How Sales Positions Should Change Jobs

Unemployment in the double digits?   Who would ever dream we would be in this situation?  I realize many of you have been downsized and are seeking a new position.  Connexis Search Group is being inundated with candidates looking for new jobs.   I feel for those of you looking for a new job and want to do whatever I can to help. (I wish I had a job for everyone looking. Please look at our website to view our job postings.) I hope this article provides some insights into how to move forward.

First, we must consider your current position or area of expertise; some jobs are more in-demand than others. For instance, our firm, Connexis Search Group, places sales reps, software engineers, genetic counselors, scientists, engineers, MSLs, field application specialists, pathologists, geneticists, and many other technical positions.

Highly technical and specialized positions seem more resilient to downturns. What we're seeing now has impacted mainly sales positions. If you are a sales rep, sales manager, sales executive, or in any sales position, you may want to consider transitioning to a marketing or business intelligence role.

The traditional ways of finding a new position:

                Job postings

                Recruiters

                Your network

Most likely, you already realize that these traditional methods do not yield the desired results. You have no reason not to try these methods, but you must recognize that they will not be incredibly effective since there is an oversupply of candidates.

Since we are experiencing a downturn, it might be a good time to rethink your career and diversify your experience.  Here are a few suggestions.

Marketing

Marketing positions may become more valuable as sales reps have less access to face selling situations.   Finding new ways to get the customer's attention may become more critical. If you're a sales rep and have never had any experience in marketing, now is an excellent time to start learning how to become a marketer. Take a few online courses in marketing. 

Learn what aspects of marketing you may enjoy or have a natural ability.  As a sales rep, you should have valuable insight into what type of marketing material you need to convince a client to purchase from you.   So, start thinking, “How do I gain experience in marketing?” Be proactive with your current company and ask them if you can assist in the marketing department. It could be worthwhile even if you have to do it at reduced wages to gain the experience.

Business Intelligence

Business intelligence is another area that seems to have gained momentum with many companies. More companies use analytics to make business decisions, so this field has become more popular.

So, if you have some analytical skills and enjoy working with numbers, you may want to explore this field. Investigate online courses to see if there's a certificate that you could earn in sales operations or business intelligence. You may want to return and get a degree in this field if you have a genuine interest.

Inside Sales

Inside sales may be another more important function due to the coronavirus.  Gaining access to face-to-face meetings may be more challenging in the future, making inside sales a viable option.  We recently surveyed more than 30,000 sales reps, and one of the questions we asked was about gaining access to decision-makers.

Most sales reps we interviewed called on hospitals, physicians, academia, or biotech companies.  They indicated that gaining access to these decision-makers would be more challenging in the future.  This may be an opportunity to help your organization explore different ways to gain access to their clients.  Be proactive and offer solutions.

Some may think this is the time to make a career change and do something different. If you're a sales rep, there are other products you might be able to sell in a different industry.

                Real estate

                Insurance

                Investment advisor

                Options trader

I realize these other markets may seem like extreme alternatives, but it may be worth investigating to see if you are interested in these different areas.   Some of these industries offer the opportunity to start your own business---the ultimate way to prevent downsizing.

Passive Income

Everyone should have a passive income to protect themselves and their family. What is passive income?  Income from a different source other than your current job.  Most people who are financially independent understand this concept.  

I would recommend reading the “Rich Dad” series of books to gain more knowledge about passive income. What can you invest in to give you a steady monthly income stream? Many investors buy real estate or become limited partners in real estate businesses to create a monthly flow of income.  There are many ways to generate passive income--make this a priority!

I hope I have offered some hope and insights into moving forward.  None of us expected this dramatic turn of events.  How we react will determine our success.  You may have to pivot and change the course already plotted.   If I can help, please email me at tony@connexissearch.com