November 2014 – TP Javeton WebNet

Skills Emphasis?

Skill emphasis during the interview is important to show the employer what makes you different from all the other job candidates. In this competitive world, companies search for the most qualified employees by weighing skills of the candidates and determining how they would benefit the company.

A majority of the top companies search for employees who stand out based on their expertise and ability to initiate and work with new developments. Many of these companies also acknowledge that pleasing personalities would enhance the organization.

Skills are grouped into three kinds: knowledge-based, transferable, and personal traits.

Knowledge-based skills

Knowledge-based skills are those learned from experiences – These may include educational attainment, additional training, seminars attended, and other subjects that you have studied to enhance your expertise.

Knowledge-based skills might also include computer and communication skills, marketing or managerial abilities, product development, and other such acquired capabilities. These skills vary depending on the field or industry of each job candidate.

Transferable/portable skills

Transferable or portable skills are those you bring to a specific job – This is the reason why interviewers ask, “What could you offer the company?” Transferable skills are important because companies strive to look for quality employees that would improve the development of the workforce.

Portable skills include problem solving, team leader potential, organizational, writing and communication skills, customer service oriented skills, time and project management, as well as numbers and budgetary expertise. These kinds of skills vary depending on the experience and versatility of each job candidate.

Personal traits

Personal traits determine who you are – In a job interview, one of the most common things an employer might say is “Tell me something about yourself.” Your response is vital because it would set the tone for the rest of the interview.

Personal traits include good judgment, good organizational tendencies, analytical, goal oriented, flexible, creative and many more. Try to sell yourself in as modest a manner as possible within a limited time frame.

Self-assessment

Self-assessment – In order to provide an impressive presentation, examine your resume and list all the skills you have used for each past job experience. Make a comprehensive list of your skills and strengths including personal traits, knowledge-based and transferable skills. This would be the basis for your personal commercial.

Once you have completed your script, you are now ready to face the interviewer. Remember that employers are interested in your accomplishments, so use words that are concise, direct and clear.

Although many companies require a unique set of skills, you should still highlight your technical skills in the interview. These skills, which top companies usually seek, include leadership, communication skills, confidence, flexibility, problem solving abilities and energy. Emphasizing all of your strengths and skills on job interviews would increase your chances of landing the desired job.

Sales pros

Each industry has a variety of specific requirements that an employee has to meet, and while a professional sales person may not always be considered an “employee,” depending on the company or organization with which s/he is associated, there are industry-specific requirements which they must meet also.

That having been said, sales professionals in search of positions in their industry of choice must always be as prepared as possible in such a competitive environment as professional sales. So, to assist you in preparing for a highly sought-after and rewarding position – including a confident and effective interview – the information provided on this page might be of some value.

Research

In order to be prepared on your interview, you should learn important facts about the company beforehand.

The internet is one of the best ways to search for information; and most companies provide their own informational websites. Study the content of the company’s website; know their histories, goals, and information about the top executives.
By using search engines on the Internet, you could also obtain news about such things as progress the company has made, its past projects and issues, and organizations in which it has a membership, or to which it makes regular contributions.
Review the stock market chart of the company. Since majority of shares are publicly traded, you could examine recent stock prices and learn its successes and difficulties of its market performances over the past years. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of a company will help you in the interview.
Get as much information as possible about its competitors. When you read articles about the market space, you will find out who are the leaders in that particular market and you will then find that company’s competitors. Having this knowledge could help you during the interview since you will be able to intelligently discuss why that company is better (more appealing?) than its competitors.

Attitude

Having the right attitude towards the interview and the job itself would go a long way in ensuring the position is yours.

Majority of successful sales professionals have a unique energy that you can feel. They command a presence and has the unique ability to hold an audience’s attention. Be energetic about the job and interview.
Be enthusiastic also, since it is said that enthusiasm is contagious. Because you have done your research about the company and its competitors, those tasked with interviewing you will appreciate your enthusiasm and interest about the position.

Preparation

The position you desire could be yours as long as you show up prepared.

Create a presentation by researching the products and services of the company. Be prepared to speak directly and intelligently about the company’s products/services, activities, industry and leadership.
Provide statistics and industry related facts in your presentation. This goes to show that, not only are you enthusiastic about the job, but you are also aware of the industry as a whole.
An undeniable fact about a position or career in sales is that, it is numbers-oriented. If you are asked about your ability to deal with numbers, simply provide them with production reports, past employment lists or a W-2 form of your yearly earnings.

By successfully performing these basic steps, your coveted sales job could be yours in just a handshake a broad smile and reassuringly confident attitude.

As a token of our appreciation the free ebook titled, Storytelling Marketing can be yours if you have any interest in the art of storytelling. All you have to do is download it here, enjoy the reading and learn how storytelling can be a powerful ally in any business or marketing pursuit!