Scale With Strive

Author: Naomi Walsh

  • Top Tips for transitioning to a BD Role

    Top Tips for transitioning to a BD Role

    After two years as a Delivery consultant, four months ago I moved to solely focus on Business Development. It’s been a substantial change to my role, and as we know, BD in the current climate is tough!

    Last month, my post went viral on LinkedIn, where I shared some of my top tips – the below are my ten key takeaways, based on my learnings over the last few months:

    1: Research is critical

    ·        It is essential to do your research.

    ·        This information will help you craft a personalised email, and you MUST personalise the f**k out of your emails to get recognition in this tough market!

    ·        You must stand out from the crowd, and you almost have to become a low-key stalker!

    2. Networking is key 

    ·        This is an essential part of BD.

    ·        If you can, attend industry events, connect with professionals in your industry, comment on their posts and use your current network for referrals. You will see the benefits – warm leads are easier to convert.

    3. Nobody wants to talk to you

    ·        You will be hung up on, ignored and told that the company is not interested in your service.

    ·        Remember that rejection is part of the job.

    4. Timing 

    ·        Timing is EVERYTHING.

    ·        You need to be aware of the right time and I would always suggest being proactive and reaching out before a problem arises, otherwise someone will get there before you.

    5. Patience pays off

    ·        BD requires patience.

    ·        You must work hard; work long hours and you must be persistent in your follow up and communication.

    ·        Don’t become lazy. This role isn’t for everyone but if you are willing to put the work in, then you will see results.

    6. Stay Organised

    ·        In a BD role, you need to juggle multiple tasks.

    ·        I would suggest tackling this with a sprint-based approach. Break down your day, set a realistic timeframe for each sprint (task) and most importantly STICK TO IT.

    ·        I write my day plan out every evening, for the next day so it’s ready as soon as I come in and I know what I am focusing on.

    7. Personal Development

    ·        There is only so much your manager can teach you.

    ·        Ask yourself, “Am I doing everything I can to personally develop myself?” If the answer is “no” – DO MORE.

    ·        For example, listen to sales podcasts, read a sales book, find a mentor, conduct your own research.

    ·        You will gain a competitive edge and increase your value in your organisation.

    8. Work life balance

    ·        Sitting at our desks for 10+ hours a day, with our eyes glued to the screens can take a toll on our physical and mental health.

    ·        I believe you must do some form of exercise per day. If you struggle after work, go in the morning instead! Go to the gym, do a class, or go on a walk.

    ·        Being active has really helped me stay focused.

    9. Track your Data

    ·        Track your data and do A/B testing to understand what works.

    ·        Stick to your weekly KPI’s – you will see more success if you do this.

    10. Have Fun!

    ·        It’s tough but you must enjoy the Journey… Money will follow!

     

    Ultimately, transitioning from a candidate heavy recruiter role to a BD role during a recession is tough. However, it can also be extremely rewarding if you develop the right mindset and skills!

    I recently attended a live session with Hishem Azzouz, Founder of Recruitment Mentors, to discuss this very topic – reach out to The Recruitment Mentors for more information, and my inbox is always open to anyone looking for advice – you can connect with me here. 

     

    If you are looking for a new position, remember that our current roles can be found on our Careers page and you can register with us, using our Contact form.

  • Why is now a good time to look to move roles?

    Why is now a good time to look to move roles?

    A lot of people in a huge variety of sectors often have the same idea at the start of the year: new year, new job. Whether you’ve been looking for a new role for a while already, or you are kick-starting the new year by looking for a new job, there’s numerous reasons why now is a good time to make the jump.

    Let’s take a look at why.

     

    1. EMPLOYERS OFTEN BEGIN THE NEW YEAR BY HIRING

    Businesses hire throughout the year, but for many organisations – particularly in the SaaS industry – hiring efforts are ramped up in January. 

    Towards the end of the year, less people are in the office and people tend to be using up their annual leave during the holiday period, resulting in less hiring managers to review job applications.

    Whether it’s a specific job you’re applying for or you’re sending your CV speculatively to a SaaS company you’re interested in working for, it’s far more likely that people will be back in the office and hitting the ground running with their recruitment efforts.

    With a new year often comes new goals for business owners, so it’s worth not only applying for jobs you’re interested in, but also contacting specialist recruitment companies directly to start developing relationships with people in the industry. If recruiters have your CV and career goals at the front of their minds in January, it’ll be highly likely that they’ll either have a role ready for you to be considered for, or will speak to a client about opportunities on the horizon.

     

    2. BUDGETS ARE OFTEN REVIEWED IN THE NEW YEAR

    All SaaS companies are different – some review their budgets in the new year, others wait until March/April for the new financial year, and occasionally businesses’ financial years depend on the month the company was incorporated. 

    However, the most common time for businesses to restart their budgets for the year ahead tends to be between January and April, so it’s advisable for candidates to get ahead of the rush as soon as possible. 

    With new year budgets comes the ability for hiring managers to expand their go-to-market teams and invest in the employees they need to scale their businesses, so start your job search as early on as possible.

     

    3. YOU CAN COMPARE YOUR SKILLSET TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR

    It’s interesting for candidates to be able to see how far they’ve come since last January when they are looking for jobs in the new year. 

    Before you commence your job search, make a note of:

    • The skills you’ve acquired over the last 12 months
    • Any courses or training you have completed
    • Any specific targets you’ve achieved or exceeded
    • Any new tools or platforms you’ve become well versed in
    • Your key strengths that have been further developed over the last year

    When you look back retrospectively and can see how far you’ve come, it’ll often give you further ammunition to look for a new role. The skills you’ve enhanced and training you’ve completed could be the catalyst for acquiring a new, more fulfilling and rewarding role.

     

    4. THERE’S MORE TIME FOR HIRING MANAGERS TO REVIEW APPLICATIONS

    A large number of SaaS company directors and managers tend to complete as many tasks as possible before the end of the year, to ensure that the holiday period is a clean slate and when they come back in January, they can hit the ground running.

    When there isn’t a pile of incomplete tasks from the previous month as there often tends to be throughout the rest of the year, this puts hiring managers in good stead to review job applications and speak to potential candidates in January.

    It isn’t an entire month of free time, but you’re far more likely to get ahead of your competing candidates by putting yourself forward for roles in the first month of the year, as those hiring will have the space in their diary to assess who would best enhance their business throughout the year ahead.

     

    STRIVE CAN HELP YOU FIND YOUR NEXT SOFTWARE SALES ROLE

    Here at Strive, we source top tier sales talent for scaling and hypergrowth tech companies. To learn more about how we can help you find your dream job, contact our team on 0203 983 0770 or email hello@scalewithstrive.com.