Elevate Your Candidate Care with BlueSteps: A Guide for AESC Members

Being a trusted advisor means treating prospective candidates with respect and providing them with exceptional resources. This is where BlueSteps and AESC align perfectly. BlueSteps offers unparalleled executive career services that empower candidates and enhance their career journeys. Here’s how you, as an AESC member, can leverage BlueSteps to source candidates and elevate your candidate care. 

Why Refer Candidates to BlueSteps? 

AESC members can refer candidates to BlueSteps with the confidence that each referred executive gains access to exclusive career services. These services help executives navigate the executive search process, strengthen their positioning, and achieve their career goals, whether that’s a new opportunity, a promotion, or a career pivot. By referring candidates to BlueSteps, you demonstrate exceptional candidate care, especially for those who submit unsolicited resumes or were not selected for a position. 

How to Refer Candidates to BlueSteps 

There are two primary ways to refer candidates to BlueSteps: 

1. Email Referral to Candidates: For those who submit unsolicited resumes, you can send a personalized email encouraging them to join BlueSteps. The BlueSteps team will send you a template that will include a discount code for the candidate to join. Simply email lwales@bluesteps.com for the email template. Here’s a sample template: 

“Thank you for your interest in our firm. While we don't currently have any job openings that match your qualifications and experience, we will keep your resume on file for future opportunities. Please don't be discouraged if you don't hear back from us immediately. Our firm receives a high volume of resumes from exceptional candidates like yourself. We will reach out to you if a relevant opportunity arises. 

In the meantime, we encourage you to explore BlueSteps, the executive career service of the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC). Our firm, as an AESC member, is among the highest-quality search firms in the world. By joining BlueSteps, you will have access to various career services and tools tailored for senior-level executives, whether you're seeking a promotion, a new position, or even a career pivot. Your confidential information will only be seen by AESC members-the leading executive search firms worldwide. As an AESC member,  you receive a discount of $50 off BlueSteps membership.  Just use this code when you join: AESC50.” 

2. BlueSteps Link on Your Website: Embed a BlueSteps link on your website, directing candidates to a branded landing page where they can automatically access the AESC $50 discount. 

Referring Candidates with Confidence 

BlueSteps is your candidate care partner, offering five key areas of executive career services: 

• Executive Education: BlueSteps collaborates with AESC and its member consultants to provide guides, blogs, and weekly webinars. These resources educate executives on hiring trends, industry insights, and the executive search process. 
• Career Positioning: BlueSteps' network of certified career coaches and resume writers help executives develop a clear professional brand, align their documents and digital presence, and provide job search coaching. 
• Search Empowerment: Exclusive tools like the Hogan leadership assessment, Mintz degree verifications, The Pay Index compensation tool, and the VeriBlue Digital Wallet strengthen executives' career positioning. The VeriBlue Digital Wallet ensures that credentials are verified and current, adding credibility to their profiles. 
• Selection Insight: Through webinars, workshops, and one-on-one coaching, BlueSteps members learn how to navigate the executive search process, approach the right search consultants, and negotiate offers effectively. 
• Enhancing Outplacement Services: Incorporating BlueSteps into your outplacement strategy provides transitioning executives with comprehensive support, enhancing their job market prospects. This support includes education, personal branding, strategic tools, and actionable insights. 

Who are BlueSteps Members? 

Only AESC members can access the BlueSteps candidate database. The candidate database includes a diverse pool of over 100,000 executive members from more than 75 countries, with 85% of them holding director-level positions or higher. Click here to go directly to the BlueSteps members-only database through the AESC Members Only portal.  The easy-to-use search will help you quickly find relevant candidates.   

Leveraging BlueSteps as an AESC Member 

Using BlueSteps in your candidate sourcing efforts connects you with exceptional executive talent worldwide. Here are some key benefits of incorporating BlueSteps into your processes: 

• Positive Impact: Contribute to a positive candidate experience. 
• Relationship Building: Demonstrate care and provide valuable support to candidates. 
• Trust and Credibility: Enhance your brand within the candidate community. 
• Visibility: Increase your visibility through BlueSteps webinars and help educate executives on the retained executive search process. 
• New Candidate Source: Access a qualified candidate pool with verified credentials through VeriBlue. 
• Outplacement Services: BlueSteps is also an ideal outplacement partner, offering a robust network of career coaches and tailored services to support career transitions. 

Additionally, BlueSteps hosts weekly webinars covering various topics for senior executives. It's a great opportunity for AESC members to be a thought leader, discuss relevant industry trends with peers, and share expertise with executive candidates. To become a webinar panelist, fill out this 1-minute form and a BlueSteps team member will reach out to you.

Interested in a BlueSteps demo? Email vponada@bluesteps.com to schedule a walk-through of the database.

AESC members can confidently refer candidates to BlueSteps, knowing they will receive top-tier executive career services. By integrating BlueSteps into your candidate care strategy, you enhance the candidate experience, build trust, and expand your sourcing capabilities. Additionally, consider BlueSteps as one of your sourcing databases where you can find top-tier executives from around the world. Start referring candidates today and leverage the power of BlueSteps to elevate your executive search process.