Now is a great time to be a sales professional! The unemployment rate is at 4.1%, the lowest in the last 17 years, and the U.S. economy is continuing to show a strong performance.
Furthermore, the demand for talented sales reps has steadily increased – today, it’s the number one job that small businesses are trying to fill. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that there will be 81,000 fewer sales reps than needed in the next 4-5 years.
While this might seem like it’s only beneficial to job seekers actively searching for a new position, it can actually work to the advantage of any top sales professional as well.
Below, we’ve described some simple ways to increase your likelihood of being approached with an amazing opportunity and how you can use the job seeker market to your advantage.
UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE
Just because you’re not actively searching for a new position doesn’t mean you should just let your LinkedIn profile sit idle. Updating your profile and staying active on LinkedIn is a great way to gain the interest of potential employers with minimal effort.
One way to do this is to use keywords in the summary portion of your profile that highlights your experience and qualifications. It will help you rank higher in search results and make it easier for recruiters and employers to find your profile.
Also, recruiters use specific roles and skills when inputting their search terms. The more accurate and up-to-date your profile is, the better chance you have of being contacted about coveted positions that match your experience level.
Another way to increase your chances of finding an unexpected opportunity is by joining sales related groups. Not only will this demonstrate that you’re seeking ways to improve your selling skills and expand your contact base, but it will also make it easier for recruiters to contact you. If you join industry groups, other members are able to contact you by bypassing the 1st level connection requirement set by LinkedIn.
While it’s not necessary to update your profile to get companies to contact you, your chances will increase if you do. Top sales reps who engage on LinkedIn can receive up to six propositions in a 2 month period.
ANSWER CALLS FROM RECRUITERS
Now more than ever, companies are partnering with recruiters to help them find the best talent available in this competitive market.
However, many sales candidates still tend to be cautious about returning phone calls from recruiters who are calling for a great job they’re trying to fill. Oftentimes this is because they’re happy with their current position and returning the phone call can potentially complicate their life and current position.
Unfortunately, not answering or returning a call from a recruiter can be a wasted opportunity for many reasons.
First, even if the position is not completely interesting to you, it still gives you the opportunity to connect with a recruiter. If you have a good conversation, a recruiter will keep you in mind for other positions in the future that would be more appealing to you.
Another reason to answer a phone call from a recruiter is that you can gain valuable market intelligence. For example, a recruiter might tell you that you were contacted because of your experience with a specific tool or that your background in a specific industry is highly desirable right now. Use your time on the phone with a recruiter wisely and you will end up gaining useful insights.
Finally, if you don’t return a recruiter’s call, you could be missing out on a great opportunity you weren’t expecting. That new job may mean more money, a different industry, and more career growth. You will never know unless you return the call.
TAKE YOUR TIME
As a passive job seeker, one of your biggest advantages to active job seekers is that you have time on your side. You don’t have to take every opportunity that is presented to you just because you need a job.
Try to really evaluate the positions presented to you and find a role that matches exactly what you’re looking for in a new job.
And right now is the best time to do that. According to LinkedIn’s Global Recruiting Trends 2017 report, nearly 85% of talent leaders said that finding top talent is their number one priority.
That means employers are more willing to go above and beyond to recruit and hire the right talent. Also, they’re more open to negotiations if their position doesn’t fit all of your needs.
Now is the best time for sales professionals to take advantage of the job seeker market. Even if you’re not looking to make a change right away, there are ways to make yourself more appealing and ultimately attract an opportunity you won’t be able to resist.
How have you leveraged the job seeker market to your advantage?
