Are you wondering what job might be the most popular nowadays?

An unscientific examination of the Yahoo HotJobs Web site showed that sales positions top the list.

If you already have a sales background, congratulations. But what if you're looking for a career change and want to jump into sales?

Steve Neelin, president of Quality Recruiting in Rochester, N.Y., cautioned about leaping too quickly into the field. "If selling was easy, everyone would be doing it."

Successful salespeople have a thick skin and aren't deterred by rejection. So Neelin poses this question to sales wannabes: What would you say if a customer said "no" to your sales pitch?

The right answer is, "Why?" That way, you can see if your sales pitch needs tweaking or if a factor such as pricing played a role.

"People with no sales background might say something like, 'Is it OK if I touch back with you or call in a couple of months?' " Neelin said.

David Stappenbeck of Capital Business Advisory Group Inc. in Pittsford, N.Y., has found that some of the best financial sales hires have been career changers, including people who used to be teachers or ministers.

He agreed with Neelin that some people might jump into the field not knowing what they're getting into. His firm puts potential hires through at least five interview sessions, most directed by company President Frank Payne.

Potential hires go through industry-standard testing, even doing some actual tasks to see if they like the work.

Susan Vobejda, vice president of marketing for Yahoo HotJobs, implored workers not to stop job hunting during the holidays. Contrary to popular belief, it is one of the best times of the year to look for a job.

Yet lots of job hunters go on hiatus from Thanksgiving to New Year's, even though hiring managers might be revved up to fill open slots by Dec. 31 or trying to fill positions budgeted to begin in January.