Change Your Career Successfully

If you�re considering a career pivot, follow these key steps:

1. Start With the Why
2. Get Clear on the What
3. Figure Out the What�s it Gonna Take
4. Make an Action Plan
5. Track the Effort
6. Shift Your Brand
7. Mobilize Your Network
8. Get in With the Right People

For details on these steps see the complete article here.

Top 5 Keywords: To Use in Your Sales CV

The nature of a sales job means you should be able to sell, so your CV should reflect your skill. If you're having trouble selling yourself, you'll leave employers wondering how on earth you're going to sell their product!

We've compiled the top 5 keywords to include when you're writing a sales CV to help your CV stand out:

1. Financially Motivated

Someone who is inspired and enthusiastic about working hard to receive a financial reward.

Don't be afraid to use this phrase in fear that you'll seem shallow or greedy. The sales industry is all about making money, securing deals and of course; getting that commission! If you're financially motivated; the employer knows you'll be working hard to secure great deals for the company and a nice bonus for yourself too.

2. Resilient

Can recover readily from rejection, adversity or hardship.

Selling a product or service to someone who isn't necessarily interested or doesn't understand your product could lead you to a lot of 'thanks but no thanks' responses; so you'll need to be resilient and bounce back from the rejection.

3. Down to Earth

A sensible and practical person who is without pretence or one who is practical in their decision making and philosophy of life.

Having a down to earth attitude and sales technique will mean you're much more likely to get those sales. It can be good to have a quick anecdote that you can share with potential customers about your own experience, this could help people relate to you; and the product. However; if you don't have your own experience and you have to make one up; make sure its believable - test it on a few friends and see if that would encourage them to buy.

4. Excellent Communication Skills

The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas.

These transferable skills can be related to a role in any industry, but for jobs involving sales and communicating with clients; good communications skills are a must. Don't put on your CV that you have great communication skills if in the interview you're a waffling muttering mess. When communicating with anyone; be confident and concise.

5. Consistent

Unchanging in achievement or effect over a period of time.

Prospective employers want to know that you're going to continually deliver great sales results, smashing targets and exceeding expectations wherever you can. You can tie this in with your resilience; it's natural that you might have 'off days' where you won't perform as well; but it's important to know that you won't give up and you'll persevere to achieve.

When discussing your previous achievements; use action words. Rather than stating that you generated a lot of income for the company; state the exact figure! When stating that you continually over-achieved sales targets, use words like 'smashed' and 'maximised' to portray yourself as an active worker.

However; it's not enough to just list numerous skills and traits that you supposedly have! Only use these keywords if you actually have this ability. Ask those who know you best to come up with a few keywords to describe your personality and work ethic.

Have a Career Network

A career network should be in place when you need it, both for job searching and for moving along the career ladder. Since you never know when you might need it, it makes sense to have an active career network, even if you don't need it today.

Career networking, or "professional" networking, involves using personal, professional, academic or familial contacts to assist with a job search, achieve career goals, or learn more about your field, or another field you'd like to work in. 

Networking can be a good way to hear about job opportunities, or get an "in" at the company you'd like to work in.  For 7 tips see the article here.