A Proven Executive Strategy: How to Identify and Reach Decision Makers
You’ve defined your goal, polished your CV, optimized your LinkedIn profile, and started applying for jobs. Yet, days turn into weeks, and your inbox remains empty.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Many experienced managers and executives find themselves stuck in the same loop, sending well-prepared applications that disappear into the void. The truth is, only a fraction of real opportunities ever make it to job boards or recruiters. Most are filled through networks or direct contact with decision makers.
At Career Angels, we see this pattern every day. Our data shows that on average 28% of successful hires come from the direct approach – contacting potential bosses rather than HR. It’s a strategy that takes courage and persistence but can shorten a job search from months to weeks.
This is the first article in our two-part series. Here, you’ll learn how to identify the right companies and the people who can actually hire you. In Part 2, we’ll show you how to contact them effectively and turn outreach into interviews.
Why Most Job Seekers Fail to Reach the Right Decision Makers
Many professionals believe that sending out applications through online portals is enough. They wait for recruiters to call, not realizing that they’re competing with hundreds of candidates who clicked the same “Apply” button.
The reality is different. Decision makers such as department heads, country managers, or CEOs often fill roles before they’re even published. They rely on recommendations, networks, or candidates who proactively reach out at the right time.
And yet, most job seekers hesitate. They worry about being too direct or bothering someone senior. They spend hours tweaking LinkedIn summaries but never send the message that could change everything.
Change Your Mindset: Think Like a Problem Solver, Not a Job Seeker
If you want to catch a decision maker’s attention, stop thinking like an applicant. Start thinking like a business partner.
Every company has problems to solve: revenue goals to reach, processes to fix, teams to lead, strategies to build. Your job is to find out which companies could benefit most from your experience, and then show how you can help them achieve results.
That shift changes everything. Instead of saying, “I’m looking for a new challenge”, you’ll be saying, “Here’s how I can increase your sales by 15% based on what I achieved in my last role”.
Step 1: Build a Target List of Companies That Match Your Career Goal
The first step of a successful direct approach is sourcing. If your goal is to take the next step in your career, start by listing minimum 75 well-selected companies that align with your target role and industry.
Here’s how to narrow down your list:
- By industry: Use Google, Wikipedia, and industry reports to find relevant players.
- By problems: Look for companies facing challenges you’ve already solved such as poor customer reviews, high costs, or post-merger integration issues.
- By size: Decide whether your leadership style suits a fast-moving scale-up or a stable corporation.
- By geography and language: If you’re not fluent in the local language, search for companies from your home country with operations in your target market.
- By ownership and maturity: Private-equity-backed companies often need transformation leaders, while family-owned firms value loyalty and stability.
This process might sound tedious, but it’s what turns your outreach from spam into strategy.
Step 2: Find and Identify the Decision Maker Who Can Hire You
Once you have your list of companies, the next step is finding the right person: the decision maker. Not HR, not “info@company.com”, but your potential direct superior. This could be the Managing Director, Regional Head, or VP of your function.
Why not HR? Because HR’s main priority is to fill active vacancies, not review speculative applications. Our data shows that HR responds to only 0-5% of unsolicited messages. Decision makers, on the other hand, react 30-50% of the time when approached properly.
What’s Next: How to Find Their Email Address (Preview of Part 2)
Many executives stop here, assuming they can’t find direct email addresses. But that’s not true. With the right tools and methods, you can find up to 95% of professional emails, and in the next part of this series, we’ll show you exactly how to do it.
Key Takeaways: How to Prepare for Contacting Decision Makers
- Don’t rely solely on job ads. Proactively reach out to companies that align with your career goals.
- Think like a business partner, not just an applicant. Focus on problems you can solve.
- Build a strategic list of min. 75 well-selected companies using clear criteria.
- Identify your future boss (the person who can actually hire you) instead of sending messages to HR.
Preparation is the foundation of success. In Part 2, you’ll learn how to reach out effectively: how to find the relevant email addresses, write a message that gets read, and follow up strategically.
Ready to Identify Your Decision Makers?
If you want to save time and focus on companies that actually fit your career goals, book a free 20-30 minute consultation with a Career Angels expert.
We’ll review your situation, confirm whether your strategy is realistic, and outline what to do next to start contacting the right people.
Just email Contact@CareerAngels.eu with the subject “Career Consultation / Blog” and include your CV or LinkedIn link.
Take a strategic step toward conversations that lead to real opportunities.
