Need Advice BADLY!!

Listen up! I've had ONE "sales" job in my life, working at LensCrafters on the floor. That AIN'T exactly the kind of high-powered sales most of you guys deal with, I'm sure.

Anyway, recently I took a plunge and applied for a sales job [as a recruiter for an excellent online university]. It pays about $40,000 (salary).

I have never done that kind of work before in my life. The job is that of an admissions advisor. They give you a list of folks who've already inquired about the school, and you go down the list contacting them to get them enrolled.

I passed two phone interviews [I have NO idea how!!!], and I'm going to have what I think is a final interview next week. I have absolutely NO idea of the sales process [NONE!], in terms of the psychology, etc. I saw some very nice stuff at this website concerning the art of listening, and that was very helpful.

But if anyone has any useful tips that I could use, I'd truly appreciate it. I've got to convince this guy's manager now, or that's what it looks like anyway.

I suppose that the first thing I should do is examine my own personality [something I really DO NOT want to do!] Anyway, "times is tough," as they say, and if I can find some tips here that will carry me through, then my wife MIGHT let me stay around for yet another 10 years!!

I am currently employed, but the dough's a little low. Oil and everything else is going up, as we all know. Gotta make a move! Help!

I just landed my first sales job after a long and onerous process. I think that there are several elements that you need to communicate to the hiring manager. I would call the first excitement or motivation. They will want to see that you have a positive outlook and a solid sense of your own abilities. Judging from your post I think you will be OK in the excitment part but you need to be confident. Research the employer as much as you can to give you a comfort level when speaking to different issues. Also, I would try to envision the reason why you feel this job is important in general and not just as a means to pay your bills. Just a few thoughts best of luck to you.

Ronchism, what level of sales experience does the job call for?

Hi Ron. I don't have time to respond, at the moment, because I am on my way out the door, but as luck would have it, I just applied to an online college and was contacted by someone who already has a job like the one you are applying for. We had a very positive experience with her. I will think about our experience with her and try to post some specific comments later on today based on our experience from the OTHER end of the buying process.

Thanks, eokee. Yes, the confidence thing is something I'll have to work on. And your perfectly right, of course, about finding other motivations other than paying bills. I'll most definitely read more about the company REAL fast tonight. Thank you very, very much for responding!! Your comments were helpful. Also, just having a place where I can talk to someone is important.

Thanks, Agent Smith!! The job calls for 2 years of sales experience, and a Bachelor's is preferred.

I talked to my friend who works there, and he told me that despite the posted preference of 2 years sales experience, they actually don't stick to that that hard. He says what they do is gather a number of prospective employees in a room, tell them how intense the work is, then announce, "Okay, we're going to leave the room now. Anyone here who feel that they won't be able to hack this job can leave now."

Well, my friend told me that the work is intense. But he told me that once you get hired, it becomes clear that they're not going to boot you out if you don't come up to snuff real fast. He says they really don't like to fire people, and they'll generally let an individual wash himself out.

I was told by the interviewer that the reason people wash out is because they assume that the job is a customer service job, and don't make the calls. He stressed that it's a sales job, and that you have to get on that phone and call.

Sorry for the length of this note. I type very fast, so I have a tendency to write too much. Thanks again!

Thanks, RainMaker!! What a coincidence!! I will definitely be looking forward to your observations of your experience with that recruiter. I think the ladies often have an advantage in sales [?].

Also, I truly wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of your educational goals!!

Thanks again!

Ron, once you've secured the position you desire my recommendation would be to choose a sales plan that you will stick to initially and then "work your plan."

Thanks, SalesGuy. As short as your note was, I must tell you that it hit hard--in a good way! It's sound simple, but it makes good sense: choose a method, and then WORK it. Stick with it.

I'm going to implement all this advice, as well as read whatever else is at this site. Thanks a bunch!

SalesGuy, can you elborate just a little. Remember, I'm totally new. By "sales plan," do you mean a script that I memorize, or an outline of some type that I use while talking to a prospective recruit?

