How Can Sales Job Seekers Receive Interview Calls From A New Industry?

Let me start with a quote here as I do believe in it: “Anything is possible. You can be told that you have a 90-percent chance or a 50-percent chance or a 1-percent chance, but you have to believe, and you have to fight”–?Lance Armstrong

When I coach sales professionals for a career transition I do come across the following 3 points as the?most common hurdle?in receiving interview calls. We have assisted thousands of sales job seekers in shifting their industry successfully by using a?structured job search strategy?and an?out-of- the- box?approach. Let me remind you that it is important to think differently and in a completely non traditional way when we are trying out something new or else if you keep doing the same thing, you will get the same results. Also, do remember that many times employers in your industry reject you not only because of something lacking in your domain expertise but also because you had?low energy levels?or?did not reflect that you can go the extra mile, persevere…?and so on. That’s because you are hired not only for your direct experience but also for the?potential?you demonstrate and this is where a lot of your?soft skills?become useful in the marketing of your candidature.

Common objections:

A] You don’t have?existing relationships?with or?experience?in handling the customers of the prospective employer’s products/services.

B] You have never handled the?product category.

C] You don’t have any experience in the?industry.

Let me offer you?7 steps?you can take to receive interview calls:

1] Transferable skills:

Focus on your success stories using your transferable skills like?relationship building, customer orientation, researching pain points of customers, building a value proposition, learning ability, adaptability, handling a variety of product portfolios?in your Resume.

2] Resume:

Customize?your resume by including the skill sets which you possess from the job description. Look for?soft skills?in the JD and highlight those.

3] LinkedIn profile:

Include in your LinkedIn profile’s About section and in the core skills section, the above skills. Seek endorsements. Get recommendations from your bosses, team members and also your?clients/customers?that reflect the above?transferable skills.

4] Pitch letter:

Develop a powerful pitch letter which is customized as per the job’s requirements. Include?relevant success stories?addressing the pain points of the job which find a connect with the recruiter. Think like a business consultant who is pitching for new business. Here you are the consultant marketing your candidature to the client who is the prospective employer.

5] Customer’s pain points:

Reach out to few clients and customers?of the prospective employer company and?understand their pain points. Then use your own sales experience and judgment to propose what could be a solution. Include this in your pitch letter. The very fact that you took this initiative will impress the recruiter/hiring manager and hence chances of you being called for an interview increase multifold?

6] Industry knowledge:

Reach out to the Sales Head and/or the Business Head in the prospective employer company through LinkedIn and show your keenness to learn?the nuances of the industry.?With your ability to learn, pick up?common grounds?between your experience and how the new industry operates.

?7] Project based assignment:

On your self initiative,?go the extra mile by doing your homework and research in understanding the key requirements of the new industry, product and customers. With this you will gather enough information. Prepare a?mini project?and offer an indicative solution for the sales of the new product. In areas where you do not have enough information, make?thoughtful assumptions. This initiative of yours will attract the attention of the recruiters.

Take the above steps with full enthusiasm and I can assure you that you will land up with interview calls. In case you would like to share your experience after trying out the new approach, you can send me a mail on?[email protected] .

Best wishes!

Sarabjeet Sachar