Job Hunting.

[three12]

Hi.

I've recently graduated from University with a technology degree. It was a broad course so there are lots of jobs I SHOULD be able to get.

So far the most appealing job seems to be an IT-Salesman. Pre and Industrial sales.

Most of these jobs are looking for 1+ years experience? I have no relevant experience.

I'm wondering what kind of sales experience they are expecting - something like Department store - serving customers - IT goods? Or something a bit deeper?

If anyone knows about Sales, I'd love to hear from you; Specifically tips on getting a job (maybe some answers to common interveiw questions), what type of duties do you perform in your job, do you enjoy it, books/websites I can learn more about sales from etc. etc. - If you're an IT salesman, even better.

Cheers.

three12.

 

[Bible_Belt]

The turnover rate in sales is high. That's why there are always jobs available. Most people fail within the first year, which is why that job wants one year of experience. The constant rejection is difficult to not take personally. How do they get their leads? Is it cold-call telemarketing?

They want motivated, Type A personality, aggressive, 'life of the party' people. In a sales interview, unlike other jobs, it's good to talk about money. Ask them how much money their top salesperson makes, as well as the average.

http://www.sosuave.net/forum/showthread.php?t=102919&highlight="feature+benefit"

 

[three12]

anymore?

Surely others care more about their futures then a PUA video game?

 

[Le Parisien]

Talking about jobs, I just secured my dream job this past Tuesday. They are getting me a working permit (since I'm not a French national, yet...), after that, you won't see me this often on this board anymore.

From my limited working experience and internships, I have afew thoughts that might be useful:

- Experience is good, being a fast learner is good, having good potential is good etc... but the most important thing is to convince the employer that you are the right man for the job. Many times, they already have a type of guy on their mind that they want to hire. If you fit this(stereo)type, you will be hired, if you don't, most likely you won't be. You don't have enough time to convince them that although you don't fit the profile but you are still gonna excel in the job. Unless the manager is unconventional and wants to take his chance on this one. But 9 times out of 10, it's not gonna happen.

Just for the anecdote, I got turned down for one offer because she bascially told me I didn't fit their "type". But it turns out that 12 years ago, she was exactly like me, she didn't fit the type. Her manager at the time took a chance with her and it as a success. But she is not taking any chance with me.

This is nothing new. Just like it's not because Bill Gates didn't finish his degree and still became successful that Microsoft won't require you to have a good college degree if you want to work for them.

- My field is marketing, sales are our direct subordinates , so I kinda know one or two things about sales. Just like Bible_Belt said, psychologically speaking, doing sales is tough, you take so many rejections. Being rejected by some chicks is bad? It's 100 times worse in sales simply because it just happens so often. And I tend to believe that either you are meant to be a great salesman or you are not. Techniques can be learned, experience comes with time, but if you don't have the type of personality that works well in sales, then you will never be a great salesman. For example, the highly intellectual type usually don't do well in sales.

- Contrary to what many believe, in most big companies, sales are the most strategic department of all. Because it's where the money comes in. But at the same time, don't fall in the pitfall of being stuck as a salesman forever. From my experience at GE Healthcare, the most successful career were built by doing different "rotations" like this: marketing -> sales -> marketing -> sales -> marketing. Like: product manager -> sales manager -> marketing manager -> zone sales manager -> marketing director -> regional sales manager etc... If you start as a pure salesman , you might as well end as a salesman if you do nothing about it.

- Keep in mind to always try to stay close to the "power centers", where the decisions are made. Because if the big bosses know about you, if you are good, when some opportunity comes along, they will automatically be thinking about you, instead of some equally great guy whom they know nothing about. When I was doing my internship as an assistant product manager, I was actually based at the european headquarter. Thanks to my hard work and great results, I got more "exposure" with the big bosses than any salesman from any country level subsidiaries. Me as an intern, within six months, got more higher level network than any regular sales employee who've been working for GE for a couple of years.