There are many reasons why a sales opportunity seems enticing to job candidates such as the opportunity to make more money and the adrenaline rush of closing a deal, but many times a job in sales leads to a revolving door from one employer to the next. To help you avoid the churn of employers, consider asking a broad variety of questions to help you determine if an offer is right for you.
Sales professionals as a group tend to accept jobs without asking a lot of questions up front that pertain to management and operations. This could account for why sales reps tend to have numerous jobs on their resume. Unfortunately, some job descriptions sound too good to be true with the promises of fast-track promotions and the potential of a higher income.
A career in sales can be a great opportunity, especially in today’s market where employers are facing a shortage of good sales talent. However, in order to make a good career decision, there are some stereotypes to overcome such as the perception that selling is not really a career path and that sales is often a temporary solution when needing to work.
Truth is, a sales career can be a rewarding experience and those who succeed would be hard pressed to give up their roles. Here are some areas to explore with the hiring manager before you accept an offer. Pay attention to the answers you receive and most of all any red flags that could signal discomfort and warrant more information.
• Ask questions regarding your sales manager’s background. How did they start in sales? What makes them interested in working for this company?
• Pay close attention to how you feel during the interview with the hiring sales manager. If you felt intimidated, chances are high this is the exact same feeling you will experience throughout your working relationship.
• Don’t get caught up in the company sales pitch. Rather, focus on how well the sales process is defined for the role and the areas of responsibility. Ask to review their sales literature, material to gain a better perspective of how the company supports the sales efforts.
• Ask about training and development. What types of training would you be exposed to and how would this help you grow in your career.
• What makes this particular company succeed in the marketplace? The answer you receive will often determine where the company places their value, on the customer or price.
• What could you learn from your sales manager? In other words, when you listen to them describe their sales philosophy, what values do you share in common? If your sales manager is all about closing the sale rather than building a customer relationship, you will have an idea of what the sales culture is.
What has been your experience in a sales role and what questions did you ask that helped you determine if this was a good career move?
