Posted in r/sales with 33 upvotes. This hits home for a lot of people — here's the real answer.
I have been in SaaS sales coming up on 7 years. I have metrics in my resume stating the success I've had in prior roles. I have probably applied to 150 jobs have have had like 7 interviews. The most frustrating part is internal recruiters or whatever title I am speaking with, will tell me I do not have experience selling to their personas. Example, selling to engineers, or selling to Chief Marketing Officers. The other objection I will get is I haven't sold a specific software, example would be a data analytics software or an HR/e learning platform. In my resume, I've never done the same thing twice and I have always found success. In my opinion, there are so many people looking for jobs, a recruiter or manager could post a job with the exact wish list they are looking for in t...
The job search is challenging without professional experience, as employers seek signals of competence. However, targeted strategies like building relevant skills and networking can help overcome this hurdle and land your first job.
I feel your pain, friend. The job search when you have no professional experience can be incredibly frustrating. It's like they want you to have experience to get experience - how's that supposed to work? The core issue is that employers are looking for signals that you can actually do the job. Without any work history, it's tough for them to gauge your competence. They want to minimize their risk of hiring someone who can't perform. The good news is there are some specific strategies you can use to overcome this. First, focus on building a strong foundation through learning in-demand skills and creating tangible projects to showcase your abilities. The Portfolio Project Strategy is perfect for this - choose a skill you want to develop, then build real projects you can point to. This gives you something concrete to point to beyond just your education. Next, use the Application Multiplication Strategy to get your name and skills in front of as many relevant employers as possible. Customize each application to highlight how your background and projects make you a great fit, using the Skills Section Strategy to focus on the key competencies they're looking for. When you do this right, you start sending signals of competence, growth trajectory, and cultural fit. Employers see your potential and are willing to take a chance on you, even without the typical work history. That's when the doors start opening and you can land that first critical role to kickstart your career.
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