political situations have sharply deteriorated the growth potential in executive search, especially within the multinational search players. Executive moves today are much more likely to be associated with replacements instead of headcount increase. In harder times, people who are currently employed tend to be more conservative regarding market moves. ~ André Pasternak, 2Get, Brazil There should be a higher number of executive openings in 2015 and as a result, there will be more options for executives in the marketplace. With that said, it doesn t mean that it is easier to find that right position. There is a high level of competition for these roles which includes executives who are unemployed, active job seekers and passive job seekers. In addition, companies have high expectations for who they are hiring. It is critical for candidates to be prepared with an updated resume, utilize their contacts and networking resources and have an effective approach to interviewing. ~ Sally Stetson, Salveson Stetson Group, USA Executive careers are moving fast and in a dynamic way, but in South America that dynamism enters in conflict with the job market, which is not behaving the same speed. In Chile, there is a political context, with structural changes and with a decreasing mining sector that is slowing down the job market. The expectations are a little better for the second part of the year, and should increase as we head towards ~Ximena Rodríguez C, SommerGroup, Chile It won t necessarily be easier to get a new role. Companies have much higher expectations for management-level professionals, which makes it more difficult to compete. Executives should stay alert to opportunities and have high awareness of the expectation of a new role before making a move. ~Antonio Cheung, UHUNT, China

31 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expert Q&A: Geographic Market Trends In 2015, the USA market seems to be making a comeback, more so than emerging markets. Does this match the trends you ve been seeing? What do you think this means for management-level professionals in these markets? Yes, this matches what we are seeing. We have seen a highly active job market across functions and industries in the US. As a result, companies are competing with other organizations for talent and executives are in a better position as they actively seek new roles. We are also seeing executives receiving multiple offers at the same time something we have not seen in years. ~ Sally Stetson, Salveson Stetson Group, USA Even though the upstream energy sector is going to be slow until oil prices recover, the US should be strong in virtually every other sector. Manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare and food are picking up. ~Rob Andrews, Allen Austin, USA At Signium, we are seeing increased demand for senior executives in the US as a major trend keeping executive search consultants very busy! Even so, we believe that the future growth opportunities in many of these developing markets remain very significant. The search market in some of these countries is less evolved than in the US, and the economies are more volatile. However, the need for the best talent to lead businesses will be one of the factors that determine emerging market success on the global stage. Executives should build their careers and skills, proving their capability at working in fast-moving, volatile economic conditions. ~ Alastair Paton, Signium International, United Kingdom This scenario matches the trends I ve been seeing. The USA will continue to be the most important and strongest economy in the world. I think the eyes of executives and companies will return to these markets with great interest this year. ~ Adriana Prates, Dasein Executive Search, Brazil

32 BlueSteps Job Outlook There appears to be a negative sentiment in South America for the year ahead. What do you think executives in this region can do to navigate such a difficult job market? There are differences between the South American markets. Brazil and Argentina are not in a good situation whereas Chile, Perú and Colombia are in much better shape. Brazilian executives should be looking for opportunities in these countries or in the US. ~ F. Xavier de Zamacona, DezaSearch, Mexico Those who decide to remain in the region will need to think out of the box and invest their time with local family-owned businesses under a more professional governance. Those that are used to the classic multinational, corporate mindset will have a harder time. Multinationals are mostly trimming the fat and are on hold status due to local political and economic instability. ~ André Pasternak, 2Get, Brazil There is a real negative sentiment in South America for the year ahead. Many executives in the region are used to working in these kinds of unstable conditions. They know a crisis can present unique opportunity to find new paths and new opportunities for differentiation and innovation in the market. ~ Adriana Prates, Dasein Executive Search, Brazil What is your view on the Middle East? Do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase? The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries will continue to have reduced sovereign income due to the low oil price trend. This will influence new leadership demand in those areas, but should see continued demand in downstream process industries. Saudi Arabia s mega-construction programs in rail networks, healthcare, housing and transport facilities will create demand for executives with Gulf experience willing to relocate to certain cities that may not be their first choice (typically Dubai, UAE). Countries such as Egypt, with its

33 BlueSteps Job Outlook large consumer market and infrastructure requirements, should see continued demand for local-origin talent with strong internationallyexperienced profiles. ~Nairouz Bader, Vision Executive Search, Dubai, UAE It is a very exciting, and somewhat risky time in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, for example, is using its petroleum revenue to diversify its economy. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of infrastructure investment there, as well as higher education. This is affecting the other members of the GCC. Equally, it is a challenging region to recruit to due to the Arab Spring phenomena, as well as ISIS, which I see as something much deeper than the Arab Spring. ~Kenneth G. Daubenspeck, Daubenspeck and Associates, USA What is your view on China and APAC as a whole - Do you expect the number of management-level jobs to increase? In China, the number of management-level jobs is likely to increase depending on different sectors. Some sectors are diminishing such as manufacturing, electronics, OEMs. Others are expanding such as environmental, health care and medical. ~Antonio Cheung, UHUNT, China

