Applying for a Sales Representative’s Position

Seeking a better job is stressful and turning up for an interview can make one additionally apprehensive. This author has changed jobs many times and his points listed are some of the most important ones for succeeding in the initial interview and for obtaining the employment you seek. 

Before applying for any job, it is a good advice to stay within your current  trade, as most prospective employers seek people with experience in their  field of expertise.

If you are already an established sales rep and have acquired a good reputation among your customers, this will stand you in good stead, in fact, it  is the best reference you can give – customers who like to do business with you!

It is often more important that the customers think well of you than the company you are at the moment working for. For you can always switch company and remain well-established in your field of work. Remember: if your  customers do not want to know you, the companies will not want to know you either.

Unless, of course, the company is seeking a very young person to be trained by them in their ways for the long term. This is something that you need to assess when applying for a position.

A CV is always of advantage, however, if you are an experienced rep the main weight will fall on your reputation ‘in the trade’ as they say. For a young person, to be trained, their industriousness and adaptability will be assessed from the school report and interview, with you it is your established reputation.

Turning up at the interview, wear a proper business suit and generally try to look already as their new employee, be polite and speak an educated language with ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.

During the interview, do not let it become a one-sided affair. Whenever the interviewer touches a subject that you know about, nod understandingly and add to the conversation. Speak freely about your field of expertise. Assess  current situations in the business, include names of customers and contacts as they are your great asset. Tell the other person some of the current trade gossip and once you’ve made him a listener, you are in a position of strength.

The inference is quite clear: if the interviewer feels that you know more and in details, his thoughts will be ‘That’s the man we want, he can contribute to the company!’

There are, of course, probing questions you need to ask, like: ’ Why did the previous rep leave?’ There is always a reaction from which you can learn.

Keep asking questions as your overall assessment of the company needs to include: how frequent is the staff-turnover? Does  the company train staff? Does it offer advancement? A career? Does the company encourage extracurricular study? Do they appreciate exceptional sales figures?

At the conclusion of this interview, ask straight out what your chances are in getting the job. The man will give you a short assessment. If he is cagey and engages in high-handed words, - watch out!

How soon will you know about the vacant position? It is never a disadvantage to show keenness. The conversational questions about what the other applicants are like may give you an honest answer, even if only a shaking of the head, thereby informing you in a non-verbal way that your chances are great.

Keeping these points in mind, will fortify you well for the interview! From turning up on time, a feeling of being at ease will emotionally fortify you and  the subsequent easy flow of conversation with the interviewer will ensure that the meeting  goes well in your favor, ending with a positive feeling about obtaining your desired position.

PETER FREDERICK

www.peterfrederick.org

peter-frederick@hotmail.com