How to Find the Best Jobs
As you've discovered, what matters most to employers is productivity. Can an employee bring to the company more than he costs? Many people are hired or fired based on the answer to this question. Some jobs aren't easily measured, so the price paid is conservative. Jobs that offer measurable results, especially higher results, are paid better.
Fortunately, sales jobs are often the most measurable and can offer the greatest ratio of cost-to-benefits. That's why many salespeople are paid so well. Employers know, for example, that an investment of $1 in a salesperson can return $5 in orders. It makes good business sense to pay productive salespeople well.
Measurable results works to your advantage. As a professional salesperson, you are offering a measurable and verifiable service that future employers can reference when considering your productivity and your pay. Measurable results also can be a problem. If your sales are low due to skill or market conditions, you may not get paid as much as you would at another job. You may be selling the wrong things or working for the wrong employer. Fortunately, there are millions of other sales opportunities awaiting your efforts and ambition.
Classifieds
The most common source of sales opportunities is newspaper classified ads. In any given issue, there may be dozens or even hundreds of job ads in the section titled SALES. They offer jobs ranging from minimum-wage canvassing to top sales positions. The trick can be sorting them out to determine which are appropriate for you.
The Internet also offers thousands of sales jobs by type and location. A search for “sales” jobs may return more than 5,000 listings. Before you begin your search, analyze the type of sales that you prefer, such as B2C or B2B (covered next), salary, commission, or both, and for what size company. These criteria will help you reduce the number of opportunities to those that best fit your goals. It will make the search easier.
Be aware that not all “sales” job ads are legitimate. Some will have you doing menial work for inconsequential commissions. Others require that you “invest” in their sales kit and training before you can start. And others are simply illegal or dishonest. Remember the adage: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't waste your time on bogus jobs. Your selling skills are needed by people who will respect and reward you for them.
Referrals
As you develop your career, you will get job referrals. Friends, relatives, business associates, and even customers will tell you of sales opportunities they've heard about. No matter the opportunity, hear it out. Listen to the speaker. It may or may not be what you are looking for, but it will honor the speaker if you give them your attention. And it may lead to a viable opportunity. Of course, if it is a current customer who is telling you about the opportunity, be especially careful that you don't, by your response, injure the business relationship.
If you do get a job opportunity from a connection, ask for a referral. That is, if your buddy tells you that his brother-in-law is sales manager for XYZ Widgets and needs a new salesperson, ask your buddy for a personal referral — a phone call or letter — to the sales manager. As you know, referrals can be powerful.
The Buzz
Salespeople typically are gregarious. They know everyone, hear everything, and go everywhere. Or so it seems. In your daily life — in a taxi, restaurant, store, at the office cooler — you will hear about employment opportunities. Or you may hear things on the local or national news that impact your industry, your employer, or competitor. They may be things that may bring you new job opportunities — or tell you that you'd better start looking right now.
Pay attention to the buzz. It can offer you knowledge that is invaluable in finding job opportunities. You are paid for what you know. You're also paid for
