All job ads include the potential employer’s preferred method for you to apply for the available position. Some prefer a resume by email, others still prefer fax, while others request you apply via the company’s website. Whatever the stated method, you should follow the instructions and apply as directed.
Applicants who call a recruiter when a job ad requests another method do not necessarily appear as go-getters who “make things happen”. They can actually appear disrespectful, unprofessional, and unwilling or incapable of following instructions. (more…)
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.
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…)
Recently a member of our LinkedIn Group posted a video that sparked a discussion about the most important questions asked in an interview are the ones the candidate asks. Nothing could be more true then when you are applying for a sales position.
So what questions should you ask at the end of your interview? (more…)
As a company that hosts a niche B2B Sales Professionals job board we get a lot of resumes. Some are for specific sales jobs we have posted on our website and others are from people who are want to become part of our database for future job opportunities.
Yet many people, who send in a resume just open their email program, add our email address and attach the resume file. No name on the resume file, just “resume”. No contact information, no note saying they are responding to our ad or anything else that tells me they are a legitimate candidate.
In a world of spam, viruses and garbage attacking our “in boxes” every hour of every day you must take a minute to communicate with the person who is doing the recruiting.
No information means junk mail and no chance at a job. If you are applying for a sales job the recruiter is judging you not only on your resume but your introductory email. Face it if you can’t sell yourself in the email, the company recruiter is most likely thinking you will have the same poor approach to selling their products.
B2B Sales Connections can make the recruiting and job search process faster and easier than ever before. For more information on what makes our job board services unique, visit Career Connections at www.b2bsalesconnections.com/career.php.
Each week tens of thousands of people apply to companies on line and many are never considered serious candidates because of one simple mistake. They send an email that does not include any information other than their attached resume.
As sales professionals we’ve all most likely had this problem with a prospect at one time or another. They were a hot prospect sending you all the right buying signals and then all of the sudden they switched off. Now they don’t return your calls. They are unresponsive to your emails and you are left in sales limbo.
Do you keep calling? After all when you last spoke they were set to proceed. Now they are missing in action. What can you do?
I would like to share a quick little tip that works well. If you had a good relationship with the prospect and you are willing to take a last shot to see if the person is still engaged, send them an email that says you are going to “close their file”.
Simply state that you have tried to reach them by phone and email and since they are not responding you would like to close the file. Let them know if their situation has changed and they are no longer in the market for your product/service it would be best to close the file and move on.
You will be amazed at how many times you get a message back almost immediately apologizing for their lack of communication and telling you the project is still a go but they were caught up in a more urgent internal problem.
Lets face it in the world of sales you can get “yes”, “no” and “maybe”. I want to hear yes, or no because they are answers that give me a clear next step. Getting tied up with the clients who are a maybe can drain you and waste a lot of valuable selling time.
By taking a minute and offering to close the file, no questions asked you will be surprised how many valid prospects let you know they are still interested but not ready at this moment. Most often the person will tell me their new time frame or suggest we reconnect. Armed with their permission to proceed I will reconnect with them when the time is right and advance the sales process.
Join our free webinar What To Do Today To Sell More Tomorrow where we share tips from today’s top sales performers. Visit www.b2bsalesconnections.com/webinars.php to register today!
Recruiters make their decision about a candidate during the first page of their resume. Some experts even believe you only have the first half of the first page to capture the recruiters attention. Therefore, you have to lead with your best.
The main headings of your resume should be: Employment History, Education, Other Skills and Activities. If you are a recent graduate and your education is your greatest asset, then it should be listed first. However if you are a seasoned sales professional, your work experience should go first.
Regardless of whether you list your education or work experience first, you should always put your listings in reverse chronological order, with your most recent position listed first.
To download a free copy of our white paper How To Write An Effective B2B Sales Resume, visit our Sales Download Centre.
Do you need some sales career advice? Are you looking to make a career change but you are unsure in which direction you should head? Do you need some honest feedback on your resume? For less than an average dinner out, you can consult with the B2B Sales Coach every day and receive the personal direction you need.
Even the best resume in the world will not get you the interview unless the recruiter can find the information he needs to contact you. Make sure all of your contact information, including name, address, phone and email, are front and center and not buried somewhere at the bottom in the text.
Only list a phone number that you want potential employers to call. Ensure that there is the ability to leave a voice mail because a recruiter will rarely call back twice. It’s also not a good idea to have to leave it to your teenager to take messages either.
Lastly, many recruiters make first contact by email. Check your inbox daily and turn your spam filters off. Countless career opportunities have been lost because the email from the potential employer was never answered.
Make it easy for a recruiter to contact you, and you increase your chances of getting the interview.
To download a free copy of our white paper How To Write An Effective B2B Sales Resume, visit our Sales Download Centre.
Do you need some sales career advice? Are you looking to make a career change but you are unsure in which direction you should head? Do you need some honest feedback on your resume? For less than an average dinner out, you can consult with the B2B Sales Coach every day and receive the personal direction you need.
When interviewing candidates for a sales position, it is important to be prepared. As every candidate is different, if you just let the direction of the meeting go wherever the conversation takes you, it will be like comparing apples to oranges when trying to decide whom to hire. Besides, having a chat about the local sports team will not guarantee you make the right hire. In order to properly compare and evaluate the candidates in an interview, you need to ask the same questions of each and every one, and those questions must be scripted a head of time.
To download a free copy of our white paper How To Recruit The Best Sales Professionals which includes “11 Telephone Interview Questions to Find Top Performers”, visit our Sales Download Centre.
Looking for some ideas for your sales meetings?Join our free webinar where we share quick and easy ways to make your sales meetings more interesting and productive. Webinar doesn’t fit your schedule? View the presentation video here.
Do you want to make more money in sales? Do you need help with a sales situation? Do you need some sales career advice? Are you a sales manager wondering how to improve your team’s sales results? For less than an average dinner out, you could ask your B2B Sales Coach! in our Daily Conference Calls!
Studies show 25% of sales reps produce 90 to 95% of all sales. Clearly, most sales people are not selling up to their potential and not making the incomes they could. B2B Sales Connections wants to change that.
A Sales Compass is a blog where business to business sales professionals can network. Here you will find motivation, share sales tips, and improve your sales and sales management skills. Together, we can all unlock our sales potential.
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