Find the Sales Job That Is Right for You
The first step to finding a job in sales is determining what you want to sell and what type of company you want to work for. Do you want your employer to be a startup or an established corporation? In your sales career is it important for you to believe in what you are selling, or are you simply after a high salary? Do you want an outside sales job? Or would you rather have an inside sales job? Create a profile of your ideal sales job and employer. Then you can start job hunting and identifying potential employers.
What Employers Are Looking for in a Sales Professional
A sales job means one thing for an employer: increasing the bottom line. So when you approach an employer about a sales position they have open, make sure you are able to convince them that you will do just that. A sales career can be much more than revenue generating; however, that is the first and foremost objective. Make sure you have the skills necessary to have a successful sales career.
In order to have a successful sales career, you must have the right training. For some selling a product or service comes naturally. Thus, a sales job is the obvious choice. For others, however, convincing prospects may not be so easy. And for these individuals who may not have the right skills but absolutely want sales jobs, there are resources available to hone those skills.
Necessary Skills for Sales Jobs
Clive Miller has identified the skills sales professionals need in order to get a sales job:
- Presentation skills: A sales job requires great presentation skills.
- Closing skills: A sales job requires an excellent close to a sales pitch where the only answer is “Yes!”
- Cold calling: A sales job always needs new leads, and cold calling can bring in new clients.
- Getting referrals: A sales job is made easier when you get referrals from satisfied customers.
- Follow-up: A sales job requires constant contact, so effective follow-up can close a sale that may have been left up in the air.
Once you have identified the employers you’d like to work for, and have developed the necessary skills to excel in a sales job, it’s time to approach an employer. Begin with sending a letter to the right individual within the organization. Use your sales skills! Follow up if you do not get a response. If you do land an interview, then again you can use your sales skills to sell yourself. Convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the open sales position. Manipulate the conversation in such a way that the only answer is “Yes! You have the sales job!” Planning, preparing, and executing, all skills needed for a sales job, will help you land that sales job!
