Job Search Tips For Sales Professionals
Every individual in sales knows that competition is fierce, so you have to work just as hard as the rest of the industry to keep your job. But what makes a good sales professional? How can someone improve their chances of landing a new position over time? And what are some of the actions that can be taken to ensure stability during and after a job search?
In this blog post, we cover these questions and more with recommendations for successful sales professionals. We will also share tips on how you can take control of your career online, get information about new opportunities without waiting weeks for an email response, land interviews upon contact with employers, and work hard enough to set yourself apart from the competition.
What Makes a Good Sales Professional?
In the United States alone, approximately 62% of all full-time employment is in sales positions. This makes sales one of the most accessible and competitive professions in terms of job prospects. In this competitive environment, it is vital for sales professionals to have all the information about new opportunities at their fingertips and to actively seek out new job prospects.
Technology has made this process easier than ever before. Online job search tools allow sales professionals to get their hands on market data quickly, identify all openings that are relevant, and email employers instantly. The ability to manage your sales prospects in one place is a huge advantage when you're trying to make contact with new employers.
Sales professionals that take the initiative to be job search savvy can improve their chances of landing new positions. However, this doesn't mean that you should blindly send out hundreds of email messages or apply for new roles every week. Being proactive and maintaining a strong level of professionalism through all communication channels is critical to success as a sales professional, especially during the application process itself.
With that said, here are some tips to help you become an effective sales professional and land new jobs as quickly as possible.
Identify a Target Job Title to Focus On
You won't get anywhere if you're not sure what position you're trying to land. Identify the type of job that interests you most and target it from the start of your search. If you know the company name, researching the company's website can help you find out more about what their job description is. For example, here is a job description for a technical sales position at Amazon:
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The key takeaway in this example is that it is not an entry level role, but rather requires experience on the technical side of things. A minimal or non-existent technical role is not something that a company like Amazon would want to hire someone with little experience.
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It's also important to note that the job title must be relevant to your skill set. For example, if you are trying to land an entry level position in sales development, it makes more sense to target an advertising sales role than a director of sales role. This is because the advertising job involves less technical skills and requires more one-on-one interaction with clients, which is more easily developed during a sales development role. In short, focusing on a specific job title with specific requirements will help you identify what you're qualified for and get the most relevant job opportunities in your area of interest.
Build a Network of Referrals
In a competitive environment like sales, the best way to get an interview is to have someone who can refer you. So build your network of professionals who can refer you to employers and set up a time for them to do so. It's also helpful if you have an email address for all your colleagues, so that they can contact their own connections about any opportunities they know of.
Start with Referral Partners and Close Before They Can Turn Down The Opportunity
If you don't already have one, shoot an email to your referral partner and ask them to let you know if they've been contacted by anyone at the company that they work with regularly. Each referral has a potential to land you an interview. You have to be proactive and take the lead in getting your opportunity.
If they say they haven't heard anything, ask if they know anyone who doesn't work at the company but might have access to other positions there. Make sure you keep in contact with your referral partners and follow up regularly. You shouldn't wait any longer than five days before following up on any referral or chance of an interview that has been passed on by a well-placed referral partner. Furthermore, it is always best to send out a personalized email and make sure that it's not too generic or longwinded. Take the time to write a personalized message for each one of your referral partners.
Proofread Your Emails Before You Send Them Out
We know what you're thinking… basic grammar and spelling skills are something that everyone should have by now. However, this isn't the case in sales. Sales professionals routinely send out hundreds of emails to different contacts for new opportunities and need to be able to distinguish between a good email and a bad one at first glance. When employers are receiving hundreds of emails from sales professionals every week, they have some way of spotting an ineffective email quickly and moving on. Don't make your chances slip away with a poorly structured email.
Keep The Message Short And To The Point
Make sure that your emails are short and to the point. It's not uncommon for email contacts to get hundreds of emails in a week, so you need to be able to keep their interest peaked. Your email should include an introduction, a clear call-to-action (i.e., "If you have any questions feel free to contact me"), and your resume or portfolio attached. This will let them know exactly what you're applying for, what kind of career they might be hiring for, and why they should contact you if they are interested in speaking with you further.
Take The Time To Find The Right Contact
A common mistake that sales professionals make is using a generic email address like "This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ". While this is not entirely wrong, using an email address like this can cause your message to get sent to the wrong person or an inbox that is full of irrelevant emails. If you don't have someone's direct contact information, do some research and figure out who has the potential to help you land an interview at the company. When in doubt, try sending them a message directly through LinkedIn or Facebook (preferably LinkedIn).
Use the Email Signature to Your Advantage
There's a much more important field you should fill out when sending an email – the "email signature". This is the line of information that gets printed at the bottom of every email you send. It usually includes your name, job title, email address, and phone number. Some sales professionals also include a picture or a personal website on their signature as well. This can be helpful in getting read and passed around, especially if there is some relevance to your picture (like if you play on a sports team or are involved with an alma mater or club). In short, don't ignore this tool in your quest to land interviews.
Conclusion
No matter what industry you're in, the key learning is to focus on the fundamental skills and ability you need to be successful. In sales, this requires a goal-driven mindset and a dedication to continual improvement.
One of the most important things that we've learned about selling has been about taking time for self-reflection. Through our own personal experience, we've found that any company or sales position can be a great place to grow as a professional if you apply yourself properly. If you're interested in learning how to succeed in sales, we recommend getting your free 30-day trial at www.spongo.com/trial.