| A sales interviewer (no matter what level), when | | | | has not done this research, and mentioning some of |
| asked to do a presentation should presume that they | | | | the latest on-goings will prove that you have a desire |
| are going against other sales job applicants and, | | | | to not only learn about the vertical in which your |
| typically the most prepared wins the race. Below you | | | | interviewer is in, but want to sell in it as well. If you are |
| will find some helpful tips to help make you a | | | | already selling to the industry, this simply expounds on |
| front-runner following a thorough and informative | | | | your knowledge and is still highly recommended. |
| presentation. | | | | Practice Makes Perfect |
| Make Sure You Know What The Interviewer(s) Want | | | | One of the bad habits I see in sales interviews is a well |
| Some companies may give you a broad description of | | | | made, but poorly executed presentation. The last thing |
| the type of presentation they want. Never make an | | | | you want to do is spend hours upon hours making a |
| assumption. Acknowledge any requests that simply | | | | great presentation only to do a poor job upon |
| state "sales presentation," as a way to show off your | | | | explaining your thoughts and pitching your sales plan. |
| thinking skills and sales versatility. For instance, if you | | | | Make sure you spend at least two hours going over |
| come across a presentation requisite such as this, you | | | | and over the ways in which you feel would best |
| will look more knowledgeable than the rest of the pack | | | | describe the thoughts you put on paper. It also would |
| if you respond with the following, | | | | be extremely helpful to do a few mock presentations |
| "Dear ______, | | | | with a third party. Failure to practice and prepare can |
| I have been working on my presentation and would like | | | | result in a poor presentation. |
| to set a more specific focus for it. Would you like me | | | | Additionally, practicing your presentation will allow you |
| to lay out a 30/60/90 day sales plan or, discuss my | | | | to make proper eye contact with your interviewer(s) |
| past sales success and how it could relate you | | | | upon presenting your well planned out thoughts. If you |
| working at your firm, or my methods of breaking into | | | | bury your head in the paper, you are doomed to fail. |
| your targeted accounts or a mix of all of the above? | | | | Questions Section at the End |
| Whichever you prefer, I will be more than happy to | | | | Finally, make sure you have a questions section. The |
| focus on one or more aspects. I look forward to our | | | | best thing to do is prepare for some questions in which |
| meeting" | | | | they may ask and, if you hit the nail on the head, you |
| Do Internet Research for Latest PR and Industry | | | | are golden. Think about how good it sounds to say, "I |
| News | | | | thought there was a chance that you may ask that |
| By incorporating knowledge specific to the latest | | | | question, so I did prepare an answer for it." |
| industry news, you are immediately putting yourself at | | | | With these simple tips, you'll be well on your way to |
| an advantage. More likely than not, your competition | | | | making a killer interview presentation. Best of luck! |