5 reasons why working in sales is a great first job - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

5 reasons why working in sales is a great first job - Viewpoint - careers advice blog When I first started working at Hays, I refused to admit that I was working in sales. I remember telling a lot of my friends that I got a job at a consulting firm. Like many graduates I meet, sales isnt a glamorous word I wanted to be associated with, and I thought the idea of being called a salesperson was enough to put my entire education to shame. However, over the years, I have come to embrace the idea of working in sales. Ive come to learn that sales is an essential skill to own and certainly a lucrative one if you master it. Ive also come to realise that many professions are in fact sales-related-investment banking, law, accounting, education, and even CEOs. Having recruited for different sectors in banking, finance, property and FMCG, I have to say that if you want to get ahead in your career, you need know how to sell. So if having strong sales skills  is such an integral part of building a successful career, why is it that so many graduates are reluctant to start their career in sales? In this post, Id like to share with you why I am an advocate of working in sales, particularly for fresh graduates. Ill share with you what Ive learnt over the years, and why Ive come to LOVE being a salesperson. 1. You learn to have thick skin: One of the first lessons youll learn in sales is that rejections and objections are simply part of the job. Getting from a no to a yes is no easy feat it takes skills,guts, patience, but more importantly, resilience. Similar to sales, most jobs require resilience. Its not uncommon in the business world to have to fight for your case and  persuade  stakeholders to agree with you. I am thankful for learning this early on in my career as a result of being a recruiter. Nowadays, I dont take criticisms as personally, and I see every no as a step closer to a yes. 2. You see the fruits of your labour:  When I ask some of my friends why they despise their jobs, one of the most common responses I get is that they dont feel like theyre seeing their hard work paying off. In sales, this is definitely not the case. As a recruiter, I was constantly surprised by how closely related  handwork  and result is. Its really true that the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Being a salesperson typically gives you exposure to the end-to-end process you begin with an initial interaction with a client, and you finish with closing a deal all handled by yourself. It is a lot of hard work, but the great thing is you really get to see and feel your  hard work  paying off. 3. You really get to deal with different people:  Whilst a lot of professions claim that you will meet different people on a daily basis, the end result is that you end up meeting the same types of clients with the same needs. In recruitment, I was exposed to two types of people: those looking for a job, and those looking to hire people. Within those two groups of people, I can’t begin to describe how many different personalities, backgrounds, professions I encountered. You simply never know who you’ll meet or talk to on any given day. What this has taught me is that to build relationships and rapport with people, you need to start with being flexible yourself, never assume and always listen. 4. You learn how to communicate effectively: Effective communication isnt just how well you speak to people; its more around how you build relationships and  trust with those who are different to you. I learnt early on in my career that communication is key to success. Communication to me in 20% WHAT you say and 80% HOW you say things. Communication is also about your ability to ask questions and listen, rather than just talking about what you can do. 5. You see the bigger picture: To be successful in sales, one must learn to thinkboth small  andbig-picture.  In this competitive world, successful salespeople can no longer just rely on the gift of the gab. They need to be well versed in micro and macro-economics, understanding how the larger world words and what really sets yourself apart from others. In recruitment, you learn to run your business through strategic business planning â€" focusing on achieving short-term and long-term results. You learn to assess risk and identify potential threats to your business, and most importantly, you learn to be accountable for your work. There’s really no one or no “market condition” to blame when it comes to results â€" it’s all up to you. Four years ago I made the decision to move from front-office recruitment to training. Though on the surface it may seem like I’ve given up on my career in sales, the reality is very different. I’ve been so blessed to have learnt the science and art of sales that I feel the need to inspire and educate others to also flourish in this area. As I’ve stated before, sales is everywhere, and training is of no exception. My role now requires me to “sell” more than ever, selling ideas and techniques to new joiners, strategies and beliefs to managers, and skills to my team. The salesperson in me is still very much alive â€" and that is why I still do what I do. So for those of you interested in working in a sales-driven environment, my final word of advice for you is this: You will work harder than you’ve ever worked, but you’ll also achieve great things if you put your heart to it. Hays is currently recruiting for multiple levels of recruitment consultants from graduates to experienced recruiters,  visit http://www.haysplc.com/join-hays for more information. //

