How to Get a Job as a Sales Representative
According to Ray Wright, executive director of the professional sales representative organization IPRO, having experience with the product and the product culture is a key factor in this industry. Perhaps more important, a great sales representative must be able to relate to customers. "Empathy and orientation towards customer service are critical traits," says Wright. "You need to get a certain amount of joy out of meeting customer needs." One of the most important characteristics of a good sales representative is the ability to listen. "We all have the wonderful ability to talk, but having the ability to listen [will allow you] to understand the customer needs over the sales needs." Wright also emphasizes the importance of building non-standard business relationships with customers, since sales representatives often interact with the same clients on a regular basis. "You need to understand relationship selling," he says. "You need to be a resource by respecting customers and developing friendships."
Interview Questions Submitted by Real Sales Representatives
"What kind of characteristics should a sales person have?" - Cablevision Sales Representative Candidate (Bronx, NY)
"What are your sales statistics from your last job?" - Paycom B2B Outside Sales Representative Candidate (Los Angeles, CA)
What is the Job Like?
A sales representative's standard work week is generally between 40 and 50 hours long. Some representatives will be expected to travel extensively—up to several weeks at a time—in order to cover a larger territory. Because sales calls generally take place during standard business hours, much of the paperwork and planning must be completed during evenings and over weekends, meaning that sales representatives can find it difficult to separate work life from home life. Sales representatives also encounter stress, as income and job security often depend directly on their ability to meet and exceed the company's set sales quotas. However, many representatives find this position stimulating because they are interacting with a variety of people on a regular basis.
Real Reviews From Sales Representatives
+ "Competitive in a good way, Pay is fair for work done, Career development encouraged but a lot of stiff competition for open positions." - Oracle Applications Sales Representative (Minneapolis, MN)
- "Just takes a long time to get a raise and you have to move jobs to get a raise. If you like what you are doing don't expect to get a raise at all. But other than pay Dell is a great place to work!!! I miss it." - Dell Inside Sales Representative (Location Unknown)
Review information and interview questions supplied by Glassdoor.
