Structuring
90% of people only look at the first page of a CV so make it count.
For anyone recruiting for a sales role the thing they’ll be most interested in is a candidate’s sales achievements, so make sure you take the time structuring your CV to list these first. Include deals you’ve won, companies you’re sold to, sales targets you’ve reached and back all this up with figures.
Ensure Your Success
Make sure whilst structuring your CV that it matches the job you’re going for. Most candidates have a standard CV that they send out for every job role. Get a head start and take the time to tailor your CV to the specific role you’re going for, making sure you mention all the requirements listed in the job spec.
If you’ve got a long career full of experience consider having two CVs – one might be focused on sales, the other on management, for example. This will help a prospective employer find the information they’re looking for quickly.
Structuring Your CV
- Name (it’s not necessary to include a DOB)
- Summary of achievements
- Profile
- Work history: Most recent job first
- Education
- Personal interests: Be honest! Include personal achievements
This is a fantastic tool for finding a new job and your LinkedIn profile should mirror your CV. At GB Consultancy we offer coaching on how to best use LinkedIn to sell yourself and to find a new role.
Your CV / Resume
When it comes to writing your CV, focus on the first page, making sure you include all your successes early on. Interviewers will often find they have a pile of CVs to look through, so make sure yours stands out from the very first line.
Your CV profile is your opportunity to show off your sales skills by selling yourself. What are you brilliant at? What are your skills? A good tip is to write a list of 10 things you excel at. Condense this list into a paragraph, and follow it with your career achievements, including any industry awards and impressive sales statistics.
Your CV is the first opportunity you have to demonstrate your sales skills, so sell yourself well.
The Interview and How to Sell Yourself
We’ll say it once, loud and clear. Prepare. Take the time before you interview to do some research. Find out about the person interviewing you, the company background, and compile a list of questions that YOU would like to ask at the interview.
Plan your journey to the interview, aiming to arrive 30 minutes before your interview time so you can go in feeling calm and clear headed.
You can bet your interviewer will have taken the time to Google you and check your social media presence, so make sure you do the same. Tidy up your social media profiles so they present you in the best possible light to a potential employer.
How will I know this is the right job for me?
You will have the opportunity to ask questions in your interview, so use this time to find out if the job is right for you. Prepare questions beforehand that will give you the insight you need. If you are a woman you might want to ask how many women there are on the board, or if you are ambitious and keen to move upwards quickly, make sure you ask how the company ensures it keeps its best talent. Ask the interviewer what they like about working at the company, and ask who is on the board to find out more about the senior management.
Is sales for me?
Can you deal with rejection? Can you turn rejection into a motivation? Do you thrive under pressure and enjoy target driven roles? Is money a big motivation for you?
If you answer yes to these questions, then sales is definitely a career you should consider. If you are driven, either by success, money, or quite often both, have a fear of failure and a passion for customer service and delivering a high quality product, these are all attributes that will help you get ahead in any sales role.
A burning desire to succeed is more important than your qualifications when it comes to excelling in sales.