Performance to target (Sales - Account Manager position)

[craste]

When speaking to a recruitmant agency whilst looking for another job and they ask for this information (performance to target, last 6 months for example)can you be econimical wth the truth or do you have to let them know exactly where you are against target.

For the last few years I have been smashing my targets but this year (as well as my collegues) I have not hit target due to circumstances outside of my control.

I don't want to appear as if I'm not a strong performer (as usually I'm a top performer) and also I don't particularly want to lie about my performance either?

Any advice wuold be greatly appriciated.

[spikeyhead]

Surely a simple explanation about the market trend, competitors all reducing prices whilst you've been told to increase them is the reason you're searching for more productive employment. If you can't sell something like that. ...

[repiV]

As a recruiter, I am immediately impressed by people who talk about their achievements (and failures) honestly and with confidence and conviction. And the more detail they go into about those achievements, the more impressed I am. Conversely, any sort of vagueness is a huge red flag and a big indicator that this person is mediocre.

I recall once speaking to someone who on paper, looked very good (10 years as a Regional Sales Manager for a reputable company, a stable career history in the industry before that). I asked him what he had achieved for his current employer, and after much consideration said he'd have to have a think about it and get back to me. It's been a long-running source of humour in the office for quite a while now.

Also, performance against target in itself isn't necessarily the most important factor. This makes the assumption that the target is a valid one. What's more interesting is how you perform against your peers in the company. If you're still the top performer, despite your lower performance - well, that's great for you.

[edc]

Can you not provide other metrics as well? Year on year revenue performance, margin improvement, improved close ratio, higher average deal value etc etc.

[flyingjase]

Don't lie because you may get called on it. In my dim and distant past I was a Bank Manager and interviewed someone who bragged about hitting x y z sales target. I asked to see his payslips which he was stupid enough to provide and low and behold they didn't match his so called superstar performance!