So, my lovelies. We are on day two of Finding the Right Sales Gig for You: Finding the Right Boss.
Before we start though, if you didn’t do it yesterday, do it today! Check out this event: Your Job Search Goes Social with Sima Dahl I am attending and I want you to consider it, too. Sima is even offering the event FREE to people who are unemployed – on the honor system. She is clearly about making a difference!
We’ve talked about this before, and I cannot stress the importance of this enough. If you want to succeed, you are much more likely to do it if you have the RIGHT BOSS. Here is a post I wrote a couple of years ago, it’s one of my favorites! Pick Your Boss, Not Your Job
How do you do that? Here are three ideas:
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Make Certain that You Interview with the Person Who Will Directly Manage You
This one seems obvious, right? Well, it isn’t always the way things are done. I had a very dear friend tell me that he was recruited by the President of a company for nearly two years before he took the sales position. Once he came on board, he was introduced to the sales manager whose style was 180-degrees opposite of the President’s. AND, he no longer had access to the President. He was miserable and ended up leaving before the training period was even over.
You MUST insist on meeting with your direct manager before you sign up with a new gig!
Ask Your Boss the Tough Questions
Remember what we said yesterday? That taking a job was like being in business for yourself with ONLY ONE CLIENT? Well, your boss is going to be the most critical component of your success with your only client.
If you were in business for yourself, wouldn’t you want to know if a new client coming on board had sued their last vendor? Or, if they had a track record of switching vendors regularly? Or, not paying their bills on time?
While the concerns are a bit different with your boss, it remains critical that you know what your boss expects and what you can expect from your relationship.
A few questions I really like to ask are:
- Do your salespeople “win” around you?
Great managers are good at hiring the right people and making sure they win. They have more ability to navigate the company for the resources you need than anyone else. - If yes, what do you attribute that to?
Listen to see if what they say are things that make sense to your style. Do you think you could also thrive in that environment? Be insightfully straight with yourself. - If no, what do you think is missing?
Be VERY wary, if they point their fingers at the salespeople who did not work out. Even if the salespeople WERE terrible, it means this company does not know how to hire. Either way, it means that they are not taking responsibility for their own results. - How do you ensure that your people win?
I really love the answer: “I hire great people, make sure they have what they need, and then get out of their way!” You will have your own favorite answer. Make sure it is a good fit for what you are looking for. - What is your style of management?
Make sure that you sniff out if they are a micro-manager and you can’t work in that environment. Or perhaps you know that you need a little more hands-on help and a structure that keeps you accountable. Clear and open communication at this time will go a long way for your future relationship.
Don’t Just Take Their Word For It
I recommend that you take this even a few steps further. Check your new manager out on LinkedIn. How do they communicate about themselves? What do others say in recommendations? Perhaps you have connections in common that you can ask about this person. Find out what you are getting into!
Also, it is pretty typical to interview for a position with more than one person in the company. If at all possible (and I HIGHLY recommend this) ask to talk with another salesperson. Ask them the tough questions about what it is really like to work at the company and especially to work with this manager.
Trust Your Gut
In interviews, we are often so concerned about being accepted and being offered the job as some sort of personal validation. I want you to STOP, BREATHE, and CHECK IN WITH YOUR GUT. Does this really feel like the environment where you will thrive? Do you have professional chemistry with your new management team? If not, I encourage you to really get this resolved for yourself before you accept an offer.
Love yourself UP!
The Irreverent Sales Girl