If you are a driven person who loves the adrenaline of getting a sale under your belt – then a career in sales may be the best way forward for you. How do you find the perfect sales job? It’s certainly a competitive area. There are many people who see the benefits of being in sales, especially when you consider the salary that can come with some of these roles.
In this article, we have put together some of our ideas that you can use to fast track your way to your dream job. Keep reading if you would like to find out more about this.
Undertake a Training Course
Nothing shows more initiative than upskilling. Training courses are great ways to do this. There are some fantastic online and site-based courses that will allow you to brush up on the necessary skills for a top sales job. Communication is key, so you may want to look into something in this area – and of course, you may need to be able to present particular products or services, so a presentation-based course could also be a good way forward. It’s a good way to show your prospective employers that you have the necessary foresight and ambition. Take a look at findcourses.co.uk to see if there are any courses that might relate to sales and what you want to achieve.
Get a Hobby or Interest
A common interview question is what you like to do in your free time – in order to answer this effectively, you need to display some kind of extracurricular activity or outside interest. It could be something creative like photography, or it could be doing something useful in the community. Make sure this is also highlighted in your CV somewhere. It’s also important that you are confident when you are in sales – so don’t be afraid to put yourself out of your comfort zone. If you can manage to achieve this, you will impress an employer and secure that career in sales for yourself.
Perfect Your CV
Your CV is literally all the information your prospective employer will have about you. At this stage they won’t have had the chance to speak to you or meet you face to face – so make this first impression count. There are numerous CV templates out there that you can use as a base to get started and you can work from there. One tip we would have is not to be too long-winded. It’s unlikely that an employer would look over more than 2-3 pages so make sure the key points are in full view at the front. Only include what you think is important and try to put yourself in the mind of an employer in the sales industry when reading over it.
Personalize your Cover Letter
Wherever possible – you should always include a cover letter when applying for a job, even when they don’t ask for it. When you create this make sure it’s tailored to the position you are applying for. By doing this, you are showing initiative and insisting that you are really interested in the role. When you do this, you are much more likely to be requested for an interview and land a career in sales. They will see that you are genuinely interested in the role and that you have gone the extra mile.
Go to a Recruitment Agency
There are now recruitment agencies that are specific to helping people find a career in sales. It’s a good idea to contact one of those to find a suitable role. They won’t put you forward for a job you aren’t ready for. They will sit down with you, discuss your skills and experience – and see if they can match you with any of their available positions. You will also find they are helpful in terms of providing you with background info on the company and the role which will help you for the interview process. You can find many recruitment agencies if you do a simple search online.
Go on LinkedIn
LinkedIn is an incredibly useful recruitment tool for both employers and potential employees. It’s a medium that companies use to headhunt sales executives. As such, it’s a good idea to ensure that your LinkedIn profile is up to date with relevant information, skills, and experience. Put in your contact details too should anyone want to get in touch. Make sure you sell yourself. There is also the opportunity for you to scout jobs yourself on LinkedIn. On their jobs section, you can apply directly, and they will also recommend suitable matches for you based on your skills and experience. Whenever possible you should also get previous employers or people you have done work for to endorse you when they can. You can also join industry-related groups, so you are up to date with the latest trends in sales.
Attend Community Events
If there are any charity events or community events happening locally – make sure you attend to get your name out there. There are lots of companies that act as sponsors, so you are bound to meet some useful contacts. It could be that they don’t know of any open positions right now – but remember you for anything that comes up moving forward. Networking is very important, and many people end up securing sales jobs through events like this.
Brush Up On Your Interview Skills
Your interview is really your time to shine and you need to be ready for it. Make sure you have done thorough research on the company you are applying to so you can seem knowledgeable and prepared, and you can even rope in some friends and family for a role play interview to practice any questions or potential difficult areas.
Dress to Impress
It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed when it comes to interview attire. Think carefully about the outfit you choose and try not to be too casual. There are some fantastic style magazines out there that have articles specific to interview dress code that you can get ideas from. It’s essential that you present yourself as someone who is neat, tidy and well prepared. You should also find out a little bit about the company culture if you want to make sure that your interview outfit meets the job that you are applying for.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a job in sales, then hopefully our top tips will help you on your way. Remember confidence is key in this industry and if you can spend some time brushing up on your sales and interview skills then you will likely get the role that you have always wanted.
Remember to get in touch with a recruiter and fix up your LinkedIn profile if you want to be headhunted for a career in sales. This way, you can show that you are committed to this role and you will be more likely to be successful. Follow all of our advice and you should be able secure that role that you have always dreamed of. Be confident and it will get you much further in this industry.
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