25 25 How Top Sellers Approach Job Searches As we mentioned above, top talent takes the initiative, and they’re going to research your company thoroughly. But that isn’t the only way they’ll prepare themselves. "People (including my younger self) get really anxious about going through the job process so I would recommend they do what I did... love what you do, learn your potential new product and know yourself well enough to know where you can make a difference in your new role. Also, remember you’re interviewing the company just as much as they’re interviewing you." Top sellers take an active interest in their potential role, and they’re ready and willing to go above and beyond to land the job. This can manifest itself in a number of ways, and it will give you insights into how each candidate is going to perform at your company. For some, it involves finding the niche they can fill at your company ahead of time so they can better demonstrate their value and that they're a strong match for your needs. "If possible, a candidate should develop a relationship with an inside coach at the company to learn pros and cons, and areas where you can be an asset with the talents and skill-set you bring to the table. Check off all you can so you’re well-informed and equipped for the interview and beyond!" For others, it involves finding ways to prepare in advance and sell themselves well in interviews. Many of our respondents shared that they armed themselves with difficult yet insightful questions to show a real interest in your company and the role they could envision for themselves. Others explained they used their interview time to showcase their sales skills. Commanding the conversation during the interview like they would during a sales call and following up persistently afterward, as they would with a client were both popular methods. Still others had strikingly creative ideas for their approach like showing up to the interview with a sales presentation on themselves or even a qualified list of prospects. "The main thing I prepared before my first interview was a qualified lead list. I brought in a lead list I had put together to show that I was capable of prospecting. I also brought in some examples of different methods I used to use in my previous role (appointment setting) to get the attention