HR
Over the past couple of years since the now infamous economic downturn companies of all sizes have had to address costs throughout their organisation which included downsizing or “rightsizing”.
Whilst no sector was immune from this action we have thankfully seen some changes for the better in most disciplines since Oct 2009.
Whilst areas such as IT and Finance seem to be constant in terms of number of actual live roles, Sales is an area that is experiencing slow but steady growth.
Over the last year we have noticed a common trend within Sales Recruitment. Companies we have been speaking with have made the necessary cuts in head count, however even though they may not be actively searching for new employees, most Sales Directors we speak with would agree that they would be open to increasing their sales force for the right candidate on the premise they would see immediate results in terms of revenue.
What does this mean for Sales Candidates? Roles are there, the opportunity to progress is there, however it may come with boundaries. In our experience over the past 12 months industry experience is now vital even more than ever, where it was once "ideal" to get candidates from similar backgrounds it is now deemed "critical".
The opportunity to change sector, whilst not impossible will prove more difficult than before. Sales Directors are now looking for potential staff that has both the product/service knowledge and the industry knowledge, i.e. candidates who know their market, have strong client relationships and have the best potential to make revenue from day one and deemed less of a risk.
What areas are we noticing opportunities in? We are constantly seeing opportunities for candidates within the following sectors: Office Equipment / FMCG / Environmental / Waste Management / Lab Equipment / Office Fit-outs.
Why should candidates consider looking to competitors? To be very simplistic about it, the opportunity to get your true worth. With so many pay cuts, bonus freezes over the last couple of years, candidates within the above sectors can now negotiate a better package for themselves as they now have what companies cry out for... market knowledge with lots of potential untapped revenue.
By David O'Leary Divisional Manager at Asset Recruitment Ltd.