Sales recruiters are always a great resource for employers and sales candidates, especially during uncertain times. Depending on who you speak with, we’re either already in a recession or we can expect one in the coming months. This situation can have a huge impact on how sales candidates and employers approach the job market. Should salespeople stay put for now? Should they risk a job switch? 

Is it time for companies to lay off some of their sales staff? Which steps should they take to protect their company? It’s a challenging time for everyone involved. Many are not sure what to do during these uncertain times. 

Below is some advice from our top sales recruiters for sales professionals and sales organizations regarding how to manage things during uncertain times. 

What sales employers should do during uncertain times

As a sales recruitment agency, one of your first reactions to news of a recession is to scale back operations. You want to cut costs. One of the quickest ways to do this is to cut back on staffing costs and lay off some of your sales staff. 

But this may not be the best move, considering the challenges companies are having to try to find and hire good sales talent. Even with a recession looming, there are still many companies with staff shortages. And if you let some of your talents go, they’ll be snapped up quickly by another organization. 

The challenge is not the layoff. It will be once the recession is over and you need to hire to fill the positions of your previously laid-off salespeople. You’ll be short-staffed and have challenges finding good salespeople. So, it may make more sense to hold onto your people and look internally for other ways to cut costs and operate more efficiently. 

Our sales recruiters recommend:

• Watch the economy closely
• Assess how it’s impacting your company
• Hold off on layoffs unless it’s your only option
• Be strategic about who and how many people you let go (you’ll have to replace them in the future)

What sales professionals should do during uncertain times

Many assume that job opportunities dry up during a recession. To some degree, this is true. Many companies will scale back and put hiring on hold. So sales professionals just hunker down and choose to stick with their current employer, even if they are not happy. 

But there are just as many companies who continue to operate at full capacity. Depending on the industry, you may see very little change, especially in recession-proof industries. So, if you were thinking about making a career move before the recession hits, don’t stop now. Here are some tips from our sales recruiters:

• Don’t close the door to looking for career opportunities – continue to look actively or passively
• Be open to having conversations with sales recruiters
• Look for opportunities internally to take the next step in your sales career
• Look for ways to prove your value and make yourself a key team member
• Invest in yourself – add new skills, certifications and knowledge
• Continue to network and meet new people in your industry

Recessions happen. However, it doesn’t mean things need to come to a halt. You may just need to make some adjustments in the short term. 

Read More Blogs From Our Sales Recruiters

Salespeople! Is Now a Good Time to Make a Career Move?

3 Things You Should & Shouldn’t Ask a Sales Headhunter in an Interview

The Best Sales Recruiter Advice You’re Not Taking

SalesForce Search is a sales recruitment agency that specializes in hiring sales rockstars. Hiring top salespeople is tough. Only 55% meet their quota. Our proactive approach recruits talented salespeople before they hit the market. As North America’s leading sales headhunter we recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. To find your next sales rockstar, start your search here.