Luke Skywalker became a hero by using the force - so can you. The force is intuitively and instinctively reacting based on your training and experience. You're a trained and experienced sales professional - use that force to have whatever you want.
In 3Q08 the number of resumes hitting my inbox began increasing measurably. Something was up. As I reviewed each one and thought about which of my clients might have an interest, I noticed another startling trend. At least a fourth of the resumes were from sales VP's and sales managers.
It appears that companies were attempting to cut costs by eliminating layers of management. That's not a bad idea as long as there is someone left behind to manage the strategies and tactics of the sales force.
Today, I am seeing more people announcing new positions than I am seeing resumes. Are we on to something? This is all anecdotal - no research here, remember that.
Bottom line: I was seeing the downturn in sales staffing long before the press was reporting it and now I am seeing an uptick.
Here are the common threads, from what I can see from here:
- People landing new positions used their sales capabilities beginning with qualified pre-call planning.
- People landing new positions targeted the industries that are healthy right now. Healthcare, geriatrics and energy have surfaced most often.
- Persistence and flexibility - they kept plodding even in the face of rejection and looked at all options.
Again, this is anecdotal and I hope it is a harbinger of springtime in sales.
Be encouraged and Teach Others!
Chuck
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