Job Search 2011

My position finally relocated out of state, and I did not follow it.  Some may think I am crazy walking away from a good paying position but I could not leave my home, my family, and my friends behind.  Geographically, I am living a dream less than 2 miles from the Ocean.  Besides, I found a GREAT hair stylist and those are hard to come by.. :D

I have been attending a lot of job fairs and I wanted to share a little bit about what I have seen and the true purpose of a job fair. 

When you go to a job fair, you really want to think of the event as a networking experience.  You want to meet the hiring managers, even other candidates who seem to have it "on the ball".  Even if the company is not hiring in your field, they may have an opening in your field in the future or they may know someone who is hiring.  I use Linked In to manage my professional contacts.  It is the preferred contact management system by most of the recruiters out there. 

When you attend a job fair, this is a time to make connections and make an impression.  You want to dress professionally.  DO NOT show up in T-shirts and ripped jeans.  You should NOT bring children.  I heard a woman argue this point in a Career Seminar claiming she wasn't paying for child care when every dollar was stretched.  I understand the woman's point, but you have to think about the message you are sending by bringing children to a professional event.  The recruiters are thinking "this candidate is not showing good judgement" or "Childcare issues, this candidate will not be able to secure a sitter and call out sick a lot". 

There is a lot of commission based work out there for anyone that wants to roll up their sleeves and start producing.  I attended a job fair, that was definitely an eye opener and all of the positions available were sales.  

I am getting price quotes and will be setting up a table to recruit for North American Power at the next event.

Most firms hiring Senior Level  salesmen are going to have certain expectations to get the job.  They want people who are established in their industry that can typically bring with them a book of business.  They will bargain with that candidate for higher commission to get that business.  If there is a Sales Mentor/Management role, they will receive additional pay for those activities and negotiate whether it is salary based or commission based on the junior employee's results.

If you are entry level and have the skill sets a reputable firm is looking for, the usual compensation is salary, paid training, plus commission for a period of time (usually two years).   A full time sales person needs to be in a financial position where they can pay their bills and most of the established firms out there with a dedication to establish a full time sales force will be in place.  If you are trying to sell (or for that matter even interview) from a place of desperation, it will backfire.  The tension in your voice and body language will come across as something duplicitous and make your customer (or potential employer) wary of you.

There are commission only positions that are very lucrative and will produce a solid income over time, but it will not fix the immediate income replacement problem.  Any commission work that requires full time commitment and takes away from your income replacement search should be well planned out.  Make sure you can afford your living expenses for 12 - 24 months before embarking commission only full time work.  

Several financial and insurance companies will bring in commission based sales folks and hire anyone off the street who wants to work.  This is well and good and a great way to get new skills, but look at the rollover rate?  How many people do NOT succeed?  I think the lack of planning and unrealistic expectations of the industry is the prime killer for these companies.  From the company standpoint, it is no risk for them and no cost to bring in a new rep if they are only paid for their production.

  

I am not a salesperson, I am an operations manager and supply chain specialist focusing on reverse logistics.  However, I do freelance recruiting receiving referral fees when a candidate is replaced.  

Traditional Positions I see coming in are IT Project Management, and Financial Industry experience.  Positions are with High End Fortune 500 Companies Salary Ranges $65K - $130K.  Positions come in randomly throughout the day. 

Commission Sales Jobs - Nation Wide for Travel Agents (which requires $319 annual fee for licensing, Training, Search Engine Access - receive 90% Agency Commission).  

Commission Sales - Non-Profits, B2B, Consumer Green energy initiatives (No Fees - No Contracts - No Risk - Commission Based - Promotion Potentials and up to $3,000 monthly bonus over commissions).   

I work in sales part time because it helps me build sales skills and communication skills allowing me to pick and choose the work I love to do. The skills I learn during the recruiting process help me discuss various industries intelligently and have a better understanding of how my skills translate into that industry as I seek new income replacement opportunities.  

Another critical benefit is the ability to network with other people.  This is critical in today's economy.  Face to face networking is the best of all scenarios.  I attend meetings with one of the firms I recruit with on a monthly basis.  Many people going into sales roles are displaced workers who will eventually get back to work.  They have become a good reference and a potential referral into their new company. Additionally, when an employer asks what I have been doing during my stint of "unemployment", I have recent and current accomplishments to put in my portfolio to keep me active and attractive to the companies hiring in my chosen field.  

The money I earn from these entrepreneurial and commission ventures is icing on the cake compared to the people I meet, the recent achievements I can add to my portfolio, and the references I have built along the way.