The job market is no longer employer-driven and the power has shifted to the candidate. According to the Pew Research Center, since the recession’s end, fewer Americans are unemployed and there are more job openings available. While this is great news for sales reps actively seeking a new position, what does it mean for passive sales professionals? When should they take advantage of this hot market and make a job move?
When you start to consider options for new employment, whether it’s a recruiter reaching out to you about a new position or a contact in your network with an opportunity, make sure you evaluate the situation before you make the leap. The position should offer a new challenge or be be in line with your career path, and most importantly, it should be within the right time frame. Keep reading to learn how evaluating these factors can help you realize when it’s the right time to change jobs and maximize your value.
New Challenge
Before changing jobs, it’s essential to have a complete understanding of how the new position will add to your skill set and experience level. Accept a position that will challenge you and give you the experience needed to obtain your career goals. It should also make sense in your natural career progression. Recruiters and employers like to see job transitions that add new skills to your resume, not just a bunch of lateral moves that require you to perform the same job duties. If you want to get to the next level in your career it will require you get out of your comfort zone and take on something new.
Right Timeframe
There has been a lot of talk about how the stigma around job hopping has disappeared. While it is more acceptable to work for many different companies throughout your career, in sales it is still looked at negatively to change jobs every year. Look at your current tenure. When was the last time you changed jobs? Have you developed a pattern of changing jobs every two years? While it might seem like a good idea to accept an attractive offer, changing jobs so many times may ultimately hurt your career in the long run. Don’t just change jobs because a new opportunity has come up.
Next Step
As sales reps become more experienced, they should look at higher commission opportunities with more complex sales. These jobs offer a higher earning potential than simple, one off sales. Again, it’s important to evaluate your career path and current skills to see if you’re qualified for a better opportunity. If not, use this time to work on skills that will be needed in these more complex sales.
A job transition should be a calculated move, and you should consider many factors before you make this move. It’s important not to change jobs just because the offer is out there, but that it is ultimately in line with your goals and is the natural next step in your career.
