Congratulations—you’ve passed all your exams, handed in all your essays, and now, you’re finally a college graduate! Now comes the fun (and challenging) part: landing a job so you can start your career. Whether you are a business major or not, sales is a great field to break into, and many companies offer entry-level positions in which you can learn the ropes and enhance your professional skills. At Barton Associates, we frequently hire entry-level recruiters and account executives—if you’re a new grad looking for advice on landing a sales job, you’ve come to the right place! Read on for four tips that will help your career search.
1. Optimize Your Resume
One of the very first things you’ll want to do as a new graduate looking for a sales job is to make sure your resume is up-to-date and professional-looking. Since it’s early in your career, you’ll want to build a resume that’s no longer than one page in length, making it simpler for hiring managers to get a good glimpse of your experience and skills at a glance.
Ensure that the education section of your resume reflects that you’ve graduated from college, and if you were in any clubs or did any extracurriculars, be sure to list those. Review your experiences and add any internships or work that you’ve completed since the last time you reviewed your resume.
Want more advice on how to position your resume for success? Check out our blog about five areas of your resume you want to focus on updating.
2. Connect with Hiring Managers on LinkedIn
Once your resume is in tip-top shape, it’s time to start looking for job opportunities on online job boards and LinkedIn. When you apply for a job, take a few minutes to try and find the company’s hiring manager on LinkedIn.
Write a nice message to the hiring manager explaining that you’ve applied for a role at their company, that you’re excited about the position, and that you’d love to learn more. Chances are, you’ll get a response message from them, and even if you aren’t chosen for the role, you’ve just made a brand-new connection that could lead to a job down the line! Be persistent—but not too overbearing—and connect with hiring managers whenever possible.
3. Lean on Your Personal and Professional Networks
As a college student, you’ve almost certainly met professors and fellow students who either have experiences in the field you want to break into, or at the very least, similar professional interests. Reach out to your personal and professional networks to people you feel comfortable talking to and let them know that you’re seeking a sales job. Ask if they know of any openings, and if they do, see if they could introduce you to someone at the company.
If no one in your professional or personal network can help you this time around, reaching out will still benefit you as it’s important to maintain and nurture relationships with connections.
4. Obtain Additional Certifications
Another great way to stand out from the crowd when applying for sales jobs is to beef up your resume with some certifications that are relevant to the position you’re seeking. Many of these certification programs are available on online platforms such as LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Udemy. Some have a cost associated with them while others do not—make sure to check that before signing up.
Want to learn more about some of the options available for obtaining additional certifications? Check out our blog about three online programs that will enhance your resume.
Build a New Sales Career with Barton
Thinking that working in sales is the right next step for you? An entry-level sales job at Barton Associates will allow you to grow your skills in a rewarding and challenging environment.
Check out our open positions online, or reach out to us today to learn more about our open employment opportunities!
