The Most Effective Way To Interview For A Job In Sales

By Paul M Balzano

Obtaining a sales position with the right company could possibly be the launch pad for a very successful and rewarding career. Having interviewed and hired many sales reps myself, I have been astonished by what some candidates do and say during the interview process. There are some things that the ideal candidates consistently do, and common traits sales managers will almost always be looking for. If you follow these simple tips, you will impress your interviewer, standout amongst your peers, and greatly improve your probability of getting hired.

These are some essential things you will need to do to get prepared for and conduct a highly effective job interview:

Learn about the company and also the person you'll interview with. There are many sources to collect information from. Some important facts are the industry they are in, recent performance, major competitors, new announcements, growth areas, and corporate initiatives to name a few. You should also check out the background of the people you are meeting with to see how long they've been with the company along with interests or experience they may have. I will always ask my candidates whatever they understand about the company to gauge their knowledge and interest as well as to see whether they have done their homework. Candidates that ask me about what my company does, will never rank high.

Dress for success and be on time. If you want to be a sales professional, then it's expected that you look and behave like one. It's best to wear formal attire and arrive early with copies of your resume in hand to ensure that the first impression is a positive one. You don't want to start an interview by apologizing about why you were late, or leave a poor impression because you were dressed sloppily. Your resume really should be reviewed in advance by others to make certain there are no typos or grammatical errors that would prevent you from ever getting your foot in the door in the first place.

Relate your skills and experience to the job. Preparation is crucial and should start with knowing about the position you're interviewing for. Having that information, you can customize your resume beforehand, and you will also be in a position to discuss the way your unique skills and prior experience will map to and enable your success in your new position. Showing a careful confidence without losing sight of humility is important.

Leverage your prior sales achievements. Every sales team manager really wants to hire someone with a solid track record. Always communicate how you have been successful with examples of your very best sales. I always ask my candidates to tell me about the most interesting and complex sales they closed, as well as the role they played and relationships they've built with their customers, to get a sense of their overall process and how they started and lead the sales cycle. One time I had a candidate tell me he couldn't remember one. That was the end of the interview for him.

Show your passion, desire and have a plan. You may not have every attribute your hiring manager is looking for, however, you should demonstrate your passion to succeed. By having a well thought out plan you can share with your interviewer, you may be able to overcome some or all of your shortfalls. For example, you may not have experience a comparable industry or with the products or services that company sells. Your plan should include ways to address those shortfalls and indicate what's worked in the past. Be specific about how you will learn about their products or services, the expected ramp up time, how you would start, when you would expect to be productive, and what your overall strategy is.

Ask questions, take notes, and think before you give answers. It is recommended to come prepared with questions about the job opportunity and what qualities the ideal candidate will have. It always helps to understand what will be expected of you and what particular problems they are having, in order to address those points with a solution then and there. Ensure that you understand the questions and think through your response before blurting out an answer. Answer succinctly and confirm you've addressed the question.

Wrap up and determine next steps. Your exit plan should really be as smooth as your entry. Ending your interview abruptly will not likely go over well and will form a negative impression. You'll be interviewing for a sales position and really should ask closing questions while conveying your sincere interest in the job. To close your interview effectively, ask about the next steps, timing, and process for a decision. It's also helpful to request immediate feedback about the interview.

Follow up. A prompt follow up will imprint a positive image about you and demonstrate that you care. Send a thank you email or letter to each of the interviewers mentioning the key areas of the interview, the way your particular experience addresses the qualities of their ideal candidate, and your eagerness to join their team.

About the Author:

By following these practical and valuable sales interview tips, you will be well prepared for your interview and substantially increase your chances of being hired for the job. Look here for more free information about Proven Sales Career Tips And Techniques. By Paul M. Balzano