DevSomeBiz

Senior B2B Sales Guy.

Valued Contributor

Opinionated

Executive

Job seekers have gotten weak.

I keep seeing these posts on LinkedIn:

"I was laid off six weeks ago. I've applied to 42 jobs, and I'm still unemployed."

Are you typing your applications on an IBM Selectric and hand delivering them? 42 job applications should take you two days, maybe three if you're super thorough. What the heck have you been doing for the past six weeks?

I blame the influencers. "Send me $99, and I'll teach you how to apply to two roles and land a $500k/month VP job in one week or less."

I've been caught up in layoffs, and it sucks. Finding a job is your full time job, now. Get to work.

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26 comments

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jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Weak and soft.

But I still think cover letters are BS

SaaSam

Politicker

Account Executive

Technology has made a lot of job seekers lazy. They think that applying to loads of companies in a couple of hours and waiting for responses means they're grinding. Plus, I've seen a lot of folks think that emailing the hiring manager is enough to stand above the crowd.

The reality is, a simple phone call to check up on an application doesn't make you stand out like it did when you were a teenager applying at Dairy Queen.

champchamp

Arsonist

Certified Savage

Haha, I agree. I think a cold call to the Manager (Get phone on TruePeopleSearch or something similar), VM if they don't pick up, a personalized but concise email on why you are a great fit for their team and LI Connect, plus intelligent FU if they don't respond.

I think that is simple but it helps you stand out as a candidate, it's worked for me. Anything you would add?

NotCreativeEnough

Big Shot

Professional Day Ruiner

If you're unemployed then yes finding a new role is now your full time gig.

HOWEVER...

companies have made hiring processes so incredibly complicated, with so many hoops to jump through, that its incredibly hard to make any traction now.

Between personality tests, mock presentations, a dozen rounds of interviews before an offer, and whatever made up step they think sounds good that day, it can be emotionally and mentally draining. And that's before even mentioning the amount of fake job listings companies create that they have no intention of ever actually hiring for.

Yes, I do think people are weak. But I also think the process of getting a job these days has become so convoluted that the process is infinitely more stressful than it needs to be.

champchamp

Arsonist

Certified Savage

I agree... This was another reason why I ended up joining my current company.

I reached out directly to the Sales Manager on Thursday, he gave HR a heads up about my application and they reached out Friday to schedule a time. Told them in the first interview that I was at later stages with other companies.

3 Interviews completed in one week, and a verbal offer on Friday. Written on Monday.

This company offered me 20K more in base with equal or better commission and comp plan than the company that took 3 weeks to get through the process, although it was also only 3 interviews they were simply very inefficient in their process.

mollybloomstanaccount

Politicker

AE (Account Executive)

Can I ask what you messaged the Sales Manager? Looking for inspiration

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

I don’t think ppl are lazy. I see that number and think you are taking the wrong approach.

Applying to 42 jobs??? You must have NO network and NO connections.

The true value of a network might be to get deals, but i think it’s to never have to “job hunt”

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Plus its one thing if you are only at 42 for applying with LinkedIn's "easy apply", but if they are following a lot of the advice here with prospecting to the hiring manager it can be a lot more draining.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

oh for sure. i have to believe sales ppl are the best at finding a new gig because we all know how to sell and its the same exact process.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

Favorite way to network?

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

good question. i think ill make a post about this because there are a few specific things that i do.....gunna keep you hanging 😂

PhlipOut

Politicker

Account Executive

absolutley. There will still be companies you will need to apply for cold directly (especially smaller startups) but unless you are very junior you should have connections all over the place. Even if they are connections of connections.

People should be happy to refer you in as typically they may get a bonus. That means they have skin in the game and will spend some time prepping you for the process.

then it's up to you to get the job or not.

TennisandSales

Politicker

Head Of Sales

i would say even with small start ups you dont apply cold directly. you message the CEO/VP on Linked In and try to get a meeting with them,

antiASKHOLE

Tycoon

Bravado's Resident Asshole

True story, the number of applications is super low. I think when I was looking to transition out of hospitality into sales, I put in about 300 apps over the span of 3 weeks. WFH, in-office, hybrid, whatever I could find. I had 0 experience, but learned follow up at that time. finally landed a BDR position and the rest is history.

Rallier

Politicker

SDR Manager and Consultant

Sounds like somebody in marketing trying to apply for jobs.

If a salesperson ever complained about applying to 42 jobs without a bite that I'd drop a piano on their head

butwhy

Politicker

Solutions Engineer

Ugh, I have been helping my boss with hiring by sitting on interviews and watching demo panels and holy crap the insane laziness of the majority of these dudes is driving me crazy. There was one that after a week of me "mentoring" him DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO TRY TO LOG INTO THE DEMO ENVIRONMENT UNTIL 20 MINUTES BEFORE THE PANEL.

Be better - this job market is about to be competitive af on the tech side.

Notmyrealname

Politicker

Who's applying for that many jobs anyway? I'm starting a new job soon. Put in 2 referrals through connections and had 2 recruiters reach out to me all in the same week. Got 2 offers straight away and picked one. Both offers are a step up from my previous role . If you're applying to 40+ jobs and getting nowhere, it's probably you.

DungeonsNDemos

Big Shot

Rolling 20's all day

I just saw a solid post that was written to help sales job searchers. It basically came down to:
1. Call the hiring manager or head of sales

2. Use a permission based opener - I'm reaching out because I saw a posting... do you have a minute for me to tell you why ___ and then you can let me know if you want to keep chatting.

3. Show you did research on them with 1-2 points (details in job description.)

4. Sell Yourself: I've spent the last __ years 1) reason that connects to their values, 2) reason that you map to the job requirements, and 3) reason... if needed.

Did I miss the mark, or would it make sense for us to schedule time together on how I could make an impact on your team?

** I stole this from Jason Bay** I think this framework at least holds up - especially if you're looking to be an SDR.

ThatsWhatSheSaid

Valued Contributor

Intergalactic Sales Director

Another pro tip: Print and mail your resume to the hiring manager old-school style, in additional to applying online. Nobody mails anything anymore so you will definitely stand out.

Andrewtate

Contributor

Mid Market Account Executive

Damn I really like this

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

It's become way too easy to apply for a position. Single click applications should only be limited to Tinder, not LinkedIn.

GDO

Politicker

BDM

The only issue is when you have applied to all the potential jobs and now have to wait. Luckily I always found a job within a month

expenseaccount

Valued Contributor

Business Development

Exposing your laziness and whining about it on a professional network is truly delusional and would be a red flag to me as a hiring manager... especially in sales.

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

Account Manager

Right?! If you call yourself a salesperson you really shouldn't even being applying to jobs at all... in this market I would literally pick the company I want to work for, find out who the sales manager is, and cold call that motherfucker. Opener is easy, "Hey Mr. Sales Manager my name is so and so and I'd like to join your sales team." BOOMTOWN.

PineappleYa

Opinionated

Hold on- if you are taking the time to research a company fully/platform/services and culture then insert those into your res & cl it takes time like a full day to do a well crafted individualized app that is tailored so you will land an interview.

Not sure when you last applied for a position but for every role there are often several hundred or more applicants….

And the interviews are multi step and take months. It takes a long ass time !

Nothing wrong with throwing out there you are looking sometimes companies and employees know of something perfect for you they haven’t been able to fill properly- isn’t that the point LI? Not to bask in obnoxious humble brags or pontificate into the ether.

Dovah

Opinionated

BDR (Business Development Rep)

I’m employed and I’m still sending out 5 apps a week

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