Preparing for the new year and a new sales career

Fall is the time of year when many people take stock of their career, their accomplishments and rethink what and where they want to be. It's a great time to look at career changes. If you want to be somewhere new in 2008, you should already be working with a sales recruiter. If you have not looked for a job in a long time, it's time to get some advice on your resume. Take some time to think of your sales accomplishments. You need to take inventory.

Here are some questions that you should ask yourself:

• which industries are growing?
• in which industries do I have an interest?
• which transferable skills do I have to be able to fit into those industries?
• who are the leaders in those industries?
• are there sales recruiters that have positions in those industries?
• word of mouth-which sales recruiters have a great reputation?

Give yourself time. A change in career or your company is not to be taken lightly. It's akin to finding a suitable mate with whom you will share the next few years if not forever (OK I'm a romantic). Give yourself up to 6 months. Take the time to do a great resume. In Quebec, that probably means in both official languages as there are many non-Quebec based companies looking in Quebec.

Once you have been able to narrow down your interests, don't just apply to anything, be selective. As a sales recruiter, I will take someone who knows where they want to be much more seriously than someone who is ready to do anything. Flexibility is important but so is being selective.

Looking for a new job is almost a full time job and herein lies a dilemma. You do still have a job so don't bite the hand that feeds you. Make sure that you are above reproach. As a sales recruiter, I am sensitive to the fact that people who are working cannot spend their working time looking for another job so will accommodate with before and after hours interviews.

Don't start looking for a new sales job until you are sure that's in the cards for you. Don't do it to be able to negotiate with your present employer. You will have wasted every one's time including your sales recruiter and the next time you need them, they may not be as available.

Good luck in your search for a new sales job and

Good selling.

D