An interview for a sales position is like a sales call where you have to market and promote your most important product: your talent for selling. Treat yourself like a brand. What do you represent? Do you present yourself as someone who’s enthusiastic, well-connected and driven?
Here are five important tips to help you ace your sales job interview.
Do your homework. Showing your knowledge about the product will boost your credibility and will help you answer the interviewers’ questions intelligently. Learn about the company and their products by visiting their official website and their social media profiles (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Podcasts, Hoovers etc). Read about their press releases and review the job description so that you can articulate why you are fit for the job.
Prepare a “brag file”. A brag file is a portfolio that showcases your career achievements. Note that you should not show anything that is considered confidential by your previous employers. Include the following in your brag file:
– Certifications and awards received
– Letters of recommendation from your former bosses and clients
– Sales track record
– Cut-outs from publications that feature you or your team
Role-play the interview. Prepare your answers to common questions asked in sales job interview. Although you have thought about them beforehand, your answers during the actual interview should sound natural. Be prepared to answer specific questions such as:
– What accomplishment are you most proud of?
– What qualities are needed for a top producing sales manager?
– Why do you want to leave your present sales position?
– What sale are you most proud of, and why?
– Have you always met your revenue goals?
– What would you do if a customer is irate or wouldn’t respond to you?
Look the part. In sales, first impressions matter a lot. Make sure you are well-groomed and dressed appropriately. Experts say neutral colors like black or tan are the safest choices because interviewers judge you according to your personality and not your fashion sense.
Have a great closing. Every salesperson knows that how you end a call or presentation is critical. Prepare intelligent questions for the interviewer. Follow up your interview within the week by sending your interviewer an e-mail thanking them for the meeting and inquiring politely about the job.
Using the strategies above, you can position yourself as the strongest candidate for that sales job you’ve been coveting. Go ahead, ace that interview and you’ll be on your way to your dream sales job!
Image: CartoonStock
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Jobiety Editorial Team
Our editorial team researches and tests every piece of career advice we publish. We draw on real hiring data, interviews with recruiters, and hands-on experience to give you guidance that works.
