How to Prepare for a Sales Interview
Job interviews for sales positions are a chance for hiring managers to evaluate a candidate's on-the-job skills. Here, perfect credentials and an impressive job history aren't the most important aspects. Instead, the one who gets the job is usually the one who does the best at selling himself. With this in mind, candidates must prepare for a job interview in sales by preparing to pitch their skills to the company. After all, if a candidate can sell himself in an interview, then he's proven that he has the skills to sell that company's product.
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Instructions
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Draft a resume. While this is early in the process and takes place before an interview is granted, this is where the candidate will begin the process of selling qualifying skills to the employer. Use concise, powerful bullet points that convey the requirements that the company is seeking. Make these points as clear and uncomplicated as possible so that the appropriate experience and skills jump off the page at the hiring manager. Bring several copies of your resume to the interview so that you may hand it out to each person on the panel and keep one for yourself in order to refer to during the meeting.
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Draft a cover letter. Again, this takes place before the interview process, however, it will be one of the few pieces of correspondence between the company and the candidate prior to any face-to-face meeting. Write clearly and concisely while focusing on how the skills listed in the resume will help the company, according to Monster.com. Don't be afraid to use confident words and phrases such as "I look forward to hearing back from you," instead of "I hope to hear back from you soon."
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Research the company. Good salespersons must be familiar with their audience in order to tailor the sales pitch to that client. Find out what the company does, what it sells, what its future plans are and other pertinent facts. Then use the qualifications described in the resume and cover letter to demonstrate how they will help the company achieve its specific goals.
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Plan for potential questions. Effective sales pitches are eloquent, well-spoken and smooth. They don't ramble, excessively hesitate or sound unsure. There are many sites that offer sample job interview questions, including Monster.com. Gather as many questions as possible and study them extensively, preparing answers for each one. When the time comes, the candidate will be able to deliver an effective selling pitch to gain the job.
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Dress the part. Making a first impression is key in the world of sales, and, for a job interview, it is no different. Dress professionally, conservatively and be well-groomed for the interview.
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Find the location of the interview. Often it is helpful to drive to there a day in advance to avoid getting lost and being late for your interview. Punctuality is important in many professions, including sales. It is imperative for candidates to demonstrate this quality early on.
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Interview for the job. Send a "Thank you" note by mail immediately after the interview process, telling those on the panel that you appreciate their time to discuss your qualifications with them. Follow up by calling the employer within two weeks if you have not been contacted with the results by then.
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Tips & Warnings
Some job recruiters of hiring managers will be more relaxed and friendly during the hiring process than others. Candidates should not let their guard down during the interview, however, as one small slip in professionalism could leave a lasting negative impression.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sales manager checking the sales image by Peter Baxter from Fotolia.com
