Every day, sales headhunters who work for executive recruitment firms are out there looking to fill well paying sales jobs, offering candidates the chance to climb the next rung up the ladder towards career success. The problem is that with the economy the way it is, there’s so much competition for these positions. Being a good salesperson simply isn’t enough to get these executive recruitment firms’ attention–you’ve got to be
This begs the question, how does one go from begin a good salesperson to great? By following these helpful bits of advice, it’s possible to step up your career, and get the attention of every headhunter.
1. Tenacity.
Obviously, a great salesperson can be measured by the amount of deals closed. Yet, research shows that somehow only 20% of sales leads are ever followed up. As Woody Allen once said, “Eighty percent of success is showing up.” Sure, it can be tough to get a business lead to finally convert into a sale, but you’ll never do it if you don’t try. It’s no use hiding behind the typical excuses–“My time would be better spent doing other tasks.” No, it wouldn’t. The kind of salespeople that executive recruitment firms are looking for is tenacious, and will follow up on every business lead until they eventually close a deal.
2. Versatility.
A great salesperson is versatile. Every client is as unique as their needs, and requires a completely different sales approach. A great salesperson has to modify the way they handle each client depending on what the other person prefers. It’s a skill of being able to shift behavior in a way that facilitates the relationship and trust building process.
3. Commitment.
There’s an old business adage that says a salesperson should “under commit, over deliver.” Business guru Grant Cardone advises that a great salesperson should “over commit, over deliver.” To truly blow a client’s mind and catch the attention of executive recruitment firms, a great salesperson should always promise tons, and deliver even more.
These executive recruitment firms want salespeople that are tenacious, versatile, and committed. If you follow these three pieces of advice, you’ll surely get the attention of all executive recruitment firms. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.