3 Key Interview Tips for Salespeople

We got such a great response to the blog article posted a few weeks ago on sales interviewing, we thought we would share some more helpful advice.

Having interviewed thousands of salespeople over the last few decades these tips can help you land the sales job you are looking for 

 

Thanks to Ryan Heaphy for spelling these out so succinctly.

3 Key Interview Tips for Salespeople

The interview process is a critical life skill that many of us lack practice with, and trends and expectations are constantly evolving. Salespeople need to demonstrate their problem

solving prowess, analytical thinking, resourcefulness, and process oriented strategy, while also conveying confidence and positivity to really shine. The good news is, there are simple ways to stand out from the crowd and impress sales leaders with the right preparation.

Here are some tips for job searchers on the market to put into action today:

Update your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn has become the world's largest professional network, making it the most powerful tool used for recruiting. It’s also your digital first impression for potential employers, so it’s critical for today's job searchers to learn how to stand out with a dynamic profile that shows employers much more about who you are. 

 

Consider updating the following on your LinkedIn profile:

  1. Up-to-date photo: Make sure your photo is current and shows a true likeness to your current self. 
  2. Update your "About" section: Avoid corporate buzzwords and tell your story! Use that space to sell yourself.
  3. Outline your achievements: If you've been promoted within your company, be sure to parse out those promotions and the timelines on your experience timeline. LinkedIn Recruiter allows searchers to filter for career advancement within a current company, so make it easy to be found.
  4. Collect meaningful recommendations: Recommendations on your profile show that colleagues are willing to put their reputation on the line and go out of their way to endorse you. When you have a list of people who have written in detail about how working with a candidate has made an impact on them, it builds a ton of credibility for you. 


Be Prepared

Preparing for an interview is pivotal to your success. Start by understanding the company and researching everyone you're scheduled to meet. Look them up on LinkedIn and get familiar with where they’ve worked, growth they’ve had in their career and the scope of their role currently.

More key things to research:

  • Company news and recognition
  • The executive team and their backgrounds
  • Rounds of funding (for startups)
  • Recent acquisitions or partnerships, etc.
  • Understand where the company stands within their market
  • Competitors in the space

 

You should also come up with a list of thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role. Remember to send a LinkedIn connection request to the interview panel and follow up with a "thank you" note after the interview.

When you're prepared, you'll be more confident, organized, calm, and poised to impress.

 

Virtual Professionalism

Virtual interviews have largely become the norm, with 82% of hiring managers using them in 2021 and that number is growing. To ensure a successful virtual interview, do the following:

  • Make sure you have a stable internet connection. Connection issues waste precious time to sell yourself and interrupt the flow of the conversation.
  • Test your microphone and camera. This is another area where you may waste a ton of time troubleshooting during the call and risk your value being underrepresented.
    • Ensure that your microphone has clear sound.
    • Position yourself clearly in frame with your camera, avoiding odd angles that make eye contact difficult or impossible.
    • Make sure your lighting is good and you’re not sitting in the dark. You’re not being interviewed in witness protection.
  • Choose a tidy and quiet location. Limit any possible distractions in your background. Alternatively, virtual backgrounds are a great way to create a professional environment and hide any distractions. Pick something simple and clean and avoid anything silly like outer space or under the sea.
  • Be on time (or early). You didn’t fight traffic, right? 


These are things you can easily do to make sure you make the most of your interview time. 

ryanheaphy
For those looking to go much further with their interview prep, check out Interview With A Sales Leader. It’s a modern interview prep guide for salespeople looking to stand out to the most discerning employers.

It covers strategies for navigating the tough questions, having your own questions that impress, presenting yourself with positivity and confidence, flexing your sales acumen, and more.

Download the 20 page PDF here! https://bit.ly/InterviewWithASalesLeader

 

 

 

 

 
Dan Tyre

Written by Dan Tyre

Dan Tyre is an authority on inbound marketing and sales and has become a regular public speaker, blog writer, mentor, and coach for those who want to harness of the power of inbound marketing to improve their bottom line. He joined HubSpot as a member of the original team in May of 2007 as the first salesperson for the company. Since then, Dan has held various positions in sales, sales management, recruiting, training, and expansion of the HubSpot sales team.

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