It’s that time of year when new college and high school graduates are looking to the most important sale: getting that great job. This year is a bit different as the economy opens up and many who were unemployed during the COVID pandemic are wanting to get back to work. And some of you are seeking a better job. Whatever the reason basic selling fundamentals can win you the job of your dreams.
Use Sales Skills for ME, inc.
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Three Important Qualities of Me, Inc.
To make your most important sale you need attitude, behaviors and knowledge. Let’s look at each of these traits of a great salesperson.
Attitude
You must have a positive attitude to make your most important sale. Be confident but not cocky. Believe you will be hired. And be prepared at each step of the search process. Your attitude will be most obvious in the interview. Whether video, by phone or in person you need to be self-confident. Remember the company is interested in learning about you. And you are deciding whether you really want to work at the company.
Whenever I met with the interviewer for a company I could expect this question: “Why do you want to work here?” My response was: “I’m not sure I do. That’s why I asked for this meeting. You will learn something about me and I will better understand how I could benefit your company.” This approach indicates a strong, positive confident attitude to set you apart from others.
Behaviors
What do you need to do to get your dream job. Your most important sale comes at the end of a series of well-executed activities. First prepare yourself. Make sure you have the qualifications to land the job you want. And your resume should reflect the talents, skills and experience necessary for the job. Then research the industry to see which companies are the best fit for you. Contact the hiring professionals at each company to express an interest to learn more about the company. Follow up with a strong letter or email to pique their curiosity about you. Have your resume customized for each company. Be persistent but not bothersome. It’s just like prospecting. Your first goal is to get a meeting with a key decision maker at the company. Once you have that appointment. Prepare yourself by having a list of questions you want to ask and rehearsing answers to the questions you expect to get. Remember your first goal is to get the interview. From the interview to get an offer. Then you can decide whether to take the job.
Knowledge
To make that most important sale to need to know stuff. With today’s internet access you can find out a lot about a company. Major corporations have complex, information-rich websites. Even the smallest of companies have websites with information you can use. Then there are all the social media sites. And use LinkedIn to learn about the interviewer. When you know someone or can get a referral to someone in the company, then have a conversation with them. Be prepared with the most important questions you have about the company and the hiring process. Don’t forget to understand yourself. What about the industry intrigues you? Are you interested in large or small companies? Established or new companies? Structured or more independent work environment? So diligent job seeker, first know yourself.
And For New Graduates, The Experience Question
I always found how job candidates answered the “experience” question most interesting? Think about it. Whether you are graduating from high school, college or with an advanced degree how would you answer the experience question? When I was young the advice I got was to be brave and go big. In my twenties I would answer: “Let me tell you about my 20 years of experience.” Then I would outline how being on a sports team taught me the value of teamwork. And how being a Boy Scout I learned character and leadership. Having lawn mowing jobs I learned responsibility. All this before I talked about how my education prepared to work in the industry.
What Can You Do Right Now To Make Your Most Important Sale?
- Develop the best attitude
- Do all the activities necessary
- Learn all you can about yourself and the company
To learn more sales secrets see Chapter Six, Characteristics Of Successful Salespeople, in Secrets of the Softer Side of Selling. For even more sales encouragement, join our FREE Sales Club! “See” you next week.
Good selling!
Don Crawford