“Salespeople are so used to rejection that we can see it where it doesn’t exist” — or so goes one often repeated quotation. If you are trying to get a career in sales, it might feel as if you’re being constantly rejected in the process. What sort of sales person will you be if you can’t even sell yourself as an employee?
Never fear — it’s easier to get a career in sales than you might think. And it’s often the first step in that’s the hardest. Once you get your first job, so long as you perform well, you’ll have a fairly clear path to follow for the rest of your career.
Don’t just aim for a sales job — aim for the best sales jobs. Even if you miss, you’ll probably end up at a better company than you would have thought possible. Wondering how to get there? Here are several tips for making your way to the top.
Accelerate Your Resume
- Many people transitioning from applying for burger-flipping in college to submitting a resume for professional positions know less than they think about crafting a great resume. For sales, it’s usually ideal to list your work experience first, followed by your education.
- If we’re honest with ourselves, sales people don’t always have the power of an english degree behind their writing skills. That’s okay. But make sure to have a friend double check for errors you might not realize you’re making. And always run spell-check!
- Anything fancy that distracts from what you’re trying to say is a waste of formatting. Pick a simple layout that gets the point across aptly.
How to Avoid Losing Steam in the Interview Process
- Everyone gets nervous during the interview stage, and employers understand. That said, you want to keep your calm so that your stomach butterflies don’t end up cutting off your vocal cords. If you’re not into yoga, one easy way to give yourself some breathing room is to come with questions you know you want to ask about the company. Not only will this make you look like an engaged candidate, but the time they take answering will give you time to breathe and think.
- Try to convince the hiring manager that you’re the best person for the job, not the best person for everything. Everyone comes into a position claiming to be the best candidate. Make sure you’re hitting the marks that actually count.
- There’s a 48% chance your employer will look you up online, so yes, make sure your Twitter, Facebook and other social sites are work-appropriate. This can also be an opportunity, though, to actually make yourself stand out as an intelligent and interesting candidate if done right.
Are you interested in a career in sales? Let us know in the comments. For more information see this: salesforcesearch.com
