What do you do if your sales experience isn't coming across in an interview?
Navigating the tricky waters of a job interview can be daunting, especially when you feel your sales experience isn't shining through. In media sales, where competition is fierce and your ability to sell yourself can reflect your potential to sell advertising space or airtime, it's crucial to convey your experience effectively. If you're struggling to make an impression, don't worry; there are strategies you can employ to ensure your sales prowess doesn't go unnoticed.
Before you can address the issue, take a moment to reflect on your interviews. Are you articulating your experiences clearly? Sometimes nerves can cause you to undersell your achievements or fail to mention key sales victories. Consider practicing with a friend or mentor who can provide honest feedback. They might point out areas where your delivery lacks confidence or where your stories need more detail to truly demonstrate your sales expertise.
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Michael McGowan
When You Need to Make Your Sales Team Your Competitive Advantage
"Experience" is a loose word when it comes to interviewing for a sales role. Instead show the interviewer or panel you have specific skills. Tell people how you do things and why that way. Tell people how you deal with the difficult stuff, e.g. writing an email, messaging, opening a meeting, handling pushback, the question tracks you use, how you develop a point-of-view. How do you make your dialogue valuable? That's where you will stand out for two reasons. First, most candidates don't do this. Second, most candidates won't have the skills. Show the interviewer "I can actually do this stuff". That proves the "experience". There's plenty of "talent" in the sales world. The scarcest asset in sales is the right skillset.
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Surinder Oberoi
Product Specialist; CSPO
If sales experience isn't evident in an interview, I emphasize relevant achievements and skills. I provide specific examples of successful sales strategies or customer interactions, highlighting quantifiable results. Additionally, I express enthusiasm for applying my sales expertise to the role, demonstrating a proactive and adaptable approach.
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Atul Pandey
𝐈𝐈𝐓 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐄 '𝟐𝟓 | Ex-Intern@ HDFC Bank | Manager@ IARC | 6.5M+👀@ Quora | Cop@ UPP | BIDA® | FTIP® | FPWM™ | M.A. Philosophy | M.A. History | PGDFM | PGDBS | PGDEMA | PGDHE | PGDFCS | DCOM
If during an interview your sales experience isn't conveyed clearly, think about changing how you approach the situation. Give concrete instances of your successful sales accomplishments, emphasising important indicators such as revenue growth, client acquisition, or surpassing goals. Employ narrative strategies to describe your sales process, the difficulties you encountered, and the solutions you found. Place a strong emphasis on soft skills like problem-solving, negotiating, and developing relationships. Engage in active listening and adjust your answers to meet the requirements and standards of the employer. Improve your interviewing style and your capacity to communicate your sales skills, ask mentors or colleagues for feedback.
When discussing your experience, tailor your examples to the media sales industry. Highlight situations where you've successfully navigated the challenges unique to selling media. This could include developing innovative advertising campaigns, securing large deals, or retaining high-profile clients. By providing specific examples, you're showing potential employers that you understand the nuances of media sales and have a track record of success in this field.
Media sales is an ever-evolving field, and showing that you're adaptable is crucial. Talk about how you've kept up with industry trends or how you've adapted to new sales technologies or methodologies. This demonstrates that you're not just experienced but also forward-thinking and capable of thriving in a dynamic environment. Employers want to see that you can evolve with the industry and continue to drive sales in the face of change.
While technical skills and direct sales experience are important, don't underestimate the power of soft skills. Communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building are all critical in media sales. Share anecdotes that showcase these abilities, perhaps when you resolved a client issue or collaborated on a cross-functional team. These stories can round out your professional image and prove that you're a well-rounded candidate.
Asking insightful questions during your interview can also reflect your experience. Inquire about the company's sales strategies, challenges they've faced, or their target market. Not only does this show that you're engaged and interested, but it also provides an opportunity to relate their answers back to your experience, further demonstrating your understanding of media sales.
Finally, a strong follow-up after the interview can leave a lasting impression. Send a personalized thank you note reiterating your interest in the role and summarizing how your experience aligns with the company's needs. If there were any moments in the interview where you felt you didn't properly convey your experience, this is a chance to clarify or add additional information.
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