	#1
RonChism	Need Advice BADLY!! Listen up! I've had ONE "sales" job in my life, working at LensCrafters on the floor. That AIN'T exactly the kind of high-powered sales most of you guys deal with, I'm sure. Anyway, recently I took a plunge and applied for a sales job [as a recruiter for an excellent online university]. It pays about $40,000 (salary). I have never done that kind of work before in my life. The job is that of an admissions advisor. They give you a list of folks who've already inquired about the school, and you go down the list contacting them to get them enrolled. I passed two phone interviews [I have NO idea how!!!], and I'm going to have what I think is a final interview next week. I have absolutely NO idea of the sales process [NONE!], in terms of the psychology, etc. I saw some very nice stuff at this website concerning the art of listening, and that was very helpful. But if anyone has any useful tips that I could use, I'd truly appreciate it. I've got to convince this guy's manager now, or that's what it looks like anyway. I suppose that the first thing I should do is examine my own personality [something I really DO NOT want to do!] Anyway, "times is tough," as they say, and if I can find some tips here that will carry me through, then my wife MIGHT let me stay around for yet another 10 years!! I am currently employed, but the dough's a little low. Oil and everything else is going up, as we all know. Gotta make a move! Help!

	#2
eokee	I just landed my first sales job after a long and onerous process. I think that there are several elements that you need to communicate to the hiring manager. I would call the first excitement or motivation. They will want to see that you have a positive outlook and a solid sense of your own abilities. Judging from your post I think you will be OK in the excitment part but you need to be confident. Research the employer as much as you can to give you a comfort level when speaking to different issues. Also, I would try to envision the reason why you feel this job is important in general and not just as a means to pay your bills. Just a few thoughts best of luck to you.

	#3
Agent Smith	Ronchism, what level of sales experience does the job call for?

	#4
RainMaker	Hi Ron. I don't have time to respond, at the moment, because I am on my way out the door, but as luck would have it, I just applied to an online college and was contacted by someone who already has a job like the one you are applying for. We had a very positive experience with her. I will think about our experience with her and try to post some specific comments later on today based on our experience from the OTHER end of the buying process.

	#5
RonChism	Thanks, eokee Thanks, eokee. Yes, the confidence thing is something I'll have to work on. And your perfectly right, of course, about finding other motivations other than paying bills. I'll most definitely read more about the company REAL fast tonight. Thank you very, very much for responding!! Your comments were helpful. Also, just having a place where I can talk to someone is important.

	#6
RonChism	Thanks, Agent Smith... Thanks, Agent Smith!! The job calls for 2 years of sales experience, and a Bachelor's is preferred. I talked to my friend who works there, and he told me that despite the posted preference of 2 years sales experience, they actually don't stick to that that hard. He says what they do is gather a number of prospective employees in a room, tell them how intense the work is, then announce, "Okay, we're going to leave the room now. Anyone here who feel that they won't be able to hack this job can leave now." Well, my friend told me that the work is intense. But he told me that once you get hired, it becomes clear that they're not going to boot you out if you don't come up to snuff real fast. He says they really don't like to fire people, and they'll generally let an individual wash himself out. I was told by the interviewer that the reason people wash out is because they assume that the job is a customer service job, and don't make the calls. He stressed that it's a sales job, and that you have to get on that phone and call. Sorry for the length of this note. I type very fast, so I have a tendency to write too much. Thanks again!

	#7
RonChism	Oh, that's cool, RainMaker Thanks, RainMaker!! What a coincidence!! I will definitely be looking forward to your observations of your experience with that recruiter. I think the ladies often have an advantage in sales [?]. Also, I truly wish you the best of luck in the pursuit of your educational goals!! Thanks again!

	#8
SalesGuy	Ron, once you've secured the position you desire my recommendation would be to choose a sales plan that you will stick to initially and then "work your plan."

	#9
RonChism	"Work My Plan" Thanks, SalesGuy. As short as your note was, I must tell you that it hit hard--in a good way! It's sound simple, but it makes good sense: choose a method, and then WORK it. Stick with it. I'm going to implement all this advice, as well as read whatever else is at this site. Thanks a bunch!

	#10
RonChism	SalesGuy, elaborate [if you have time] SalesGuy, can you elborate just a little. Remember, I'm totally new. By "sales plan," do you mean a script that I memorize, or an outline of some type that I use while talking to a prospective recruit?

Need Advice BADLY!!

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