With the downturn in jobs, many of us are turning to employment agencies, help want ads, and the internet to find jobs.  While these sources are definitely an important part of the job hunt, another source of hope is the people around you.  Difficult as it may be, it is important to reach out to others during this time.

Making contact with at least ten different people each day will help you land your next job.  These contacts don’t have to be hiring managers or human resource directors.  By letting your pastor, friends and acquaintances know what type of job you are seeking, you will increase your chances of getting it.    Don’t be afraid to ask your buddy to give your resume to their boss or HR department.  Companies love inside referrals.

Finding out about an organization’s culture is an important step in the interview process.  The culture of an organization is made up of the values, beliefs and the attitudes of its members.  Written mission statements give the potential employee an idea of the values held by management.  However, a true view of an organization comes from direct communication with its members.

When interviewing, it is important for potential employees to spend a few minutes asking the hiring manager or interviewer what they like about the organization and why they decided to work there.  Most managers are open to this question and will gladly spend a few minutes telling you about the organization and what they feel are the major benefits for employees.

Keep in mind that the benefits of an organization can be more than vacations, 401k’s and salary.  Finding a company that values its employees and their input may be worth more to your career in the long run.

There you have it! These two areas are critical in finding your next job. A well written resume offers a potential employer a peek at your organizational abilities. Don’t lose out on potential opportunities by not highlighting accomplishments throughout your resume. Within a few seconds, the potential employer should be able to read quickly your top achievements.

The second critical area concerns your relationships. Companies today are seeking people with contacts within the industry. So wherever your contacts lie, utilize these relationships to make your next career move. Contacts with specialty physicians, purchasing or other hospital department managers can all become very important when you are interviewing for a new position. Leveraging information on “who you know” is critical in sales. Find a way to add this information to your resume. By doing so, you will increase your chances of getting an interview.

Let’s use this Spring Season to temper our demeanor with new insight, a potential different view and acceptance that we can’t change everything in the world, but we can make a difference with the customers and business climate around us!

Take a look around.  Uncover some new approaches to improve relationships in your medical sales role.  Either internal (company) or external (customers), it’s never been a better time to step up and be noted for your hard work and achievements.  Volunteer on a project for your DM or help with some training or a district meeting.  These activities can create additional value and garner additional sales that may be credited to you or your team.

Great numbers in the pharmaceutical or medical sales always help, but being well versed with your current business plan is also critical.  This can be especially useful if your numbers are not where they should be potentially due to a host of reasons outside of your own individual efforts.  At a moment’s notice, this analysis should show where your business currently resides, how you got there, and how you plan on achieving your next milestone.

It’s not as difficult as it might seem if you are able to take good call notes, document your successes, and reflect upon your territory as a journey (not simply a destination).  Before you bask in this year’s Presidents Trophy trip, hopefully you’ll be planning on how you’re going to make the next one!

It’s tough out there in the job market! I was recently thinking about our old Christmas friend Rudolph who really does have a great employment victory to tell us about. You see, Rudolph at face value might not have been the best choice to lead a team of reindeer on such a critical Christmas mission. In fact, he was somewhat smaller than the rest of the herd, appeared a little clumsy and probably wasn’t the brightest reindeer around. But, without question, he was different. (continue reading…)