The sales career path isn’t an easy one. Sales jobs have a turnover rate of 40% a year, and plenty of people just aren’t cut out for a career in sales and marketing.
But for determined go-getters, the sales career path can be highly profitable, especially if you’re willing to do the work to get commission.
Whether you’re applying to a job through a sales recruiter or a company’s human resources department, you’ll stand a better chance if you have a few key qualities.
Sales career path experience is always useful, but unlike other jobs, it’s not the most important thing that hiring managers and recruiters look at. Sales teams with experienced sales reps who can assist with mentoring and training are especially likely to hire newbies.
Recruiters are more likely to look at your personality than your experience. The ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal settings is crucial, so take that extra time to polish your interview and resume writing skills. A majority of what you’ll do as a sales person involves communication, and if you can’t sell yourself to an interviewer, they probably won’t trust you to sell their products and services either.
You also need solid research skills. The est sales people do in-depth research on their prospects and how they’ll affect their company. If you have any research experience, even if it’s just a paper you wrote for school, be sure to highlight it in your application and interview.
Technical skills are a huge plus to interviewers. Many modern sales companies are using modern contact management and communication software, so the ability to use it is often a good selling point. Be sure to mention any experience you have with computers and sales technology.
Last but not least, sales recruiters look for persistence. A massive 80% of non-routine sales will only be closed after at least five follow-ups. That means the most successful sales people just don’t give up. Keep contacting that recruiter (politely) until they’re sick of you. It will show that you have the persistence to get by on the job.
