4 Step Process. Application, phone interview, first in person interview, second in person interview.
Must have a Bachelor's degree in either a business related field, or a Bachelor of Arts. Must have a good driving record. Sales or customer service experience is helpful.
Once application is submitted, you may receive a call to set up a phone interview. Have stories prepared from past experiences. Stories about sales success, customer service challenges and success, leadership challenges and success, etc. The bottom line is that they are looking for people who are outgoing, competitive, goal oriented, decision makers, with a skill at persuade others.
If they ask you to sit down for an in person interview, you will be asked a lot of the same questions, but this is your opportunity to have fine tuned the answers. You have the opportunity to present yourself as a professional with eye contact, great posture, professionally groomed and with professional attire.
The third and typically final interview is similar to the previous interview, but this is with an area manager. This is typically going to be your bosses boss. Again, similar line of questions but it is the way that you present yourself that if being observed.
Expect to have a couple of days in between interviews. Expect a couple of days after the third interview and before the offer. If they do not like you, they will not ask for more interviews!
Overall advice
- Write down stories of specific times when you dealt with a difficult customer, or an irate customer. Stories about difficult leadership circumstances. Specific sales stories where you succeeded and where you didn't make the sale. If you don't have sales experience, you can talk about what makes you confident that you have a persuasive personality. Maybe you are always trying to convince your friends about things.
- The interviewer is looking for specifics.
*DON'T SAY, "One time I tried to get someone to buy a box of crayons, and they were not sure at first, but then they did."
**DO SAY, "One time, I was working at Amazing Crayon Sales Inc, and a customer walked in who seemed lost. I approached them and asked if I could help them. At first they seemed like they did not want help, but because I was so friendly, they asked if I knew anything about which type or crayon is the best. I wanted to sell them our best line of crayons, which also happens to be our most expensive. So I walked them over to that Aisle. While we walked, I asked them a few questions about what they might need the crayons for. When we got to the aisle I showed them the best crayons and used the things they had told me to explain to them why these crayons would be perfect for their project. They were a little put off by the high price, but I explained why for their particular project, these crayons are really the only way to go. Still they were concerned that the next cheaper type of crayons, might be fine, but I used my knowledge of both types to explain the difference in quality. They agreed and purchased the crayons."
- Have questions prepared. Remember, you are not the only one being interviewed here. They need to sell you the position as well. But keep these questions until closer to the end.
- Shave, iron clothes/dry clean, hair cut, shiny shoes, etc
- Be humorous, outgoing, smiling, etc.
- The best way for the interviewer to become confident in your sales ability is if you sell yourself!!! You are the expert on yourself as a worker. If you can't sell yourself to them, they know you cannot sell something else.