#2 – Fill out your profile.  Use your updated resume (because it should always be updated) to fill out the profile.  This will be your online resume, so make it look good.  What if you aren’t looking for a job?  Well, haven’t you ever wondered what it would feel like for someone to contact you and say something like: “I saw on your LinkedIn profile that you are experienced in x, y and z.  We need those types of skill sets…can we talk?”   This will happen if you fill out the LinkedIn profile correctly.  (If nothing else, it’s always helpful to know just how valuable you are in your own job.)

#3 – Upload your photo – It should be an attractive, professional, head-and-shoulders-shot of you in business attire. 

#4 – Join some groups – Look around.  It doesn’t have to be restricted to networking prospects…use this resource as a learning tool, too.

#5 – Connect to people you worked with in the past.  They’re trying to build their networks, too.  They’ll be glad you contacted them.

#6 – Recommend some of the people you worked with in the past who were excellent or somebody who did work for you in the past.  People would always rather take a chance on someone who was recommended than on someone they know nothing about.  You’re just making introductions.  Or, umm…networking.  Recommend your favorite sales recruiter as a resource (maybe I placed you, recruited for your company, gave you great advice in a custom consulting session, or just because you like my blog). 

#7 – Check your account once a week.  It won’t do you any good if you don’t know what’s going on.

#8 – Accept invitations to connect by others. The connection will allow more people to see your profile and this is what personal branding is all about.

#9 – Access the Q & A — amazing resources there.  Ask a question.  You will be amazed at the response.  Or search for the answer that someone has already given.

#10 – Put your LinkedIn profile in your email signature.  It allows someone to know you in a much more significant way than ever before.

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It not always necessary to have some background in the sciences to get a job in medical sales, laboratory sales, medical supplies sales, hospital equipment sales, clinical diagnostics sales, pharmaceutical sales, imaging sales, pathology sales, cellular and molecular sales, and biotechnology sales.  But if you’ve got it, it helps.

For more information about technology sheets and other secrets to success in getting a medical sales job, see How to Get Into Medical Sales – Volume I:  The Documents.  It’s full of samples and templates of resumes, cover letters, technology sheets, brag books, 30/60/90-day sales plans, thank you notes, and more–it also includes over an hour of audio coaching from the Sales Recruiter to show you how to use these documents to your greatest advantage in your job search and interviews!

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In part I, I showed you the way to pimp your brand.  In part II, I showed you how to pimp your resume.  The third part of your job-search strategy in sales is having a great network.  To avoid the inevitable panic that will accompany a job search in which you realize you have no one to go to for information, help, or support when you really need it, ALWAYS BE BUILDING YOUR NETWORK.  (Have I communicated how important that is??  I hope so.)  I have talked about network-building skills in several posts and one podcast. 

When I talk about building your network, I don’t mean that you need to have handed out your business card to everyone who glances at you on the street.  That’s not going to be effective.  Networks are relationships.  Not deep, BFF (best friends forever) relationships that are going to take all your time, but at least something that will ensure they remember who you are when you call.  It doesn’t have to be lunches, it could be a quick e-mail. Think:  “Hey, how are you?” or “Here’s something that might interest you” (no e-mail chain letters, please).  Seth Godin’s Catchers and Throwers post has a great way to think about this idea: 

You can contact just about anyone you want. The only rule is you need to contact them personally, with respect, and do it months before you need their help! Contact them about them, not about you. Engage. Contribute. Question. Pay attention. Read. Interact.

 If you have a network of business accquaintences/friends assembled, it won’t feel so awkward to ask them for help when you need it.

For example:  you could send an e-mail to your network introducing them to this blog.  You would be doing them (and me) a favor — they won’t forget it.

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