| Dear Steve and Jon, Since I have become unemployed, I have read a book on finding a job and I have attended some outplacement sessions provided by my prior employer - but all the instructions they give sound like they are recommending the actions of a salesman rather than talking to the purchasing agent that I am. What do I do to find a job if I are not a salesman? Signed: Not-a-Salesman |
Dear Not-a-Salesman, As a Purchasing Agent you have many of the skills needed to find that next job. You are familiar with planning your day, and tackling that next sourcing project, doing the research, and making the contacts to solicit bids, interviewing the salesmen and negotiating the deal. You know how to follow-up the leads and stay on top of the project - milestone after milestone. |
Dear Not-a-Salesman, You need to act like a Salesman, because until you find that next job, you are in fact a Salesman, selling a product you are very familiar with, yourself. It may not be comfortable for you and it may leave you more fatigued than your job ever did, but the better you can role play and act the part of a salesman the sooner you will find that next career advancement. |