Salespeople need to make strong first impressions if they want to land a new job. But the interview process is a delicate dance between employer and future employee, and even seemingly minor missteps can cost you the job.
Don’t let simple mistakes stand in the way of winning the offer you deserve. Here are six keys to a strong first impression on your next interview.
1. Be Responsive
When setting up interviews, meetings, and phone calls, get back to the coordinator as quickly as possible. Your responsiveness demonstrates your enthusiasm for the job, and if you delay, you’re sending a subtle message of disinterest.
Some salespeople worry that being responsive will appear desperate and over-eager. Those salespeople are the ones who don’t get the job, and I’ve watched the hard-to-get strategy cost an executive a President-level role.
Sales is about showing a certain amount of edge, drive, and hunger. The companies you interview with want to see you haven’t become satisfied.
2. Never Arrive Late
Getting to the interview on time is imperative. Give yourself adequate time to arrive so you can absorb any unforeseen delays.
Traffic isn’t an excuse; it will only cost you the job. Don’t be late. Period.
3. Sartorial Success Opens Doors
When the economy takes a dip, formality becomes popular once again. Half-zips are out as companies return to the classics.
Your first impression carries outsized weight, so your attire should be able to handle the job.
4. Perception Is Everything
Everything you do at this stage of the game is judged. Come to a meeting with papers hanging out of your bag, and you’ll raise concerns about your ability to organize and plan your day.
Take the extra time to get prepared in all aspects of your professional appearance. You’ll be sized up on the little things, so attention to detail counts.
5. Follow Up with a Personalized Thank You Note
After an interview, send that thank you email. It’s expected, and it should go out the day of the interview.
Spell every name correctly and make the note specific to the meeting. Don’t copy and paste something generic that seems to fit. If you need a starting point, here are eight samples worth adapting.
6. Easy Is Better Than Difficult
Every company wants to hire salespeople who are easy to work with. Remain flexible during the interview process and show you’d be a strong teammate.
Rescheduling too many times, making one too many special requests, or being overly difficult to reach turns employers off quickly.
Make Every Job Move Count
The job you take today plays a key role in determining the opportunities available to you in the future. The good news is that anyone can make a strong first impression with these insights. They require effort, but your future is worth the investment.
More choices make for better decisions. The more job offers and final interviews you have, the more likely you are to make a smart move. And at the heart of winning offers is the first impression, so when you learn to make a strong one, you become a better salesperson and a better interviewer.
As a result, you’ll have a more rewarding and successful sales career. First impressions open the door; the complete sales interview preparation guide gets you through it.
