New data privacy laws could move executive careers into the slow lane around the globe. Senior executives are jeopardising their future career prospects due to a widespread lack of awareness that new European data privacy laws could affect them wherever they are in the world. That’s according to global research which reveals that if professionals fail to facilitate their data being stored by search firms that store data in Europe, and therefore fail to engage with them about future roles, they stand to miss out on crucial career moves and significant salary uplifts when the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) come into force in May 2018.
The survey of over 350 global search firms: Unintended Consequences- Why GDPR could move executive careers into the slow lane was undertaken by GatedTalent, a GDPR compliance enabler for the search sector. It reveals that because GDPR – which is designed to give individuals a much greater degree of control over information that organisations collect and store – has been produced by the European Union, many simply haven’t heard of these consequences, or mistakenly believe that they won’t have an impact on them. However, because the legislation applies to any company that stores data in Europe, regardless of the company’s location, senior executives risk simply falling off the radar of headhunters with almost certain negative consequences for their career.
Executives set to miss out on pay uplifts of between 11 percent and 30 percent
GatedTalent’s research reveals that senior executives typically hear from a search firm a least once a year, while 32 percent of respondents expect this to happen three to five times a year. In addition, 69 percent of those surveyed estimated that an individual moved by a search firm receives a pay uplift of between 11 percent and 30 percent, demonstrating the opportunities and benefits professionals could miss out on if they fail to engage with search firms after May 2018. This is a sentiment echoed by Dr Bernd Prasuhn of search firm Ward Howell who was interviewed as part of the research: “If executives want to make it to C-suite level then they have to be on the radar of executive firms, otherwise it just won’t happen.”
Widespread lack of awareness surrounding GDPR
Despite this, few search firms that took part in the survey believe that professionals from outside of the EU are conscious of just how much GDPR will impact their career progression. Jens Friedrich of search firm SpenglerFox, who was interviewed as part of the research, isn’t convinced that executives, who may be relying on an executive search firm to alert them to their next role, are fully aware of how GDPR may affect their career options, particularly as an executive will probably change jobs every 3-4 years. “I think a lot will depend on personal circumstances – whether they are already working in an industry which will be heavily affected, for example, or whether they have themselves been updated by an executive search firm. It will obviously vary from country to country but my feeling is that awareness among executives will be minimal.”
This is a sentiment mirrored by Andrew Jones, a Marketing Director interviewed by GatedTalent as part of the research. “I rely heavily on the knowledge and expertise of search firms to alert me to my next career opportunity. As a marketing professional GDPR has certainly been on my radar for some time, however I suspect I am in the minority. Those who work in disciplines that aren’t heavily affected, or reside outside of the EU, and therefore aren’t aware of GDPR, may risk not being alerted to new opportunities unless they take active steps to consent to their data being stored by any search firm who stores data within the European Union,” commented Andrew Jones.
Commenting on the research, Jason Starr, CEO of GatedTalent says, “Our research clearly demonstrates that engagement with search firms plays a key role in the progression of talented and ambitious individuals. However, few executives seem to realise the effect GDPR may have on their career and salary prospects. And this is particularly the case for executives outside of the European Union. The message is clear, professionals need to take active steps to ensure search firms have access to the most up to date information and understand that any information given in the past will not necessarily be available to firms in the future. Failure to do so will almost definitely mean that some of the doors to roles may start to swing shut, because firms simply won’t be able to sustain the level of engagement with talent required to alert them to new opportunities. Despite this, however, GDPR also poses ample opportunities for executives to forge closer relationships with a select number of search firms and offers the chance to update them with their latest information on current role, seniority and aspirations through platforms such as GatedTalent, which can only be a good thing if they want to develop their career as effectively as possible.”
