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A job in sales is often one of the most in-demand and least filled positions. So if you’re considering starting a career in sales and are looking for a job that lets you meet lots of new people, often allows flexibility to set your own hours and the chance to make more money the better you perform, look no further than a job in sales.
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Even if your previous job required some work experience, you should be prepared to accept an entry-level position if you don't have sales experience currently.
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You’re passionate, eager, and full of optimism but do you know the core Sales principles? Memorize, internalize, and apply these three core principles to get a sales job with no experience. Trust us; your interviewee will be impressed!
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Build Sales on Trust Your potential employers want to see that you’re honest, truthful, and open. Why? Because that’s who customers need to perceive you as a Salesperson. It would help if you were likable, easy to trust, and impressionable to make and continue to make sales.
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Benefits Sell – Features Don’t In sales, you sell the benefits, not the features. Do the same in your interview. Don’t focus on the skills you have, focus on the benefits you bring to the company.
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Persistence is Key Sales Representatives have to be persistent by nature; following up, checking in, and making constant contact with prospects is the name of the game. So if you can immediately follow-up after your interview, you’ll show your ideal employers that you understand the fundamental idea that persistence is key to land a sales job with no experience.
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Listen to the Customer To succeed in sales, you need to be a good listener. What does that mean? That means listening more than you talk. A good ratio to follow is the 80/20 rule. Let your customer do 80% of the talking. Listen to what their needs are and what are their desired outcomes. Once you understand these, you can then use the remaining 20% to ask questions and sell your product.
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Be Ethical Do ethics and sales go together? They should, but dishonest salespeople have given us a bad name. So we need to change that. By being honest and trustworthy, you build confidence in your customers that you are the right person to buy from. If you don’t know the answer to something, don’t make it up, find out.
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Overcome Objections Don’t be caught off guard when a customer says the product or service is too expensive. The price objection is a common objection that doesn’t need to be answered with lowering the price. Instead, listen to how your peers overcome price objections. Do they explain the reason for why the product or service costs more?
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Do they show the customer how the product or service reduces their costs? The key is to write down your most common objections and your answers to how to overcome them.
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Impress your future employer, and show up already trained on the art of selling. You can take several great sales workshops, both in-person and online. Not only are sales courses a fantastic way to deepen your knowledge on sales, but they’re also a great way to network (particularly with in-person courses) and show potential employers that you are serious about the sales field.
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There is a wealth of information about sales, and one of the easiest ways to learn about sales is by picking up a few classic books. Check out To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink, Sell or be Sold by Grant Cardone, and The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon.
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If you’re looking to land a sales job in retail, go shopping! When you’re interacting with salespeople, please take note of the traits you like in them. How do you feel about the way they approached you and spoke to you? What did they say or do that swayed (or didn’t sway) you?
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If possible, visit the store or location of where you will be applying to get an idea of how their salespeople operate. Shadow your company’s top sales professional and take note of what they do differently from everyone else. Watch how they talk, how they dress, how they present themselves. By learning from your industry leaders, you can quickly master the art of selling your product or service.
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When you’re applying and interviewing, don’t be afraid to tout transferable skills you may have from other non-sales jobs. If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant—or any customer-facing job—you’ve developed skills such as identifying needs, problem-solving, and basic customer service. These skills are directly applicable to sales and are very attractive to employers.
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Do your research before interviewing. The first thing you need to know when starting a career in sales is that you need to be a product expert. Read all of your company’s literature, brochures and visit your company’s website. Do your own research as a customer would by searching online and reading reviews. Don’t be caught off guard by a prospect mentioning information they’ve found on the web.
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Use the product yourself. By being a customer of your own product, you’ll better understand what you’re selling and become a better spokesperson. Who wants to buy a Honda from someone that drives a Toyota? These efforts can go a long way in showing your initiative. You can also show your enthusiasm for the products; if possible, become a customer.
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The sales industry is full of its own language, terminology, and jargon. Don’t get caught not knowing common sales terms or the distinction between different sales positions. Looking for an Inside Sales role selling B2B with a long sales cycle? No problems!
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To drastically increase your chances of getting a sales job with no experience, show your sales skills in the application process. First, follow up after you send in your resume. If they ask you to come in for an interview, call the person in charge and confirm the meeting the day before. Follow up after the interview, as well.
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These are skills they are looking for in a salesperson, so if you can demonstrate them during the interview, you are more likely to get the job.
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One of the most important skills of any sales job is quickly building rapport and trust. During the interview, be friendly and outgoing. Ask the interviewer something about themselves and try to find out what you both share in common.
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Have a confident posture. Sit up, don’t avoid eye contact. Listen, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Also, don’t forget to laugh and have a good time!
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Hiring managers want to hire salespeople who are passionate about a company and a career in sales. Use your cover letter to express why you're particularly excited about this role and show your eagerness for the role when you're in the interview. Be prepared with reasons why you want to work in that specific industry and for that company.