The Executive Job Search Is Broken, Here’s How to Fix It
(Interview from the Leadership That Sells Podcast with Paul Morton)
Most senior leaders are running a reactive job search in a market that now demands precision.
They rely on job boards.
They wait for recruiters.
They spray CVs into the void.
And then they wonder why they get ghosted, mis-sold on roles, or land in the wrong company at the wrong stage.
In this episode of What Makes You Tick, Paul Morton interviews Richard Washington, Founder at Tick Talent, to talk through a modern, GTM-led approach to executive job search and career strategy, one designed for CROs, VPs, founders, and senior operators who want to create opportunity, not chase it.
This is about treating your career like a revenue motion — with:
A clearly defined ICP
A positioning strategy
A relationship-led outreach engine
And a process that compounds trust, visibility, and access
What We Cover in This Episode
Why traditional executive job search methods no longer work
How senior leaders lose leverage in recruiter-led processes
The psychology of being “chosen” vs “creating demand”
How to define your true Ideal Career Profile (stage, culture, challenge, not just title)
How to build a targeted list of companies you actually want to work for
How to turn thought leadership into inbound career opportunity
How to use soft outreach and value-first conversations instead of cold pitches
Why warm introductions outperform applications at every level
How to move from conversations to real opportunities without formally “applying”
How to track your job search like a live revenue pipeline
This episode is about control, alignment, and leverage — and how the best operators engineer their next move long before the market ever sees them.
Who This Is For
CROs, VPs, and GTM leaders planning their next move
Tech executives navigating layoffs, transitions, or quiet job searches
Operators moving from scale-up to startup (or vice versa)
Leaders who care about culture, stage-fit, and meaningful challenges
Anyone tired of reactive, recruiter-driven career strategy
Why This Matters Now
The hiring market has changed.
Access matters more than volume.
Reputation matters more than CVs.
And trust compounds faster than outreach ever will.
The leaders who win in this market don’t “job hunt.”
They build visibility, relevance, and demand — quietly and deliberately.
This episode shows you how.
Follow Paul's podcast https://www.youtube.com/@practical-leadership
Connect with Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richwash/
Get the Playbook in the comments
Growth Magnet: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7083793079794556928
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