Sales Jobseekers : How to Stand Out to Recruiters on LinkedIn

Sales Professionals! Standing out in your profession requires more than just listing your job history on LinkedIn. Recruiters often use specific keywords and quantified achievements to find candidates who demonstrate tangible success. Surprisingly, many sales professionals miss the opportunity to showcase their achievements effectively, especially when it comes to numbers, percentages, and dollars (revenue) along with the keywords that matter.

As a Technical Sourcer and Recruiter, I often am a utility player in which I get the opportunity to utilize my talent sourcing strategies alongside my colleagues to help fill various roles to include Sales roles. When I first began recruiting for sales professionals I was quite surprised to find out that many were not using the very IMPORTANT KEYWORDS or QUANTIFYING their success in this numbers driven profession!

As I searched keywords "Quota" AND "Attainment" along with other variations and other sales specific jargon/words, I certainly took notice that sales professionals may need an article like this. You see, Recruiters perform advanced searches via search engines (ie. Google, Bing, etc.), LinkedIn, LinkedIn Recruiter, Indeed and so many other avenues to find top-tier talent. As I searched keywords "Quota" AND "Attainment" along with other variations and other sales specific jargon/words, I certainly took notice that sales professionals may need an article to address its importance and help deserving jobseekers along the way.

WHY QUANTIFY YOUR SALES SUCCESS

Recruiters are constantly searching for candidates who can prove their impact and potential contributions. Quantifying your achievements not only catches their attention but also demonstrates your ability to drive results. Here are key areas where you can enhance your LinkedIn profile to attract recruiters:

1. Goal/Quota Attainment: Describe the sales targets you were given and how you exceeded them. For instance, "consistently achieved 120% of quarterly sales targets."

2. Revenue Growth: Highlight your role in increasing revenue. For example, "Increased regional sales revenue by 30% over two years."

3. Client Acquisition and Retention: Showcase your success in acquiring new clients and retaining existing ones. Mention specific numbers like "secured 50 new clients in one year" or "maintained a 95% client retention rate."

4. Sales Volume: Quantify the amount of product or service sold annually, such as "sold over $1 million worth of products annually."

5. Market Expansion: Detail your success in entering new markets or territories. For instance, "expanded sales into three new states, resulting in a 25% increase in market share."

6. Awards and Recognitions: Highlight any awards or recognitions received for outstanding sales performance, such as "awarded Salesperson of the Year for exceeding targets by 150%."

7. Sales Strategies: Share successful sales strategies or campaigns you developed and their outcomes. For example, "implemented a new sales strategy that increased lead conversion rates by 40%."

8. Team Leadership: If applicable, describe your leadership in sales teams. For instance, "led a team of 10 sales representatives to achieve a 20% increase in annual sales."

UPDATING YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE

To optimize your LinkedIn profile for recruiter searches:

- Use Keywords: Incorporate industry-specific keywords and skills that recruiters are likely to search for.

- Highlight Achievements: Instead of just listing job responsibilities, emphasize your quantified achievements under each position.

- Include Metrics: Wherever possible, provide numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts to substantiate your achievements.

- Customize Headline and Summary: Craft a headline and summary that reflect your sales expertise and highlight your key achievements.

CONCLUSION

By leveraging quantified achievements and relevant keywords on your LinkedIn profile, you significantly increase your chances of being discovered by recruiters. Remember, recruiters are looking for candidates who can demonstrate measurable success and impact. Make sure your profile tells a compelling story of your sales prowess through concrete numbers and achievements.

Crafting a standout LinkedIn profile isn't just about listing your experience—it's about effectively selling your own success story. Take the time to update your profile with these strategies, and watch as your visibility to recruiters improves.