Case in point - we're onboarding a new rep in a week. He used to work with me years ago. Happened to notice a post where he mentioned he was looking for something new after a mass layoff. Reached out to my manager (the hiring manager) to see if we still had openings, and to my former colleague - he read the jd online, was interested. My manager provided a salary range and what was open, passed that on to my contact, still interested. His resume was submitted to our HR person by me, and fast-tracked to the VP and CRO. He interviewed well, and got the job.
Networking is 100% the way to do this.
And...why I felt comfortable recommending him? Because he had been an excellent colleague and rep years ago. He worked hard, ethically, and with diligence, shared his successful strategies, and was great to work with. When he became available, I was happy to promote him internally. So to anybody who wonders if it's worth it to work hard and have a good name for yourself? Yes! And it might pay off years later.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Fast track vs immediately put into an abyss of candidates. Seems like an easy decision to me 🤷‍♀️

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

It is ALWAYS about networking and who you know

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

That’s very true. When I see people who have applied to hundreds of jobs without even an interview or screening call, they aren’t doing it right.

Job hunting is the same as a Sales Pursuit. If you want the job you need to work for it.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

Makes me sad when I hear I’m not a good fit for this world. 😂😂😂 Should I apply to another one?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

If the sales realm is not for you we can ship you off to Uranus. I mean Marketing.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

I have Uranus in my iPad lock screen for the sole purpose of hearing my kid ask to see it. Cracks me up. Wife? Not so much

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

If anyone attempts to ask for tips on a job here, your post here should be recommended reading

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

100% true

GDO

Politicker

BDM

I had succes doing a cold application. However i followed up by connecting to people within the company after applying.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

The caveat might be the connect via LinkedIn in while applying.:
- I saw this post and dropped my resume for it.
- Insert a quick why you fit.
- Ask to chat about it.

This has gotten me interviews and offers where I don’t know anyone and wasn’t referred in.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I’d consider this warm, not cold. Dropping a resume and doing absolutely nothing but waiting for them to call you is what I’m referring to as “cold”.

RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

Great insight PBC.
Lazy applications are purely wasting your time.

SaasSlingin

Politicker

Sr AE

THIS

But in all seriousness the processes I crushed I eventually didn’t get the job over the canidate that did know someone. When I performed pretty well, during a process at a place I had a connection (though not a strong one even), I got the job… this probably won’t change for a while

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

I support this message

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

I had success cold applying.
Completely different industry where I didn't have any connections closer than 3rd in LinkedIn and further away in real life. In my interview with the owner/founder he even said "you have no business applying for this position, why did you?"
No referrals and I only connected with them on LinkedIn after each part of my interview process to thank them.
While referrals are great, I think it's foolish to tell anyone not to cold apply.
P.S. I also applied for positions with referrals and using a strategy. I got multiple interviews and a few offers but the one I landed cold was by far the best.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

You’re an outlier on a major data curve. While I’m happy for you, your experience is not analogous to the major trend.

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

All I'm saying is that I wouldn't tell anyone to not do something that can get results.
Like when you're prospecting, it's much better to have a reference and an advocate within the company. But you still cold call right?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

That’s not how cold calling works. You probably don’t have to keep cold calling with a warm lead…

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

Apologies, maybe I wasn’t clear.

I’m saying that just because having a referral is more effective doesn’t mean that you focus only on companies where you can have that warm lead. You still cold call other companies.

So ya, of course when you’re applying for a job having a referral is beneficial. That doesn’t even need to be said. But if someone wants to pursue a position in a company where they can’t do any of the things you mentioned, why not cold apply? Worst case scenario they get told no or get ghosted and they wasted a bit of time. BFD.

I may be an outlier, but I’m one that landed a life altering opportunity so go ahead and cold apply away savages! You never know what’s going to happen.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

You weren’t unclear, and you clearly don’t want to lose your argument.

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

Clearly. It’s a hill I’ll die on. I think it’s good to have an opposing view here so that when some inexperienced person comes and reads this they don’t believe that they shouldn’t bother with cold applying.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

I hope you are as influential on them as you think you are. Go on now, you’ve gotta go call Jenny.

Retired Sales Professional

I concur. 👍👍

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

Honestly very true, I am always shocked by the amount of people who just do Linkedin Easy Apply for their search. You can 100s of applicants have already applied

Account Manager

How do I save this post? Lol super new around here!

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

You can’t bookmark yet but I bet @bravadojanitor or @Gasty could take that feedback

Office Support Assistant Manager

It’s tough out there when you’re trying to pivot. I’ve tried to reach out to plenty of current SDR‘s, and I don’t find a lot of them are open to connecting with a stranger. And I want to increase my chances of breaking into tech because I’m away 10 hrs at my current job. No, it’s not ideal but I need all the help I can get.

kobelover24

Good Citizen

SDR (Sales Development Rep)

What strategy do you recommend for finding the hiring manager or VP of the department. Only few identify themselves on the job boards. Also, how do you approach the messaging so you don't come off pushy?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

If you’re looking for a sales role at a funded company there is likely one VP to go to. If it’s a company like sales force you need to find the Area or Region VP by looking at role location and finding someone with that title in a similar location in their profile.

Messaging wise is just like your cold sales pitch for what you sell today. Lead with curiosity and attempt to add value.

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Stop cold applying to jobs

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