Hi, Eric here. You might wonder why I should trust this person with my professional resume. First, I ask for time; give me time to prove myself. I've been a Recruiter for Salespeople since 2015, guiding them on their career path. I've had the honor of placing some of the best-generating professionals into fantastic companies. Before that, I was a Graphic Designer at a local printer, where I laid out resumes in the mid-90s, contributing to their career development. I also worked at a for-profit University, leading teams of Advisors who coached students into degrees and graduation. My wife and I have been married since 2000 and have three wonderful children.

We live in the Columbia Gorge and have a small hobby farm with a few goats, Ducks, multiple chickens, and a decent garden. When I have free time, I love photography.

Let's start - I believe that the root of all jobs, and indeed the foundation of any career path, has a basis in a Sales career. Everyone conducts sales in one form or another during their job search. Some folks say they would hate to have a sales career (which I don't understand). Let's explore this. Sales is "a transaction between two or more parties in which goods or services are exchanged for money or other assets."

I'm biased as someone who's been in sales for years and has crafted many a professional resumé. That's why we focus on placing the best salespeople across the US and Canada, aiding their career development.

If you want to take your spouse to a specific restaurant, you'll highlight the atmosphere/food/location/net. If you're a Dr., you must present treatment to a patient and lay out the pros and cons of the treatment or process. Perhaps a Factory worker is going for promotion; they need to convince their Boss / HR person that they have earned the raise and that the company will be better off. When you're dating someone, there are many Sales on both sides, "is what you're offering what I'm looking for?" You want to get your teenager to do a chore… never they're teenagers. All these scenarios are part of the job search and career path.

If you quickly search "what makes a good Salesperson, " you'll get much random advice. This advice can be crucial in crafting a professional resume and advancing career development. Hubspot's blog has a straightforward definition.

"A good salesperson has more to offer customers than an exciting pitch-they're enthusiastic individuals with resilience, and they take the time to get to know their customers' needs, show empathy, and deal in a product in confidence."

They go on to describe beneficial qualities:

  • Delightful

  • Enthusiastic

  • Analytical

  • Resilient

  • Attentive

  • Thorough

  • Empathic

  • Confident

  • Adaptable

  • Committed

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, there are 13 million people engaged in a Sales-related occupation in the United States. Does every one of those people possess all of those qualities? Nope! I've talked with many sub-par Salespeople throughout my career in Recruiting. However, there is one consistent theme. A good salesperson loves hunting and representing a quality product. A strong salesperson will consistently innovate and adjust until they find a way to present their product to the right potential client.

The techniques in this resumé and career course will be slanted toward Salespeople. I believe anyone in any profession can improve their resumé and career outlook by utilizing these pointers.

I will stand on my soapbox and proclaim that everyone is a Salesperson. My wife and I are remodeling our home at this time. We have similar tastes, but sometimes I like one light fixture over another, so we must convince (or concede) the other's likes and desires. This is a part of our daily job search and career development.

So everyone is a Salesperson. Some of us love chasing commissions. Others, like my Flight Attendant Sister-in-law, can't understand the appeal of a cold call. But it's all part of the career path and the job search, and a professional resume can make all the difference.

But "coffee is for closers," so let's dig in here.