You're a hot shot account manager looking to move up in the world. Maybe you're new in town, or your non-compete just ran out, or your recruiters all bailed for reasons beyond your control. Whatever the reason, you're in the market looking for a job selling staffing.
How do you go about it?
Method #1: The Sheep approach.
1) log-on to Monster. Look for jobs marked recruiting sales
2) log-on to Dice. Look for jobs marked recruiting sales.
3) Fix your resume up, and apply online.
4) Make a huge list of everyone owner you know and recruiters you know from past jobs. Call two people on the list, telling them you are looking. Put the list away in a drawer, because you're done with your "networking"
5) Get a response from your application online. Yes! It's the perfect job for you! Prepare to interview, confident that this job won't be any different than the last one.
6) Get the job. Turns out it was not what you wanted. Repeat steps one-five, but with another non-compete to worry about.
or
6) Don't get the job. Grumble about how you were perfect for it. Repeat steps 1-5, worried that your current boss (and everyone else in the market) will find out you interviewed with another company because we all know recruiters are notorious gossips.
Does that sound about right?
Salespeople are hired to be hunters. Their job is to go out and find decision makers, form a relationship, and sell the services of their firm to top-quality companies.
The worst insult you can give a real salesperson is to tell them they are an "order-taker." So why do so many submit resumes online to faceless companies and wait for a recruiter to contact them?
There is no secret to the successful way to get any sales job.
Do your research on the best companies out there.
Pick up the phone and call the owner, district manager, or regional manager.
Convince them to meet with you for an informational interview.
Impress them and start negotiating for the short or long-term close.
Repeat with every impressive company you know.
The second way of job-hunting is guaranteed to work for a successful salesperson. Any company that doesn't hire you isn't one you wanted to work for. At the same time, many companies will create positions (or even fire their current employees) to make room for you.
So if you're a real salesperson, why are you on job boards online?
