Practical advice from senior recruiters on how to prepare, what to say, and how to make a lasting impression in your next sales interview.
Start ReadingA well-crafted resume is your first impression. Make it count by highlighting achievements, not just responsibilities.
In addition to actual responsibilities, include achievements under each job description. This "value-added" approach helps you effectively sell yourself to potential employers.
Recruiters can arrange interviews faster when your resume reflects a background of related job skills and work experience. Highlight skills, competencies and experience relevant to the job.
These are the questions hiring managers ask most often. Prepare your answers beforehand so you respond with confidence.
Along with these questions, you will likely be asked industry-specific questions relating to your knowledge of specific processes, markets, or tools. If you've been in the industry a while, these should be straightforward — just remember to highlight specific work-related examples showing how they will benefit from you.
You will not get a second chance to make a first impression. Here's how to get it right from the moment you walk in.
Introduce yourself with a firm handshake and a friendly greeting. Try to remember the interviewers' names and address them by name throughout.
Have a positive attitude. Don't expect your qualifications and experience alone to get you the job — your personality and enthusiasm matter just as much.
Keep an open mind. You may have pre-conceived ideas about the company, the job and the people, but don't let that get in the way of having a good interview.
Never say negative things about previous employers. It reflects poorly on you and raises red flags about how you'd talk about this company in the future.
Your body language tells interviewers a lot about what you are feeling. Make direct eye contact with the person you are speaking to — don't stare at the floor or the ceiling.
When the interview is over, thank the interviewer for their time, smile and give a firm handshake. Remember — last impressions are just as important as first impressions.
Making a list of questions shows you are interested and prepared. This is your opportunity to impress and stand out from other candidates.
Can you describe the company's structure, internal reporting and future plans?
How would you describe the culture in the department?
How do other roles in the department impact on mine?
What training or induction is provided?
What would my daily, weekly and monthly responsibilities be?
How would my effectiveness be measured?
What interaction would I have with other departments, clients or suppliers?
Where are the opportunities to progress within the company?
Ask about salary and benefits if these have not been outlined to you.
What are the next steps in the selection process and when is a decision likely to be made?
The interview isn't over when you walk out the door. These follow-up steps can make the difference.
Contact your recruitment consultant to let them know how you got on. They can provide valuable feedback and advocate on your behalf with the employer.
If there are any points which you are unsure of, or you don't think you put across clearly, let your consultant know — they may have the opportunity to clarify this with the employer on your behalf.
Our recruiters work with their candidates to make sure they have access to and understand the details of the position and can bring out relevant examples from their past experience that would highlight why this company would benefit from hiring them.