I graduated in May with a BA in Political Science from the University at Buffalo with a 3.1 and have about 5 years of sales experience with the company I currently work for. I started out selling electronics to consumers, eventually moved up to sell to new-build homes (so not like Best-Buy or anything), and finally did an internship with my current company where I helped outside sales executives find new leads. My role at my company will change to outside sales if I stick with them (but I want to move on).
I also have some unique characteristics:
[ul][li]I’ve done a field preceptor ship (ride-along) with Pfizer in 2005 (to see how outside sales works)[]I am within the top 10 in career sales for the company I work for (it’s inside sales)[]I’ve created an online business that earned roughly 10,000/year, and I recently sold it and the business model for about $15,000[/ul][/li]
This experience got me into some neat interviewing doors; I was flown all the way to Texas (I’m from Buffalo NY) for a Cisco Interview (I did not get the job), I’ve been flown to interview with Bausch & Lomb (did not get the job), and I recently was flown down to NYC for an interview with Abbott Laboratories (not sure if I made it to the next step yet).
Basically to get these opportunities to travel on the companies buck to interview I had to make it through a bunch of phone screens and local face-to-face interviews. I just cannot seem to close the deal and get the job.
Do you have any suggestions for good entry-level companies to sell (or should I do something else based on my above experience) or do you have any interviewing advice/etc?
It’s getting really discouraging; not many people I know get to travel like this to talk to employers but I’m becoming a professional interviewer
Did they give you any information about how they made the decision, or how close you were? Do you remember anything that didn’t feel right about any of the interviews?
A-B-C. A-always, B-be, C-closing. Always be closing! Always be closing! A-I-D-A. Attention, interest, decision, action. Attention – do I have your attention? Interest – are you interested? I know you are because it’s fuck or walk. You close or you hit the bricks! Decision – have you made your decision for Christ?!! And action. A-I-D-A; get out there!
Run us through your answers - I can’t speak for anyone else but I would think that a company that flies you out is fairly sure that you will be a fit, there must be something happening in the interview that is turning them off…
I tell them why I love selling in my current role and how I see it as taking what I do to the next level (highlighting how their product is more important than what I sell now).
What do you want to be in the next 5 years?
I tell them I am not a job hopper (I’ve worked for my company for 5 years)-I’d want to move up within the company.
I close them by telling them I know I would be a good match and ask for the next step.
I think, looking back, where I go wrong is my eye contact is not what it should be sometimes; I have been told that before…I just have a problem looking someone in the eye (even when I try I think I am looking to the side lol). But do you think that would stop someone from hiring someone they like otherwise? I think it’s something deeper but I could be wrong.
but yeah any suggestions on companies to apply to or types of jobs my experience might be right for would be great
Sometimes it’s the small things. Have you looked at your dress choices and had someone with fashion expertise evaluate how you look to potential employers? Do you come across as having a fire in the belly or are you too laid back?
my msn is