All sales job candidates should create a 30/60/90-day sales plan to use in their job search and interview process.

A 30-60-90-day sales plan is a document that spells out how you will spend your time in the first 30 days, the first 60 days, and the first 90 days on your new job.  To do one correctly, you have to research the position and the company, and you have to analyze the job so that you can lay out the steps to success.  It takes some effort, but the results are almost always worth it in terms of great job offers.  It's amazingly impressive to hiring managers that you've put in this kind of effort before you even get the job, and it demonstrates to them that you understand the job and what it takes to be successful from the start.

But how do you go about introducing your innovative 30/60/90-day plan to the hiring manager?

• In an ideal situation, you bring your 30-60-90-day plan to the interview and “wow” the hiring manager when you present it during your conversation--as an answer to "How do you see yourself in this job?" or "Why should we hire you?".  You ask the hiring manager for input during the interview, and in your follow-up thank you note, you should attach your sales plan with the changes that the hiring manager suggested.
• Less than ideal, but better than nothing:  you don’t get a chance to present your 30-60-90-day plan during the interview, but you realize that thank you notes can be second chances.  Either you attach your sales plan to your thank you note (which points out how the information you gained during the interview is included), or you put a shortened version of a 30-60-90-day plan in the body of the note if you think he might not open the attachment.

What if you can’t even get the interview?

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A 30-60-90-day plan is a written document outlining what you will do as an employee within the first 3 months of your employment.  It’s broken up into sections:  the first 30 days usually includes training, as well as getting to know the company and customers; the next 30 days are more focused on getting out on your own and into the swing of things; and the last 30 days are often more about branching out and bringing in new business. 

As a sales recruiter, I encourage all of the people I send to companies for interviews to create this kind of document and learn how to present it.  It really sets them apart from other candidates, and the ones who have done it usually see tremendous results.  But why is it so important?  Why does it make a difference?

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One way to impress a hiring manager: SWOT Analysis

Can’t get an interview?

Can’t get past the first interview?

Are you demonstrating the levels of commitment, drive, tenacity, skills and organization employers want?

Here are 6 tried and true ways to separate you from other candidates and be the candidate everyone wants to hire:

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