Dont Answer That Interview Question

Try not to Answer That Interview Question Try not to Answer That Interview Question Improper inquiries questions and how to react (diplomatically).He was in his mid 50s, and he looked all of it.The inquiries hands on application went right to his age.After stewing over the structure and disposing of his first draft, he rounded out a subsequent duplicate. At that point, he sat and sat tight for his meeting. As he paused, an appealing, young lady went into the space for work interview.She was brought in before him. She ended up getting the job.He didn't. He did, be that as it may, get $50,000 in the wake of recording age-separation claims with the U.S. Equivalent Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).The above experience happened to a companion of Matt Rosen, who imparted the story to Ladders yet asked not to distinguish his friend.Rosen has seen work segregation from pretty much every point. He has been an ensured work and business lawyer since 1981, has worked in HR since 1995, and as of late wound up searching for a new position. He's been on the two sides of th e meeting table and saw numerous improper inquiries that can prompt discrimination.Every place, it's staggering, said Rosen, who as of late started HR and lawful work for Franklin Street Financial in Florida. You are constantly requested birth dates, for EEOC (- related data, for example, race and inability status)… . Spots, in my perspective, simply request too much.The reason questioners pose unseemly inquiries changes. In some cases they separate, as they did in the situation above. At times they need the data for inward measurements, he said.And then now and again questioners are just attempting to make discussion, as per Ellen B. Vance, senior expert and warning administrations practice pioneer for Titan Group, a Richmond, Va., HR counseling firm. Numerous unpracticed employing directors use inquiries concerning family as an icebreaker for interviews, not understanding that what appear to them as guiltless requests about life partner, youngsters, and so on., are unlawful.Most work searchers would prefer not to sue over these practices. They simply need to realize how to manage them carefully. Employment searchers need to abstain from seeming aggressive and in this way imperiling their odds of being recruited and need to abstain from giving over data that can be utilized against them in biased circumstances. Realizing what inquiries to avoid is the beginning stage, and realizing how to skirt them is the following step.Answer the inquiries they ought to have askedVance commonly encourages work searchers to divert improper inquiries back to the questioner. For instance, whenever asked whether you have youngsters, you can react by saying, It seems as though family is essential to you - educate me concerning yours.By diverting, the candidate isn't set in the circumstance of being seen as ill-disposed, Vance said. In the event that a questioner squeezes, she recommends that another reaction choice is, I am confused by your inquiry since I can't decide why my age/my conjugal status/my nationality is basic to playing out this activity. Would you shed some light on why you are asking this question?If that doesn't make the questioner get their mix-up, at that point the candidate is left distinctly with the alternative of saying, 'I would incline toward not to react to that question,' Vance said.Don't answer these questionsHere are more inquiries that can and can't be posed, as per HR experts and the EEOC. In all conditions, attempt to discover why a questioner is asking a specific untouchable inquiry, and afterward steer the discussion into tending to specific, important worries, in the accompanying ways:Nationality: It's unlawful to get some information about his nationality, his resident status, his local language, or to what extent he's lived here. Whenever asked, rather clarify that you're legitimately ready to work in the United States.Religion: It's not reasonable to ask what religion work searchers practice, what strict occasions the y watch, or their strict affiliations. On the off chance that a questioner tests these verboten zones, attempt to discover what the questioner is worried about and to address these worries: working certain days of the week, for instance, could be an authentic concern. Age : Do not address inquiries concerning age past expressing that you are beyond 18 years old. Questioners shouldn't ask that you are so near retirement yet can ask what your drawn out profession objectives are.Marital and family status: While it's allowable for questioners to ask whether you have ever utilized another name in work or scholastic circumstances, it's not reasonable for them to pose inquiries about your original last name or conjugal status. Try not to respond to inquiries concerning whether you have youngsters or what your kid bearing plans are, however disclose whether you're accessible to stay at work past 40 hours or whether you can travel, especially on short notice.Gender: If sexual orientation com es up, steer the discussion into what characteristics and capacities you can bring to the job.Health and physical capacities: It's improper to inquire as to whether they smoke, drink or consume medications. Your stature, weight, utilization of days off, nearness of inabilities or past tasks/disorders are likewise beyond reach. Questioners do reserve the option to inquire as to whether you've abused organization strategies in regards to liquor or tobacco, regardless of whether you utilize unlawful medications (rather than essentially drugs), whether you're ready to lift a given weight or arrive at things on racks that are at a specific stature, what number of workdays you missed in the previous year, whether you're truly fit for executing the position's particular obligations, and whether you can play out the activity with or without sensible accommodations.Residence: It is wrong to ask the distance away an occupation searcher lives, however it's allowable to inquire as to whether th e applicant can begin work at a given hour or in the event that he is willing to relocate.Criminal record: It's improper to inquire as to whether an occupation searcher has ever been captured, yet it is passable to inquire as to whether she has ever been indicted for a particular kind of wrongdoing that identifies with the job.Military administration: It is illicit for a business to oppress an individual from the National Guard or Reserves, yet it is lawful to inquire as to whether the activity searcher foresees requiring broadened time away from work.If more terrible comes to worstIf you feel that your business rights have been damaged, you may document an accuse of separation of the EEOC. Here's the EEOC's data page on the most proficient method to do as such. The EEOC likewise gives an inside and out glance at what establishes oppressive business practice under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Empl oyment Act (ADEA).

