A Sales Compass – A Blog by B2B Sales Connections

It is estimated that the hidden job market, or those jobs that are not advertised, is anywhere between 75-95% of the total number of jobs available. That means, for every job ad that you see on the job boards, there are another 7 to 9 other jobs available that you don’t know even about.

To access this hidden job market, make sure you tap into your own networks. Contact your ex colleagues and managers to let them know you are looking to make a career change.   Tell them about your skills, your qualifications and your aspirations.  Also let your friends and business associates know.

Quite often your own networks will produce excellent job opportunites for you to investigate further. On top of that, a referral to a potential employer from someone who already knows you can be very powerful in helping you get your foot in the door.

Aim Higher!

Susan A. Enns, The B2B Sales Coach B2B Sales Connections

www.b2bsalesconnections.com, www.linkedin.com/in/susanenns, or www.twitter.com/SusanEnns

I received comments from two separate employers recently about how they have tried to contact potential candidates who have applied to their available position, only to receive no response in return.

Using the information listed on the resumes, some candidates were left a voice mail and others were sent an email. In both cases the recruiters’ messages were very clear; they were being contacted to arrange an interview. The results were always the same, however; absolutely no reply from the applicants. (more…)

If you want to find the best jobs, you need to look where the recruiters are posting their available positions. These days that includes the online social networks.

So which social networks do recruiters use most? Check out this Recruiter Survey by Infographic to find out. The answer may surprise you.  I’ll give you a hint though. You should join our LinkedIn Group. (more…)

Recently I overheard a sales rep say, “I would love to sell more but I just don’t have the time to prospect.” In the same week, a friend said “I would love to be healthier but I don’t have the time to work out.”

Please! When we say we don’t have the time to do something, what we are really saying is that we chose not to do it. We all have the same number of hours in a day. The only difference is how we spend them.

Let’s face it. If top producing sales people can find the time to prospect, so can you. The key is how you plan your work. (more…)

“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”  This cliché is never more important than when you are heading to a job interview. 

When you are invited to an interview you need to consider that your first impression is going to weight heavily on the person who is interviewing you. If you make a great first impression then you can bet the interviewer is going to use the meeting to try and justify why you should be working for their company. Likewise, of you make a poor first impression you should know that in the back of their mind they are looking for reasons why they shouldn’t hire you.

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Many companies and HR departments are now using software to scan the resumes they receive. Therefore, you need to make sure that your resume includes the words that the scanners are looking for. Otherwise you may be passed over in the prescreening process, even if you are the ideal candidate.

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Recently a networking contact of mine was complaining that he could not find a good sales job.  After a few qualifying questions, it was clear that he was just sitting back waiting for the perfect job to be advertised somewhere, as opposed to using his sales skills to go out and find it.

It is estimated that the hidden job market, or those jobs that are not advertised, is anywhere between 75-95% of the total number of jobs available. That means, for every job ad that you see, there are another 7 to 9 other jobs available that you don’t know even about. (more…)