Top Mistakes Governance Professionals Make When Job-Hunting
Even the most detail-focused governance professionals can slip up when managing their own career moves.
Here are some of the most common pitfalls we see here at The Core Partnership – and how to avoid them:
🚫 1. Only Looking at Job Adverts
Many governance roles are filled through networks or recruiters before they’re ever advertised.
✅ Better move: Build relationships. Connect with the right people and reach out to specialist Governance recruiters (like us at Core!). The Chartered Governance Institute, the Women’s Chartered Governance Association and the Asian Corporate Governance Network equally organise some insightful events and seminars which are beneficial for networking.
📄 2. Treating your CV as a Task List
Listing duties isn’t enough. You need to show your worth and impact.
✅ Better move: Use bullet points that highlight outcomes and achievements – what changed because of you? What governance procedures did you establish?
🎯 3. One-Size-Fits-All Applications
Generic CVs rarely impress. Every organisation is different.
✅ Better move: Tailor your application to the company’s sector, governance setup, and priorities to make you stand out.
💷 4. Chasing Salary, Not Experience
Focusing only on salary can limit your long-term potential.
✅ Better move: Prioritise continuous learning and focus more on the scope and developmental opportunities on offer . When you grow, your value (and salary) will follow.
😶 5. Playing It Too Safe in Interviews
Governance professionals can come across as overly cautious.
✅ Better move: Be confident. Use examples to show how you solve problems and influence outcomes.
🤝 6. Ignoring the Recruiter Relationship
A good recruiter is more than a CV forwarder – they’re your eyes and ears in this specialist market.
✅ Better move: It’s important to be as honest and transparent as you can with recruiters and remember – they’re on your side. Stay in touch, share your goals and let them advocate for you.
Final thought:
Your next job is more than ticking boxes – it’s a career move. If you’d like to have a confidential career discussion with one of our Recruitment Partners, don’t hesitate to reach out.
💬 What have you learned from your own job searches? We would love to hear your tips or lessons.
