career fit | SeibCo, LLC

Can you make six-figures in sales?

July 29, 2015 by Jeannette Seibly

Yes, if it’s the right career for you.

According to a Glassdoor Blog, some of the highest paying jobs are in sales!

Sales people are the backbone of any company — they are instrumental in making or breaking the success of any product and service the company provides. However, before you fly onto the job boards to find a job in sales, conduct a critical analysis of your thinking style, core behaviors and occupational interests by using a qualified career fitness assessment*. Know upfront, and objectively, whether or not you have what it takes to sell and the type of company that will help you succeed. Remember, many sales people fail to achieve 6-figure incomes due to poor job fit and the unwillingness to develop the discipline required.

How do you find the right job for you in sales?

Step 1: Determine if sales is the right career path for you. Are you able to “sell” by “closing a sale” on a consistent basis? Do you possess similar traits that highly successful sales people have? This can only be ascertained by using a qualified career fitness assessment* and looking at your past sales metrics.

Step 2: Find the right type of sales position. There is a BIG difference between handling incoming orders vs. finding sales opportunities through cold calling and networking contacts. Don’t forget to investigate customer service, marketing and account executive/manager type jobs that may provide better job fit and are normally paid hourly or salary plus commission. Be sure you have the required interests in the product or services, willingness to learn the company systems, excellent people skills and discipline to consistently network. Success in these jobs requires lots of patience, follow-up and follow-through when answering questions, educating customers, and resolving system/product/service issues.

Step 3. Armed with your career fit information, research the industry, company’s culture, and types of products/services offered. Clarity, based upon feedback from your career fit assessment*, will let you know if you have the level of competitiveness, tact and team attitude required. Also, determine if the pay structure (e.g., straight commission vs. base + commission; and, type of bonuses and other perks) works for you. If you are risk-adverse, be sure the base is bigger than the potential commission.

Step 4. Know the company’s hiring practices. Beware that many companies do a poor job of hiring anyone, particularly in sales. Too often hiring managers rely on the candidates’ ability to sell themselves, tell them what they want to hear, and look the part! Being offered the job does not guarantee a six-figure income. You may or may not fit the culture or job requirements.

To increase the probability of succeeding if you are hired, spend time networking for insider information (not found on the Internet) before the interview and conduct your due diligence during the interview(s) by preparing good questions. (For help, read Chapter 12 in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition, http://Time2Brag.com) Remember to ask about training programs and on-going coaching to help you develop your skills in lead generation, relationship building, prospecting, and closing techniques. If the job is offered, be willing to say, “No, thank you.” if it doesn’t appear to be a good career fit for you. Be honest – taking the job and losing it makes it harder to find the next one.

Ask yourself the most important question.

Do I want a job and career where I will be happy and satisfied? If the answer is yes, studies have shown that you are more likely to be happier and more satisfied when your job responsibilities fit you. The truth is, many times sales people job hop, or are laid off because they were unable to meet monthly or quarterly quotas, or due to territory or company restructuring. Finding the right career (whether or not in sales) will provide greater financial rewards in the long-run. There are no short-cuts to getting rich quickly. Expect to put in the time, learn the company, industry, product/service, and develop long-term relationships regardless of the job.

*The solution to determining career fitness.

The Pathway Planner^TM uses the same assessment information (based upon the world’s largest validation and reliability studies) that thousands of companies use to hire. (Contact http://SeibCo.com/contact.) This educational and career planning tool helps people discover what career possibilities best suit them at any age (16++). The key, like anything, is taking action and learn about different career paths that may fit. SeibCo provides the how-to-do-it in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition, (Time2Brag.com). This book also includes networking and interviewing advice for success.

To get career fit, contact SeibCo today: http://SeibCo.com/contact

To purchase the book, “It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition” go to: http://Time2Brag.com

For companies wishing to improve their hiring processes, go to: http://SeibCo.com/contact

Jeannette Seibly is an award-winning and internationally recognized business advisor. For the past 23 years, she has helped thousands of people work smarter, enjoy financial freedom, and realize their dreams now. She has an uncanny ability to help her clients identify roadblocks, and help them focus to quickly produce unprecedented results. Each client brings their own unique challenges, and her gift is helping each one create their success in their own unique way. Along the way, with her commitment, she helped create three millionaires.

Career fit can save you from unmanageable debt

July 22, 2015 by Jeannette Seibly

According to Forbes, “… applying for graduate school just because you’re unemployed or don’t know what you want to do with your life is a terrible idea.” Yet, many unemployed millennials (and older unemployed people too) take out additional loans for advanced degrees, accumulating $100,000+ in debt, and often, in a profession they don’t really like and it doesn’t fit them.

Taking this route can actually make debt unmanageable since it is often impossible to find work that allows you to easily repay the debt. Often times, you stay stuck and are unable to take advantage of future opportunities since you will feel the need to play it safe and stay in positions you don’t enjoy, or thrive in, just to pay back the money.

Take a strategic, proactive approach.

If you believe you will want, or need, an advanced degree, get a job in your chosen profession and take classes at night or on the weekend. Many employers today are providing continuing education as a benefit to attract great employees.

