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"FORTUNE &amp;#8212; Dear Annie: I\u2019m in upper-middle management at a big company where, as you wrote about in your recent column, I really feel stuck. I think I\u2019d have a better shot at moving up somewhere else, maybe at a smaller company, especially if I can leverage my expertise in my field to get the attention of executive recruiters who might be searching for someone like me.\nI\u2019ve heard over and over again that one way to establish a reputation as a \u201Cgo-to\u201D person in a specialized area of knowledge is to give speeches at conferences and other industry gatherings, but my question is, how does one break into that? Don\u2019t conference organizers usually look for experienced speakers &amp;#8212; and (a classic Catch-22), if you don\u2019t have speaking experience, how are you supposed to get it? \u2014 Restless\nDear Restless: It\u2019s certainly true that recruiters scout conferences for talent (which is one reason why it\u2019s smart to go to them, even if your employer won\u2019t foot the bill). But \u201Cit\u2019s a common misperception that, if you have no speaking experience, you can\u2019t break in to national events as a speaker,\u201D says Lisa Calhoun. \u201CNothing could be further from the truth.\u201D\nMORE:\u00A0Vying for a school lunch revolution\nCalhoun is CEO of Write2Market, an Atlanta-based communications firm that organizes conferences. \u201CWhat conference organizers are dying for is speakers, unknown or not, who have practical, expert know-how in a given subject area,\u201D she says.\nShe recommends three steps for getting a spot on the program at a big event. First, \u201Cmake a list of all the conferences where you think attendees would have a lot to learn from you. Research those opportunities by looking at the program from last year\u2019s conference,\u201D Calhoun says. Second, \u201Cfigure out what makes you unique, so that your proposed session will stand out.\u201D\nAnd third, send a succinct email to the person in charge of lining up speakers. \u201CBe sure and identify three specific items that session attendees will learn, preferably in a short list of bullet points. Then write a sentence or two on why you are particularly qualified to address these topics,\u201D Calhoun says. \u201CWell-researched, practical proposals have a tremendously high acceptance rate.\u201D\nYou probably won\u2019t be a keynote speaker your first time out, she adds, but that\u2019s okay. A breakout session at the right conference can actually establish your reputation among the smaller subset of attendees whose opinion of you matters most, so \u201Cdon\u2019t discount breakout sessions. Apply for them diligently,\u201D Calhoun advises. \u201CAnd when you do address one, get a friend to videotape your presentation, so you can use the video in your next round of speaking submissions.\u201D\nMORE:\u00A0100 fastest growing inner city businesses\nGreat, but one word of caution: Public speaking these days is not for the faint of heart. Scott Weiss is head of a firm called Speakeasy that has coached executives at Microsoft \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMSFT\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t, Toyota \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttm\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t, Cisco \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcsco\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t, Wells Fargo \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\twfc\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t, and many other big companies on the fine points of effective public speaking. He notes that a growing number of business events now feature live Twitter feeds that let the audience Tweet comments and questions during speeches. The Tweets often show up either on a laptop on the podium or on a giant screen set up on the stage that is visible to everyone in the room.\n\u201CTwitter is really changing the game,\u201D observes Weiss, adding that, even if you don\u2019t see the instant Twitter feedback on what you\u2019re saying, \u201Cpeople are still tweeting about you. When you look out at the audience and see everyone\u2019s thumbs going, it can be distracting,\u201D he notes. \u201CAlong with all the other stresses of speaking to an audience, you now have this added layer to contend with. It\u2019s nerve-wracking\u201D &amp;#8212; especially for a neophyte speaker who may already be nervous enough.\nIndeed, for anyone who is prone to stage fright to begin with, the Twitter-factor may be a deal breaker. Luckily, there are other ways to catch an executive recruiter\u2019s eye besides standing up in front of an in-person audience and strutting your stuff. Contributing bylined articles to trade journals and other professional publications can get you noticed, too.\nMORE:\u00A0How companies can avoid CEO hiring failure\nAnd don\u2019t overlook the direct approach: Get in touch with a few recruiters who specialize in your field and let them know you\u2019re interested in swapping contacts. Even if you\u2019re not quite the right fit for a job opening a headhunter is trying to fill right now, you may know someone who is. One of the surest ways to stay on a recruiter\u2019s radar screen is to help out by recommending and introducing others.\nSince headhunters often troll for talent on social media sites, make sure your LinkedIn profile is complete and up-to-date. \u201CWell-chosen key words, a demonstration of career progression, and obviously solid titles, companies, and education will catch our attention,\u201D says Justin Hirsch, president of Chicago-based recruiting firm JobPlex, adding that a strong network on LinkedIn means \u201Cyou can get referred to us and, at the same time, we can find you.\u201D\nTalkback: Have you made a career move as a result of a public speaking gig (or more than one)? If you\u2019ve gotten a job through an executive recruiter, how did you connect with him or her? Leave a comment below."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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