When I first spoke to Rob, he said:
“Mike, I’m not looking for a job…”
“I’m happy where I am, I enjoy the work, I’ve been with the company for nearly 27 years, and I feel they have looked after me.”
But here’s the thing he said that stuck with me…
“I’m in my early 50s now, and I’m starting to ask myself how I’d fare in the outside world.”
He’s not job hunting. But he is getting market-ready…
- Updating his LinkedIn profile.
- Refreshing his ACT membership.
- Reconnecting with old peers and building new relationships.
Why?
Because the best roles don’t go to people frantically searching on job boards…
They go to the people who are already doing well, already delivering results, and are ready when an opportunity knocks.
This might surprise a lot of people, but…
I’d say over 80% of the best treasury roles (yep, 8 out of 10 roles that I place!) go to people who weren’t actively looking for a new role…
But they were ready…..
So what does “market-ready” look like when you’re not on the hunt?
1: Tidy up your LinkedIn.
Don’t do it all in one go. A new banner here, an updated headshot next month, a refreshed summary the month after. And an “open to work” green swoosh isn’t needed; just have a profile that tells your real career story.
(If you’re worried that updating your LinkedIn profile will signal that you’re getting ready to jump ship, you can turn off public updates in your settings. Click here to see how to do it).
2: Benchmark your value.
Even if you’re not moving, know what you’re worth. Salary surveys (like ours), market intel, quiet chats with recruiters – they all help you negotiate from a position of strength when the time comes.
3: Stay connected.
Whether it’s a conference, a webinar, or just a pint with your peers, opportunities flow from relationships.
You don’t have to be looking to be found.
So when the next role comes to you and you think this is my perfect next move, you’ll be ready to say “yes” on your terms.
Best regards,
Mike
P.S. When was the last time you updated your LinkedIn photo or added a recent win? If you can’t remember, it’s probably time.
