Several key indicators in the economy are going in the right direction. Many companies are starting to shake off the ice and snow of winter along with the much longer lasting freeze of the recession. Depending on your industry, your geographical location, or other factors, your organization may also be feeling the thaw.

"This rise in sales recruiting activity is happening in small and large organizations, and it is taking place across industry lines. The general thinking among these companies is that they can't reduce any more expenses, and they can't entirely manage the timing of their customers’ buying; however, they feel it's crucial that they are noticeable in the market and ready to meet the restored demand for their products or services." Director – Smart Search Recruitment

In some instances, these businesses have been adding sales ability all the way through the recession to make sure that their sales people are thoroughly familiar with the company’s products & services. A Senior VP of Sales at one of Smart Search’s clients recently stated,

"We have made use of this tough time to hire new people with time to understand our sophisticated products and services and to integrate them into our company and culture. Our new Directors are developing very important relationships with our current customers, and they are looking for and contacting a large number of new customer targets."

Other reasons companies are recruiting sales professionals include:

1. Upgrade their sales teams to uncover the strongest quality expertise available to assist during the slower time and to be ready for the future when demand increases.
2. Expand market share as their competition lays low.
3. Create new product or service lines and/or open up new territories.
4. Make a statement to their current and future customers that they are committed to their business.

Plenty of businesses are dealing with key hiring needs, particularly in the sales area. These organizations know how crucial these sales roles will be to their company’s future; thus, they want to make a thorough, objective search of the marketplace. They are not ignoring the resumes they receive, but they are also actively searching for the best candidates through an active executive search process. These companies feel that they have a greater opportunity to uncover the right person now rather than waiting until the market is completely thawed and the top talent is hard to come by.