Q: I applied for a job yesterday, they rang first thing this morning and want to interview me on Friday. Can I therefore take it that they are very keen to hire me? (DL, email )
A: Well, the scenario you describe is infinitely preferable to several alternative ones that could include them not getting back to you at all or sending you an immediate PFO email.
But I would counsel against believing you are even three-quarters of the way there. It might just be that they are under pressure to appoint somebody and are shoehorning several candidates into early interviews. You should not believe that they fell out of their standing when they got your application – don’t become complacent about this opportunity.
There are still hurdles to jump. Prepare for them by considering these three questions:
Do you know exactly what the job requires?
Have you examples from your training, education or work experience that demonstrate how you meet those requirements?
Have you practiced articulating those examples so that you can convince them that you are the right candidate?
Yes, they are interested in you. But they may also be making eyes elsewhere. Until the point when you are offered the position, focus exclusively on persuading them that you are the right person. Never count your chickens…
Tapping into old skills for you career path
Q: I'm traveling down an old road, back to direct sales, where I started 20 years ago. In the interim, I have taken up some management roles, but I miss the independence of being a salesperson. However, I fear the interviewers will believe I no longer have the hunger for sales? How do I convince them otherwise? (LK, email ).
A: Sometimes we must reconnect with what first brought us into a particular sector. It is not unusual for people to take on management roles only to realise they should have stayed where they were.
A few points to ponder:
The fact that you did it once suggests that you can do it again. Perhaps, you need to convince yourself first? If you're not fully ready for being ‘back on the road’, they're almost certain to pick up on that. That is likely to be one of their key considerations.
Compile a list of all the things that made you a good salesperson in the first place. These might include a capacity to build good relationships, a willingness to network outside the normal 9-5 hours to promote yourself and the company's products/services and a genuine interest in customers. Remind yourself of how these stood to you in the past.
Write down your previous achievements as a salesperson. These may include developing new territories, landing big customers, devising and launching new products and generating referrals from existing customers. Be specific here. Where appropriate, include actual figures such as your annual sales or sales growth.
Familiarize yourself with modern sales approaches. Technology has almost certainly changed the game, for example.
Tell them you have the hunger. Be enthusiastic about the prospect of returning to a sales role. Let them know you want it and why. Remember, they are almost certain to appreciate the fact that good salespeople are hard to find.
Slí Nua Careers (www.SliNuaCareers.com ) offer a full online service. Their services include CV preparation, interview training, public speaking and presentation skills, and career direction. For more details, visit www.slinuacareers.com/galway-office Email your questions to [email protected].
