The Only First Step You Should Take in Your Job Search And It’s Not Updating Your Resume

You’re a proven revenue leader. You know how to drive results. So when it’s time to look for a new role, your instinct might be to treat your job search like a sales pipeline—fix the LinkedIn profile, update the resume, and start networking.

Not the worst approach.

But here’s the problem: If you don’t have clarity on your brand and where you want to go next, those efforts will feel frustrating, scattered, and ineffective.

Instead, before you make a single edit or send one message, ask yourself these two questions:

1?? What’s your brand? 2?? How do you want to use your brand (next ideal role)?

These are the only first steps that matter.

Let’s break this down.

What’s Your Brand? (It’s More Than Just Your Title)

If you’ve been driving revenue for years, your LinkedIn headline probably says something like:

?? VP of Sales | Revenue Growth | P&L Leadership ?? Chief Commercial Officer | Go-To-Market Strategy | Business Development

That’s great—but it doesn’t define your brand.

Your brand is how people experience you as a leader—your unique perspective, decision-making approach, and the impact you consistently create.

Ask yourself: ? What’s the throughline in your career success? ? What’s the reputation you’ve built? ? What do companies and teams get when they hire you?

Are you the turnaround specialist who thrives in ambiguity? The strategic leader who bridges the gap between vision and execution? The executive who builds high-performing teams that drive double-digit growth?

Your brand is the story behind your results. It’s the reason companies will want you—not just as a revenue driver but as a strategic asset to their leadership team.

And if you can’t clearly define your brand, your job search will feel like throwing darts in the dark.

How Do You Want to Use Your Brand? (Your Next Ideal Role)

Here’s where most executive job seekers go wrong: They focus on what’s available rather than what’s ideal.

Instead of applying broadly, step back and get clear on: ?? The type of company where you can have the biggest impact ?? The leadership team dynamic that brings out your best work ?? The level of strategic influence you want in your next role

Do you want to step into a Chief Revenue Officer position, owning a full commercial strategy? Or is your next move into a GM or CEO role, expanding beyond sales into full P&L ownership?

If you don’t define this, your search will be reactive. You’ll chase roles instead of attracting the right ones.

Clarity = Confidence. And confidence is what makes hiring teams pay attention.

Why This Approach Works (And Why It’s Different)

Most career coaches will tell you to start with a better LinkedIn profile and a “stronger resume.”

I work differently.

As an Executive Career Coach who knows what HR & hiring teams actually look for, I help my clients: ? Position themselves as strategic leaders, not just revenue drivers ? Get hired into their ideal next role AND build a brand that attracts future opportunities

That starts with knowing exactly who you are as a leader and where you want to go next.

And that’s what we’ll define in our first conversation.

Your Next Step: Career Strategy & LinkedIn Audit Call

If you’re serious about landing a role that aligns with your expertise, leadership style, and long-term career goals, let’s talk.

?? I’ll walk you through a series of questions to define your brand and next ideal role. ?? We’ll? discuss my assessment of LinkedIn profile through the lens of hiring executives—and I’ll tell you what’s missing. ?? You’ll leave with a focused strategy, so your search becomes proactive, not reactive.

?? Book your call here ?? https://ChristineCKidderCareerAdviserCalendarLink.as.me/CareerStrategy

Because the best search strategy for your next position isn’t applying to more roles. It’s making sure the right roles find you.