If you are planning to attend any of our Sales Forums, here are three things you need to ensure your success.

• Resumes

When preparing to attend any Vanguard event, you need to make sure that you have approximately 15 copies of your resume. Even if you intend on meeting with a specific company, you might discover other opportunities at the event, and of course, you will need a subsequent resume to share with them. Also, remember to remove any “objectives” from your résumé as you would not want to pigeon hole yourself.

If you would like to see some examples of quality resumes please Click Here . 

• Professional Attire

It’s simple: we want for you to make the absolute best impression on your prospective employer. You will need to dress for success. Even though companies are excited to meet with you because of your background, accomplishments, and successes, they are also going to be looking at the total package. Your image should convey your level of professionalism. To insure you are given equal consideration full business attire is required to attend any of our events. Therefore, full business attire is mandatory at any of our events.

• Due Diligence

Let’s say that you want to meet with a few specific companies. What is it that will set you apart from the other professionals in attendance? Before the event, it’s important to do you homework and find out those additional pieces of information that demonstrate your knowledge of the company, their products, and their current positioning.

• Take off the blinders

If you are a true sales professional, you are always looking for a great opportunity.  What we ask of every candidate is that you take the time to investigate every participating company. Remember, they are looking for their next sales superstar.  You are looking for more than a job.  We ask you to spend some of your time with representatives from each company.  Without a thorough investigation of each company, you might be passing up that next great opportunity. In fact, we have found nearly 80% of our candidates decide to pursue an opportunity with a company outside the one that originally attracted them to the event. If you have any questions, always ask a VMG representative for additional information and for them to introduce you to subsequent interests.

• You don't sell a product   You sell yourself

It seems simple enough, but sometimes we forget this when we walk into an interview.  When you meet with a potential employer, you need to be able to articulate from your resume and past experiences why you are the next great hire!  Don’t just tell us or your prospective employer “I am a hunter.”  Show them where on your resume you have proven experience and the ability to accomplish goals.  Even if you are just breaking into sales, this is an important skill.

• Knowledge is power

The more you know about a potential employer, the better chance you have of presenting yourself not only as a professional, but more importantly as the candidate who is prepared to lead their organization.

• Flaunt your success

Who are you? What have you done? Why should I hire you?

These are three common questions that every candidate should ask themselves when you start putting together your resume and preparing for any interview. Chances are you already know “who you are” and “what you have done,” but does your resume reflect your accomplishments. Most potential employers want to see what you have achieved and with an Accomplishment-Based Resume, you can easily discern what you have done, how you did it, and what you can be expected to do for your next potential employer. Accomplishment-Based resumes give employers all the information they need to determine if you have the experience, skills and training needed to be a candidate.

With an Accomplishment-Based resume (or better yet full sales brag book) in hand, you can easily explain “who you are” and “what have you done,” and most importantly, identify and project to every potential employer “what you are going to do next.” After you illustrate your previous successes, they’ll understand why they just hired you. 

• Network  Network  Network

You are a sales person.  When you are at our events, talk to as many other candidates as possible.  They might have insight into how an interview went, or what they could have done better to prepare.  They might have discovered a compelling detail that might turn you on to your next great opportunity!