You wouldn’t wait until you’re sick to find a doctor, and you wouldn’t wait until you need to file your taxes before locating a good accountant. Okay, you might wait until you have a toothache to visit the dentist (sorry dentists), but that’s a different story.
Well as it turns out, a little preemptive planning is also best in terms of connecting with a software sales recruiter. Many people put off meeting with a recruiter until their job has become unbearable, or they need better compensation, or they’re just plain bored with what they do.
At that point, they’re ready to throw together a resume, meet with a recruiter, and expect them to locate an awesome job within the next 30 days (or sooner, please).
Connecting with a good recruiter (or recruiters) is a lifetime career move, not just a one-off strategy for switching jobs. A good software sales recruiter can provide mentorship, coaching, and support over the course of your entire professional life in software sales.
Even if you decide to shift into a different role within tech and software, chances are they can help you out or connect you with someone who can. Heck, even if you wanted to leave software sales entirely, they will likely be able to connect you with the right recruiter to get the ball rolling.
Of course, this connection is all the more important if you have a long-term vision of staying in software sales and finding success. Here are a few reasons why having a solid recruiter in your network is a huge boon to your professional life.
6 Reason You Need to Connect with a Software Sales Recruiter
Software sales recruiters are in the know about the tech industry.
Software sales recruiters know about hidden job opps.
Software sales recruiters can give you the inside scoop on a company.
Software sales recruiters can help you find that perfect job.
Software sales recruiters can help you develop professionally.
Software sales recruiters exponentially increase your networking power.
Let’s take a deeper look at each one of these six reasons:
Software sales recruiters are in the know about the tech industry.
A software sales recruiter eats, sleeps, and breathes software. They are aware of the bigger trends in tech, even before the news covers them. It’s not because they have a crystal ball, but because they are in frequent contact with companies that need talent to carry out their product vision. Recruiters know which companies are hot on the trail of new tech, and which ones are... not. They are aware of which companies are growing and hiring, and which ones are stagnant or maybe even be downsizing. With this industry knowledge and awareness of the hiring climate, they can help you assess your skill sets and aim for the right job.
Software sales recruiters know about hidden job opps.
A recruiter often works directly with the HR department at a company or the hiring manager to fill roles with quality talent. That said, they may be aware of job opportunities that are not yet public knowledge. Scrolling through the postings on LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed will not show you some of the opportunities that might be a better fit for you. And looking at salaires posted on Glassdoor or Salary.com will only yield so much accuracy. If you’re connected with a recruiter, they’ll be aware of these budding job postings and their compensation—and they’ll be aware of you. If the match is right, it can be made...before it’s even posted publicly.
Software sales recruiters can give you the inside scoop on a company.
Software sales recruiters can give you x-ray vision. Actually, they can’t do that...but they can give you the inside scoop at a company. Having placed people within a company, and/or taken talent from that company and placed it elsewhere, they will have the inside scoop about the corporate culture of a tech company and what it’s really like to work there—something you will not see as a job applicant. Some companies are very good about projecting a certain image, but working there is a different story. Other companies are very circumspect about how awesome it is to work there, but the employees are very happy—you may never know...until you talk to a recruiter.
Software sales recruiters can help you find that perfect job.
Everyone is always searching for that golden ratio of awesome pay and meaningful work. Unfortunately, for most people, that combination is as elusive as Elvis Presley riding a unicorn and drinking from the Holy Grail. But for candidates connected with a recruiter, it becomes a lot easier to find well-paying, meaningful work. A good recruiter can discuss your strengths, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and aversions. They’ll be the sounding board for your ideas about where you want to go professionally, and provide experienced feedback about what might be the best fit for your skills, talents, and desires.
Software sales recruiters can help you develop professionally.
If you’re looking to switch jobs, or insistent in staying where you are, you might be barking up the wrong tree in terms of finding success and fulfillment. A recruiter who is familiar with your strengths can connect you with opportunities that will provide a long-term boost to your career. They can also help strengthen your resume, give you tips on how to ace and interview, and suggest some skill sets you might want to develop. They know what hiring managers are looking for, and they can help you position yourself accordingly. Sometimes just repackaging your resume with the right sales metrics and wording can make or break your job search.
Software sales recruiters exponentially increase your networking power.
You never know where life will take you. Whether you’re currently in a managerial role or you will be in the future, knowing a software sales recruiter will be beneficial when you’re on the hiring side of the equation. Software sales recruiters have a sizable pool of talent and the know-how to screen it, which means they can bring you the perfect candidate for your own team. And as mentioned in our intro, no matter where you decide to go, it’s likely that a recruiter in any industry can connect you with the right people to know on your next adventure.
The bottom line: you need to connect with a software sales recruiter.
As of 2019, the average American switched jobs 12 times over the course of their professional career. Gone are the days when everybody stayed with the same company for decades, and then received a golden watch before retirement (perhaps people would prefer an Apple Watch anyway). This is all the more true in a field like software, where new companies, new tech, and new opportunities are on the horizon all the time.
But waiting until you feel the need for a new opportunity to meet with a recruiter is too late. That’s why it’s good to connect as soon as you can, even if a new job is not on your radar screen. Send an email to mike@michaelblair.com, because I’d love to be the recruiter in your network, and get to know your talents, experience, professional vision, and personal goals.