However, FIRST, get clear about your career direction. Too often you will pick the wrong career based upon factors that may appear to be interesting to you or were recommended by someone you know and trust. (See article, Avoid the Career Mistakes that People Regret, http://wp.me/p2POui-Ui.) As many studies have shown (one is from Harvard Business Review), when you fit your work responsibilities, you will have more successful and financially rewarding jobs and careers.

Get career fit.

The Pathway Planner^TM uses the same assessment information (based upon the world’s largest validation and reliability studies) that thousands of companies use to hire. (Contact http://SeibCo.com/contact.) This educational and career planning tool helps you discover what career possibilities best suit you. The key, like anything, is taking action by learning about different career paths that may fit you. SeibCo provides the how-to-do-it in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition, (Time2Brag.com). This book also includes networking and interviewing advice for success.

Get started now, contact SeibCo today: http://SeibCo.com/contact

Jeannette Seibly is an award-winning and internationally recognized business advisor. For the past 23 years, she has helped thousands of people work smarter, enjoy financial freedom, and realize their dreams now. She has an uncanny ability to help her clients identify roadblocks, and help them focus to quickly produce unprecedented results. Each client brings their own unique challenges, and her gift is helping each one create their success in their own unique way. Along the way, with her commitment, she helped create three millionaires.

Grey hair does matter — Uncertain about what to do next?

July 15, 2015 by Jeannette Seibly

Many baby boomers are retiring and are uncertain about what they want to do next. Many know they need to keep working and have a wealth of experience to share. They believe their options are either part-time to give them something to do, or full-time to fund their retirement accounts. Even though these grey-heads are well-qualified and experienced, many companies don’t recognize the value and skills they can provide. The bottom line is grey-haired people still have a lot to contribute to an organization and need to get their brag on!

The challenge: How do people find work and job options that fit them? Studies show that when people have the interests, core behaviors and thinking styles that fit their jobs, they are much more likely to succeed in their first, second or third careers!

The solution to career fit: The Pathway Planner^TM uses the same assessment information (based upon the world’s largest validation and reliability studies) that thousands of companies use to hire. (Contact http://SeibCo.com/contact.) This educational and career planning tool helps people discover what career possibilities best suit them at any age (16++). The key, like anything, is taking action by learning about different career paths that may fit. SeibCo provides the how-to-do-it in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition, (Time2Brag.com). This book also includes networking and interviewing advice for success.

To get started, contact SeibCo today: http://SeibCo.com/contact

Jeannette Seibly is an award-winning and internationally recognized business advisor. For the past 23 years, she has helped thousands of people work smarter, enjoy financial freedom, and realize their dreams now. She has an uncanny ability to help her clients identify roadblocks, and help them focus to quickly produce unprecedented results. Each client brings their own unique challenges, and her gift is helping each one create their success in their own unique way. Along the way, with her commitment, she helped create three millionaires.

Avoid the Career Mistakes that People Regret

July 1, 2015 by Jeannette Seibly

A question many people ask themselves is, “How do I determine the best career for me?” The bottom line is, most people fail to focus on their best skills and talents. They forget, or do not understand, that career success is an inside job. They blame their boss and employers (and others – including their parents) for their careers being less than satisfying and rewarding.

Recently, I was talking with a friend as she shared about her cousins’ human services jobs. When she started making disparaging comments about her occupation, I said, “Stop it! Every job provides value in our world today. It doesn’t matter if it’s a social worker, a realtor, a server at a fast food restaurant, or a corporate executive. Each is important – and provides a service to so many.” There was a pause before she responded, “Thank you. Really, thank you. You’ll never know how much I needed to hear that!”

8 Common Errors in How We Choose Our Careers*:

1. Doesn’t require too much effort. This usually leads to job-hopping due to boredom. After a while, too many different jobs will limit getting better paying ones. Find work that keeps the mental engine revved and the laid-back style engaged.

2. Money, money, money. Most people want to make a lot of money, for a variety of reasons. By focusing on the dollar signs, we forget that our core behaviors, thinking styles and occupational interests (along with life experiences) may not support our successes in those careers. When we fail at these high-paying jobs, our future work prospects may become limited.

3. Great job title. Career success is an inside job! (Yes, I’m repeating this phrase!) Focusing on job titles or other external factors to determine our occupational choices usually gets in the way of finding work we enjoy doing on a daily basis. The fact is, people will be more impressed by our true happiness — it doesn’t have a job title!

4. Because the boss recommends it. Many times companies don’t put a lot of forethought into promoting or transferring their employees. (See The Most Expensive Mistake Executives Make, http://wp.me/p2POui-Ug) When people hit their proverbial career ceiling (aka Peter Principle), they feel the need to leave their employers. These employees usually look for similar work and often are not successful there either. It’s an expensive lesson for everyone.

5. Because of mom and dad. Following blindly in our parents’ footsteps or attempting to fulfill their dreams of becoming college grads, usually does not work. Not everyone needs a college degree to be happy and fulfilled. Many people who attend college never graduate (they change majors, run out of money, or lose interest) and incur debts that can negatively impact them for the rest of their lives, and possibly their parents too.

