There is a lot of variety of sales positions on the job market that might be suitable for you, from travel agent to estate agent, retail sales to insurance sales. A job in sales can be very rewarding, in terms of your sense of achievement and financially, so let’s look at how to land a sales job interview and different types of sales positions.
A sales role will typically involve actively selling a product or service, which might involve meeting customers in person or contacting them by phone. Customer service focused sales role could require you to simply respond to customers, where other sales roles may require you to actively seek out new ones and generate leads, sometimes by cold calling. Possible requirements include being assigned sales targets or specific goals, negotiating contracts with clients, the ability to close a deal, delivering presentations or demonstrating products.
Types of sales roles and ways of selling
When embarking on sales job searching, it is good to know what each type of role really involves, to help you decide which career in sales is the right choice for you and help you prepare for a sales job interview. Would you prefer a Business-to-business (B2B) sales role that involves selling directly to other businesses or a Business-to-consumer (B2C) sales position that involves selling directly to consumers?
When deciding between B2B and B2C roles, consideration is how much responsibility would suit you? Both are target driven, which means working under pressure, but would you prefer the faster pace of B2C compared to B2B? Business-to-business positions often involve more expensive contracts which means maintaining long term relationships with important clients, where Business-to-consumer is much more fast-paced.
Sales can be conducted in several different ways, from traditional face-to-face selling through shops and stores, to online sales via email and phone for a company that operates mainly online. Or through telesales, selling directly to potential and previous customers over the telephone, which may also involve calling current customers to engage in maintaining relationships and upselling.
Looking for a sales job? Check out our job search here. Or find comprehensive jobseekers’ advice here.
Ideal skillset
Whether it’s via telephone, video call or in person, the chances are you will have frequent one to one contact with clients/customers. Confidence is a must for unwavering faith in yourself and the product you’re pitching; you will need it in the face of resistance and rejection. This confidence will come across at the interview too and may just be the key to the hiring manager choosing you above others. But don’t forget – there is a fine line between confidence and overconfidence!
Resilience is essential for communicating with conviction, and this will help you react positively to any knock-backs. Active listening, negotiation skills and communication are fundamental in building trust and creating a rapport with customers. The best sales representatives understand the importance of strong customer service, have a knack for closing deals and are self-assured. It is good to show at an interview for a sales position that you have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to continually self-improve.
Application and interview tips on how to land a sales job interview
Always research the company beforehand – whether you’re writing a cover letter, drafting your C.V. or preparing for sales interview questions, research is crucial to your job search. Read through the job description noting the skills that the employer is looking for in a candidate and write down the keywords that match your skillset.
Always go to an interview with a set of relevant questions and answers for any behavioural questions. Check out the potential employer’s website to figure out their approach to sales; what are their sales targets, what’s the company culture like, and would you be a good fit for their sales team? Having sample answers to these questions at the interview will impress hiring managers and increase your chances of getting the job.
Find out more in our blog How to apply for a sale job with no experience?
Experience, training and qualifications
Some positions will state that you need to have previous sales experience and generally job training will always be offered. When it comes to the type of service or product you sell, it is beneficial if you can choose an industry that interests you, because you will be spending time building up knowledge of what you are selling so you can talk to clients about all aspects.
Varying levels of qualifications are required for a sales job; most sales representative roles require a Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field, especially if you’re selling specialist products or services, for example, pharmaceuticals. Entry-level requirements may include 5 GCSEs and A-Levels, or an apprenticeship will depend on the kind of products or services you want to sell.
To submit your CV to Cantello Tayler Recruitment, please fill out the form here and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.
How can Cantello Tayler Recruitment help?
Cantello Tayler Recruitment offer over 130 years of experience providing permanent, temporary and contract candidates with roles ranging from administration to sales, across a wide range of industries and sectors.
Our dedicated, friendly and professional team are here to help you every step of the way and we take pride in offering an exceptional level of service, and thoroughly enjoy working in partnership with our candidates to help you find the right sales role that meets all your requirements.
We offer a bespoke service to our candidates, offering as much support and guidance as you require, including answering any answer questions you may have on C.V. building, cover letter writing, job application advice, offer management, and interview tips too.
