Job interviews can be rather daunting. This is especially true for sales jobs due to the sheer amount of competition you’ll surely be facing. To help you out, we thought it would be useful to put together an article discussing interview best practices. If this is something that you want to learn more about, read on for five tips that will help you ace your next sales job interview.
Build a Connection
At sales interviews, you want to highlight your social skills, so make a point to form a relationship with the interviewer as well as show what you could do with clients. During the interview, make sure to engage in small talk and try to build rapport with the interviewer. Also, remember that personality is essential in sales deals. Don’t play it too cool when talking with sales teams; enthusiasm is great, and assertiveness shows that you’re the right type of candidate.
Know and Understand Sales Fundamentals
Your resume lists your previous experiences in your professional life, but it’s only the first step in any interview. In one way or another, every interview will make you talk about the specifics of your previous jobs. For the most part, interviewers will be interested in knowing more about your hands-on sales experience and your understanding of sales fundamentals. Interviewers will also ask you for specific examples of situations in which you’ve displayed your expertise and skills. Thinking up those examples on the spot is tricky, so do yourself a favour. In advance, think of stories from your work experiences that illustrate your strengths and skills.
Understand the Numbers
Sales departments are responsible for attacking the bottom line. Your interviewer wants proof that you can deliver, so amplify any examples that show you hitting key performance indicators throughout your career. It would be wise to revisit old performance reviews so you can quantify what the business can expect from you if they do choose to hire you.
Be a Problem Solver
Almost every sales organization faces the same challenges in attracting new customers, executing a high volume of sales calls, analyzing data to make strategic decisions, and standing out in a crowded marketplace. With that being said, each business also faces problems that are unique to them. It’s in your best interest to highlight how you can address these problems and contribute to the overall success of the business.
Be Prepared with a Plan of Action
Lastly, you’ll want to go the extra mile during your interview. Chances are your competition won’t have a thirty-to-sixty-day plan that they’re ready to share with you during the job interview. Describe how you’re ready to learn the systems and products that you’ll work on within your first thirty days on the job. Talk about strategies for visiting the field, meeting new clients and sparking relationships that will drive revenue within your first sixty days. Explain how you’re ready and willing to make an impact to drive revenue in your first ninety days.
Conclusion
We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you ace that next interview. While things may still be a little tough, these tips should go a long way when it comes to helping you impress your interviewer. Be sure to look back on this article the night before your interview so you don’t miss anything important.
Do you need help landing that sales job? We here at Start In Recruitment specialize in connecting talent with businesses that need them. We work with sales employment agencies and are dedicated to finding and placing professionals in the best spot for them to succeed. For more information on what we can do for you, visit our website today!