Ever considered being a sales consultant? This interview will take you down the career path, including the ups and downs you can expect in the position, what it takes to land the job, what you can expect to earn and more. This sales expert also explains how important it is to have a positive mindset during any job interview.
I am the leading Sales Consultant for a major car dealership in Florida. I happened to stumble upon this opportunity about five years ago as I was transitioning out of the military. I had no previous sales experience whatsoever, but I have always possessed a very positive and outgoing personality.
A few months before my separation from the military, I was shopping for a new car. After countless, grueling hours of bouncing back and forth between several dealerships and exchanging negotiating tactics with different salesman, I finally locked in on the vehicle I wanted. My salesman was a nice, older gentleman with a casual, low pressure approach, but a firm stance on the price. We battled back and forth over the price for quite a while, but I finally sat down with the sales manager and we got the deal done.
At some point during our dealing, I had mentioned that I would be getting out of the military, and my salesman suggested that I sell cars for a living. I almost laughed at that, because I had never thought of myself as a salesman. He explained to me I had the type of personality and attitude that would thrive in the business, and all I would need is some training and I could potentially make a good living.
After discussing it with my wife, I decided to give it a shot. The week after I got out of the Navy, my salesman set up an interview for me with the owner and general sales manager of the dealership and they hired me on the spot.
When searching for a job in any professional environment, there are several factors that can be quite essential. Your personal appearance is obviously key here. Make sure you are well groomed, well dressed and well versed. Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind about the professional job search is to maintain a great and positive attitude. Be flexible and have the cognizant awareness to adapt to the surrounding for which you are applying, but always maintain a confident, positive attitude. It is absolutely amazing how far a genuine smile and optimistic outlook can get you.
No matter what kind of job you are applying for, whether it is a sales position or a desk job, another important thing to remember is that you have to sell yourself. Being in the sales profession, that becomes especially vital because while you are being interviewed, the main thing that they will be looking for is how great you sell yourself.
Be realistic in your job search. If you have the desire to try a career in sales but you have no experience, then make sure you are willing to start from the lower tier. Do not attempt to apply for a Sales Manager position with little or no experience because you will not be taken seriously. I knew that I had no experience, and I made sure to let my interviewers know that if they hired me I would be dedicated to educating myself on the craft.
Be honest and open, but keep it relevant. I made sure to drive home the point that even though I did not have the experience, I had the desire, motivation and initiative to work hard, learn as much as I could and apply my sales knowledge to the best of my ability. I did not, however, overload my interviewers with irrelevant information, such as what I did while I was in the military. Although my interviewers appreciated the fact that I served my country, they were not interested in what I did in my military career because it did not pertain to sales in any way.
Do not lose confidence or get down on yourself. I was fortunate in the fact that I got hired the first time I interviewed. However, that is not the norm, and most people should not expect to get hired on the spot the first time they interview for a new position. I had a few things working in my favor, such as I was a previous customer, the sales manager was familiar with who I was, and my salesman put in a few good words for me.
It is quite typical to interview well, but get denied the job. Do not let that bring your spirits down and discourage you. Let's say you have two interviews scheduled for an afternoon. The first interview goes horribly. You felt like a fish out of water and the interviewers all but berated you for even showing up. You walk out of the building feeling dejected. Your next interview is in less than an hour, and how will you approach it? Will you walk into your next interview with your head down and confidence low? Absolutely not! Brush off the last interview, clear your mind and verbally give yourself some positive affirmations. Look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself good things. Think positively and stay focused. Walk into your next interview with a confident smile and a bright, focused attitude.
Throughout my sales career, those few things have kept me successful. There are times when it can get rough. Working for pure commission is not easy, but it can be extremely rewarding if you stay focused, positive, confident and dedicated. But remember, the key is that you must always know how to sell yourself.
Find and apply for your next successful job interview at SalesJobs.org where you’ll find all the jobs in one place.
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