Looking for a position in business-to-business sales? Duck.
Seriously. Aflac - the supplemental insurance company whose spokesduck has become a cultural icon - has some 800 openings for sales associates nationwide, according to a list of companies with the most B2B openings compiled by Forbes and the job aggregator Indeed.com. And the company is aggressively seeking to fill those positions with both seasoned veterans and experienced professionals in other fields who can be trained in insurance sales as it pursues a strategy of rapid growth.
Aflac tops Forbes' top 10 list of "The Companies Hiring the Most in Sales Right Now." Following the Columbus, Ga.-based company on the list, with the number of B2B sales positions currently open, are:
Liberty Mutual - Multi-line insurance company headquartered in Boston; 589 current openings.
ADP - Data processing and business solutions provider based in Roseland, N.J.; 538 current openings.
Paychex - Rival of ADP, headquartered in Rochester, N.Y.; 328 current openings.
IBM - Technology and computer services firm based in Armonk, N.Y.; 280 current openings.
Oracle - Technology company known for its database systems, headquartered in Redwood Shores, Calif.; 243 current openings.
Cintas - Specialty business apparel, products and services provider with headquarters in Cincinnati; 226 current openings.
Avon - Cosmetics and beauty products giant based in New York; yes, they're not just hiring "Avon ladies" - they have 203 current openings, most at the district sales manager level (the "businesses" they supply are the independent sales representatives who sell directly to customers in their homes).
Wells Fargo - Financial services company headquartered in San Francisco; 163 current openings.
Forest Laboratories, Inc. - Pharmaceutical research and manufacturing firm based in New York; 125 current openings.
Forbes cautions that the rankings may not accurately reflect positions currently open, as jobs often remain posted online well after they have been filled, but says the numbers nonetheless give a good idea of the state of the B2B sales job market.
Whether you're looking to sell to businesses or individuals, Salesheads.com has job listings that are up your alley.
Sandy Smith is an award-winning writer and editor who has spent most of his career in public relations and corporate communications. His work has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia CityPaper, PGN, and a number of Web sites. Philly-area residents may also recognize him as "MarketStEl" of discussion-board fame. He has been a part of the great reserve army of freelance writers since January 2009 and is actively seeking opportunities wherever they may lie.
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