How to Land the Best Sales Job

Before selling a product or business idea, first you have to sell yourself to your potential employer. Here are a few keys.

1.Find a sales job that you believe in.

Not all sales jobs are alike and not all people are made for every sales job. Passion is something that is hard to fake. Authenticity is hard to fake and usually goes hand in hand with being interested with the product and being comfortable with the market.

2.  Do your homework.

Talking to people who work in a similar field will not only teach you how to sell but common problems that you will probably face. It will also allow you to see a missing role in the sales department that you can fill.

3. Ask Questions.

A common ratio is 80/20. As in you should listen 80% of the time and talk 20% of the time. Walking into an interview eager to learn more about the company shows an genuine interest.

4. Follow up.

Forbes suggests ‘sending handwritten notes to every person you have met with. Send them as soon as possible, he advises. “Four business days later, if you have not heard from the senior-most person who interviewed you, call him or her,” he adds. In the interim, consider putting together  30-, 60-, and 90-day plans showing what you would do if you got the job, and send them to the vice president of sales. Continue researching the industry while you wait to hear back. “Send the vice president of sales a note telling him what you’ve done or learned since the interview,” she adds.  “Or if you find an interesting article or white paper, you could send him a note mentioning that you thought he might find it valuable and why.” Act as though you have just finished a sales call and you were waiting to hear back from the client.’