34 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expert Q&A: The Value of Coaching Why do you think most management-level professionals valued executive coaching over other forms of additional training/education? Other than on the job experience, do you agree that this is the best way for management-level professionals to stay relevant? Executive coaching is the only form of development that is totally focused on the individual executive. The right executive coach is worth their weight in platinum. ~Rob Andrews, Allen Austin, USA Executives who are self-aware recognize that they may have attitudes, behaviors, habits, and blind spots that are affecting their performance. These are precisely the areas that can be worked on and improved through executive coaching. Perhaps most importantly, coaching can help executives work well with others and tap into the potential of team members. For companies, coaching is an investment in talent that they already have, and a cost-effective way to help executives be even more successful. ~Louise Kursmark, BlueSteps Executive Career Services, USA Very few organizations offer structured coaching initiatives for succession planning and other T&D strategic needs. Most companies have decided to hire external expertise instead of promoting internal solutions on coaching. ~ André Pasternak, 2Get, Brazil Well-delivered executive coaching can be very valuable to individual and company. It is personal and can help provide a sounding board in an often rather isolated senior role. ~Alastair Paton, Signium International, United Kingdom I really believe in this kind of support for helping executives reach a higher level of performance. Highly experienced and prepared coaches can really help executives in their careers and many companies are very keen to invest in this kind of consultancy. ~ Adriana Prates, Dasein Executive Search, Brazil

35 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expert Q&A: Demand for New Executives Do you agree that there is likely to be more competition at non-c-suite levels since there are more managementlevel professionals at this level planning to look for a new role in 2015? Or are there simply more vacant roles at the non-c-suite levels, allowing for more management-level professionals to successfully find a new role? Yes, I agree there will be more competition for these positions. On the other hand it is a reality that the number of companies looking for non-c-suite levels will continue increasing each year especially in the emerging markets. This allows more executives to successfully find a new role. ~ Adriana Prates, Dasein Executive Search, Brazil There will be greater competition at the non-c-suite level. There are changes and opportunities in the marketplace stemming from digital technology, data analytics, customer engagement, cyber security, risk management, and the transformation in global healthcare delivery and systems that are fueling the increase in available positions. This should open up new doors and allow more executives to land new roles for those who meet the requisite skillsets. ~Louise Garver, BlueSteps Executive Career Services, USA It s a combination of both: more vacant roles at the non C-suite levels, but not necessarily more executives in the pool. ~ F. Xavier de Zamacona, DezaSearch, Mexico The competition will increase due to the demographics in some countries (baby boomers retiring, etc) and lack of talent in others (emerging markets). ~Denys Monteiro, FESA, Brazil Non-C-suite competition for jobs is situational. One could say for example that the oil & gas market sector now has increased competition for jobs given the retrenching by a lot of big companies. ~ John Ryan, TRANSEARCH, USA

36 BlueSteps Job Outlook Expert Q&A: Expatriate Trends This survey s results show a higher amount of promotion within the organization for expatriates. Should managementlevel professionals looking to move up within their current organization seek out expatriate roles? I worked for Unilever for 15 years before moving into search and was an expatriate twice, once in the US and once in the Middle East. Unilever took the view (and I think still do) that experience of living and working amongst other cultures and in economies at different stages of development gives perspectives that cannot be taught in the classroom. In today s increasingly global workplace, expatriate experience can only add value. ~Alastair Paton, Signium International, United Kingdom Expatriation would make more sense depending on the geographical region of the assignment. If the region is either promising or demands a thorough turnaround, the big-wig who takes over a turnaround tends to have his employability improved. Crisis and chaos management speak louder regarding behavioral competencies if compared to an assignment that requires maintenance and increases in revenue. ~ André Pasternak, 2Get, Brazil Yes, this represents at least 20 percent of our business right now. It is truly the time of the expatriate. ~Kenneth G. Daubenspeck, Daubenspeck and Associates, USA The challenge for many expats is reintegration into the company once the out-of-country stint is ending or the once the executive wishes to move on. However, the value of international assignments is very high for both professional and personal growth. An executive choosing to go that path should keep aware of the challenge of reintegration and work hard to stay connected to influential people at the home base. ~Louise Kursmark, BlueSteps Executive Career Services, USA

37 BlueSteps Job Outlook About Our Respondents 659 management-level professionals (director through C-suite from around the world participated in the study. Respondents are from the AESC s BlueSteps candidate database. 50% 35% 15% Career Level Gender 36% 23% 18% 19% 4% 10% 90% Director EVP/SVP /VP Other C-Level CEO/ President Other Industry* *Excluding other industries. 26.0% 16.0% 13.1% 11.6% 10.9% 8.3% 2.6% Industrial Technology Professional Services Healthcare/Life Sciences Consumer/Retail Financial Services Not For Profit/Education

38 BlueSteps Job Outlook Share this Report About BlueSteps BlueSteps is an online career management service for global senior executives. As an exclusive service of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants, BlueSteps enables senior executives to make their career profile accessible to over 8,000 retained executive search professionals in more than 75 countries who are members of the AESC, and use the database as an additional resource in their candidate and source identification process. To learn more, visit Special BlueSteps Offer Executives, join BlueSteps today for a 20% discount - To redeem, visit and use the promo code Outlook2015 at registration. Offer ends June 30, Exclusive BlueSteps Members-Only Offer Purchase a resume/cv rewrite with one of our expert consultants and we ll write your LinkedIn profile for free (a value of $495)!* Simply submit your resume for a complimentary consultation and mention the offer code Outlook2015 in the submission form comments box.** * Offer applicable to full resume rewrites only ($995 to $2500 fee range applies). Excludes resume refresh projects or Help-in-a-Hurry purchases. Offer ends June 30, **Submit your resume at: About The AESC Since 1959, the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC) has set the standard for quality and ethics in executive search and leadership consulting worldwide. Because AESC members must commit and adhere to the AESC s industry and government recognized Code of Ethics and Professional Practice Guidelines, clients can be assured that AESC members are able to serve as trusted advisors for their most important engagements. As the voice for executive search and leadership consulting worldwide, today the AESC is comprised of more than 350 member firms, representing 8,000 executive search professionals in 75 countries. To learn more about the AESC and its membership, visit