6. Friends or other’s recommendations. Remember, career success is an inside job. (Are you getting it yet?) While it’s important to learn from others’ experiences, it’s also important to remember they are not us! Studies show that when people have the interests, core behaviors and thinking styles that fit, they are much more likely to succeed! One study conducted by the Harvard Business Review found “job fit” to be the ultimate career success indicator.

7. Failure to conduct due diligence. Use objective information to develop reality checks with intuition. Conduct network meetings and attend educational venues to determine the right career options. For example, people who are talented working with numbers do not necessarily make good CPAs or CFOs, particularly, when they lack the interests to do so.

8. Entitlement. Many young Generation Y’s and Z’s have been brought up to believe they can do anything they want. While trying out different careers can be fun, it can lead to disillusionment when they believe the next job is the ultimate “right one” and it’s not.

The solution is, find a career path that fits you: The Pathway Planner^TM uses the same assessment information (based upon the world’s largest validation and reliability studies) that thousands of companies use to hire with predictive success. (For further information, contact http://SeibCo.com/contact)

This educational and career planning tool helps you discover what career possibilities best suit you at any age (ages 16+). The key (like anything) is to get into action! Read through your results and learn about different career paths that may work for you. Next, investigate the realities of those types of occupations by networking. As opportunities in those professions open up for you, prepare for a job-winning interview.

SeibCo provides the how-to-do-it in the book, It’s Time to Brag! Career Edition, (Time2Brag.com). To get started, contact SeibCo today: http://SeibCo.com/contact

*Resource: Crown Financial Ministries (reported by Business News Daily (August 21, 2012)

Jeannette Seibly is an award-winning and internationally recognized business advisor. For the past 23 years, she has helped thousands of people work smarter, enjoy financial freedom, and realize their dreams now. She has an uncanny ability to help her clients identify roadblocks, and help them focus to quickly produce unprecedented results. Each client brings their own unique challenges, and her gift is helping each one create their success in their own unique way. Along the way, with her commitment, she helped create three millionaires.

The Most Expensive Mistake Executives Make

June 30, 2015 by Jeannette Seibly

Our major successes in business involve helping our employees, our most valuable asset, grow and develop, and enjoy job satisfaction. Unfortunately, we fail to use objective information to help determine the best job fit and career path fit when making staff promotions or lateral career moves. The same problem exists when we’re choosing our successors.

The greatest unrealized expense executives make is taking good employees and promoting them (or moving them laterally) into jobs that they are not ready for, don’t want or don’t have the skill sets to be successful. Many employees will readily take on these opportunities due to promises of bigger paychecks and desires to please their bosses – with sad results.

One fast growing company wanted to reward a good employee. They moved him out of customer service and into sales. Within 90 days, he was failing and no one knew what to do. They spent the next six months providing ongoing training, one-on-one counseling, and motivational podcasts. After many sleepless nights and daily frustrations, the employee left. A couple of clients and several top producers left with him. Unfortunately, the significant costs of these types of mistakes are not calculated (therefore, are not realized): high cost of training, loss of customers, loss of employees and proprietary information, and other tangible and intangible costs.

Unfortunately, we spend more time buying electronic gadgets than using the same due diligence and taking the same care with our people — our most valuable assets!

How to create successful moves for our employees to avoid costly mistakes:

Create a 180-Day Success Plan. Keep it simple and smart. Wanting to have too many things accomplished while they are learning a new job will only create unnecessary stress. First, write it all down (See Hire Amazing Employees, Chapter 5, http://BizSavvyHire.com) Second, make sure to include conversations they need to have with key leaders and individual contributors to better understand the realities of what needs to be accomplished and how to go about getting the intended results. Third, remind them to listening will get them further than talking! (See Companies and Executives Need to Vet and Onboard Each Other! http://ow.ly/OZxJj)
Use a qualified assessment. Objectively review their thinking styles, core behaviors and occupational interests by using a qualified assessment and qualified 360-degree feedback tool. (Qualified assessments are those that comply with the Department of Labor Guidelines for selection purposes.) While past accomplishments are important, they will not provide enough good objective data to predict future successes. The right interests and thinking styles account for people’s successes 50+ percent of the time.
Conduct due diligence. Talking with previous managers and employees that worked with them. How did the person handle setbacks? When do they use good people skills (e.g., only with bosses, or do they also know how to respect others)? Do they manage projects on-time and within budget? Of the projects executed, how many produced intended results? What type of facilitator are they?
Train them how to ask and answer the right questions. Everything is a conversation! Train the hiring managers and prospective employees on how-to-have authentic conversations, which includes probing into job responsibilities and expectations. After several conversations, put in writing what has been agreed to and what is expected. This written document will ensure clarity and the win-win outcome required.

It can be lonely at the top! An experienced business advisor, always accessible and at a nearby desk can make a positive and powerful difference for you, and your employees. My goal is to be your in-house advisor, your ally and sounding board as you navigate the complex world of your business! (Contact Jeannette: JLSeibly@SeibCo.com OR 303-917-2993)