8 Ways Job Seekers Can Leverage Social Media During the Holidays - CareerEnlightenment.com

Offer Seasons Greetings and Industry InformationAccording to the Career Advisory Boards Job Preparedness Indicator research, 70 percent of occupation searchers and 60 percent of recruiting chiefs accept that having the option to utilize internet based life viably at work is a basic ability for representatives today. During the special seasons, sharpen this aptitude by trading a blend of seasons welcome and helpful data in industry-explicit social discussions, and by utilizing on the web contact as a bouncing off point to warm, face to face cooperations. Alex Levit, Career Advisory BoardClean Up Your Online Presence For Future Job OpportunitiesExcluding occasional business, most bosses are not centered around building their staff once the Christmas season begins. Occupation searchers should center their endeavors during this time on improving the nature of the materials bosses are probably going to consider such to be Facebook pages and LinkedIn accounts. Ensure everything that may be Googled will introduce you decidedly. Edward F. Harold, Fisher PhillipsIncrease your Net Worth by Increasing Your NetworkA all around organized man once let me know, Your system rises to your total assets. Claiming a staffing firm, I have seen this as extremely precise. Systems administration is perhaps the most ideal approaches to locate another situation, as 80 percent of employments are found through verbal. I suggest interfacing with a person inside 24 hours in the wake of meeting them at a gathering by means of one of your essential internet based life accounts. This shows excitement and great follow-up abilities. Your internet based life records will keep you associated with them much after the special seasons are finished! Jennifer Hill, JHills Staffing Services

A Resume Should Sell You, Not Your Company or School

A Resume Should Sell You, Not Your Company or School An effective resume is a sales tool, evoking high-impact engagement with the human reader or the ATS scanning machinery. There is little room for maneuver when preparing a resume. I consistently see many cardinal sins when providing resume critiques. Any of these mistakes will reduce your chances of being placed in the interview pile to be called for an interview. A resume is yours and yours only. So why are you using it to market your company or school? Thats exactly what youre doing when you emphasize the company or school name with bold font, large font size, or capital letters. Instead, eliminate these text treatments and just use regular paragraph text for these names. What you should emphasize is the appointment you currently hold or held in the past. Apply bold font and capital letters to this text, thereby attracting both the human eye and the scanning machinery to your job title, not the company or school name. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If you attended an Ivy League school or other prestigious university that you know would capture attention, you do need to bold this schools name on your resume. Dates should take a back seat Another common resume error I see is to put too much emphasis on dates. On a first pass through your resume, a reader isnt generally very interested in the duration of your tenure or studies. So take away any bold font, brackets, and months on your start and end dates. Simply list the year you received the degree, diploma, certificate or any other designation. Similarly, just display the years you worked for the company. Place the dates in the right margin, since people typically read from left to right, and you want to emphasize the most important information your academic achievements and professional appointments. Bold text, font size, and capital letters are all text treatments that help highlight key information in your resume. The important thing is to be sure youre not using these to distract readers away from what youre really selling.