"the Fastest Way to an Entry Level Business Job … and a Six Figure Income”

"The Fastest Way To An Entry Level Business Job … And A Six Figure Income”

By Nick Moreno – Sales Trainer & Head Sales Coach

The National Sales Center

I went to college to learn about the world. I wasn’t focused on any particular skills or expertise and I assume that’s why they call the degree I received “Liberal Arts”. Please know, I would not trade my education for anything and if I could do it all over again, I’d do it the same way. Although it was a great experience to learn about the world but there was one problem… I didn’t learn to earn! That sad reality hit me just before graduating. How was I going to make a living?

I met with my Guidance Counselor and asked how my degree in History could lead to a job. I was told I could be a Historian or a History teacher but neither of those appealed to me. But then, just as the meeting was about to end, the Counselor came up with one more suggestion… a career in professional sales. His career suggestion changed my life forever and served me well throughout my professional career. I now encourage others looking for an entry-level position in the business world to consider a career in professional sales. If you, or someone you know, are looking for an entry-level career opportunity, a career in sales should be on your radar. While I traditionally work with experienced salespeople interested in improving their selling skills, I also enjoy introducing people to a new career in sales.

Professional Sales Career

Upon graduating from college with a degree in History, I was ready to take on the world. Armed with a brand new suit and a trim haircut, I lined up my first job interview with a reputable company.

I was prepared to work hard by giving it my all, but most of all, I was prepared to make lots of money. After all, I had the energy, youth and optimism of a new graduate, so as far as I was concerned, the world was my oyster. But, I forgot one very important thing. I didn’t know anything about selling. In my naiveté, I thought all I had to do was get people to like me, and once they saw what a great guy I was, they wouldn’t be able to resist what I was selling. Obviously, I didn’t have a clue about professional selling, which takes into account every aspect of a prospective sale such as knowing what’s in your buyer’s mind, getting the results you want, preparing for a sales presentation and seeing it from the customer’s point of view. As I said, I knew absolutely nothing about sales.

Sales Skills

So, there I was at my first sales interview with an electronic cash register manufacturing company. Keep in mind that this interview was quite some time ago, so electronic cash registers were just becoming very popular. And even though the interview was many years ago, I can still remember it as if it were yesterday. I remember it, because it literally changed my life. While talking to the Sales Manager, who was conducting the interview, he looked me squarely in the eye and said: “So, you think you can sell?” He then handed me a ceramic turtle that was sitting on his desk and he said, “Sell this to me.” Once again in my innocence and lack of knowledge, I went on and on about how beautiful the turtle was and how the turtle was something he should buy. It was painfully clear that I knew nothing about the art of selling nor did I know anything about the sales process. I didn’t even know there was such a thing called sales training. Not surprisingly, I didn’t get the job, but I learned something very beneficial. I learned that there is something called salesmanship and if I was to become a good salesperson, I needed to master it. Because I genuinely wanted to be trained correctly, it was at that moment that I decided to become a true student of the sales process.

Studying the Sales Process

From that day forward, I started reading every book I could get my hands on about sales training. Initially, I made a lot of mistakes and often got very discouraged. However, I kept reading books, studying the sales process and observing successful salespeople. Thirty-five years later, I’m proud to say that I’ve accomplished a great deal in my sales career, as my own success has allowed me to work with and train thousands of salespeople from some of the largest companies in the nation. But, I actually attribute my success to that day I met a ceramic turtle and a wise sales manager. Instead of getting a job, I uncovered what I needed most: to develop a great sales career. I learned that I needed to become an expert in the sales process, which in my professional opinion is the difference between sales success and sales failure.

An Entry Level Position In Sales

In today’s competitive job market, it is difficult to get your foot in the door of a major corporation. It seems there is always someone with just a little more experience that gets the job. However, if you search the popular Internet job sites, you’ll discover the numerous openings for entry-level positions in sales. These companies are looking for bright individuals to represent their products or services. The sales department is a great place to launch a career that could, and should, lead to a six-figure income. Sales representatives also receive many additional benefits not offered to those in other departments.

Professional Selling

Professional salespeople are very important key employees because nothing happens until something is sold. Since salespeople are meeting with clients and prospects every day, salespeople know more about the markets a company serves than employees in other departments. For that reason, professional salespeople receive extraordinary benefits such as a car allowance, paid expenses and the freedom to set their own schedules for customer appointments. In addition, professional salespeople receive commissions and those commissions allow salespeople to achieve a six-figure income. If you are looking for career advancement, know that most Chief Executive Officers started their careers by becoming sales representatives.

What Constitutes a Good Salesperson?

In the process of my own sales career, I discovered that most people believe that selling has to do with having charisma or just an outgoing personality. But selling has nothing to do with either of those two characteristics. To be a good salesperson you must first become aware of and use sales skills. So, if you are interested in a career position in sales, here is the strategy you can use to avoid the mistakes I made the day I met that ceramic turtle.

Strategy For The Sales Interview

Interviewing for a sales position is different than interviewing for any other corporate position. Sales Managers receive a great amount of interview training so they are experts at uncovering strengths and weaknesses. During the interview, sales managers are busy determining if they would buy something from you. Sales managers want to know if you can sell yourself because if you can’t, you probably can’t sell a product. Also, the sales manager expects you to ask for the job to demonstrate you are capable of asking for an order.

Due to the factors just mentioned, I urge you to prepare for your interview by getting some strong training on how to interview for a position in sales. Training of that kind is available at many places including The National Sales Center.



Sales Training

Avoid making the mistakes I made the day I met that ceramic turtle. Besides some interview training, get some sales training. No one experts you to be a sales expert when you apply for an entry level sales position but some knowledge of the sales process will improve your chances of getting hired. An understanding of the sales process will also help you to sell yourself to the sales manager and it will also help you with the all important post interview follow up contact. Your follow up effort after the interview demonstrates you will follow up after a sales appointment.

Keys To Your First Sales Job

I urge you get some interview training and some sales training prior to your first sales interview. This type of preparation will greatly enhance your chances of getting hired. A career in sales is rewarding and exciting so the effort you put in to being prepared is well worth it. In fact, that preparation is the difference between success and failure. Also, your knowledge of the sales process will get you off and running the very first day of your new professional career.