When interviewing for a sales job that is paying six figures or more, your interviewing techniques have to be much better than they have for previous jobs. The main reason is quite simple and even more obvious: you have to make the interviewer feel that he or she is not going to have to watch over you, that you are going to provide enough return on investment and that you are going to be able to set a good example for the younger sales representatives in the position.
As a business development executive, you have a lot of weight on your shoulders and you can bet that the people whom you interview with are going to ensure that you can carry that weight prior to stepping in the door of that organization being branded as an official employee. Below, you will find some tips for interviewing at this level; some of these tips are going to seem basic while others are more advanced and, simply stated, fail to be utilized enough.
Good Body Language That Exudes Confidence
When interviewing for an executive level sales or marketing division, make sure that sit upright and face the interviewer instead of being at a 45 degree angle. Additionally, men, don't cross your legs. This makes the interviewer feel as if you are not taking the interview seriously and that you are a little too lax to truly get the job done. Another important thing during the question and answer process is that you don't lean back in your chair. Make sure you have very good posture, square up with the interviewing and look him or her in the eye. Lastly, don't choose the lowest seat in the room. As a matter of fact, do the complete opposite. Appear tall and confident.
Come Prepared With Questions
Upon interviewing for an executive level sales position, make sure that you come to the interview equipped with intelligent questions that are not only going to give you the information you need to help you get to the second round of interviews in a more sound manner, but are going to be questions that show the interviewer that you are truly interested in the job. Otherwise, you are bound to lose out to the other salesmen and saleswomen who are applying for the same job. Most sales executives upon going to interview for any high level business development job, have prepared questions prior to walking into the meeting(s)
Do Your Research on the Company and the People with Whom You're Interviewing
If you're interviewing for an executive level sales job, the people with whom you are interviewing with are probably going to have some background information on themselves via a quick Google search on their name. Prior to the interview, regardless of whether it is the first or final interview, dig as deeply as possible into the backgrounds of these individuals. The same is true for the company. Quick business searches can tell you how long the company has been around, who started the company, any financial troubles or gains the company has had in the past as well as a slew of other information that your competition may not think to look for. This will, in the least, put you at par with the applicants who are interviewing, but will most likely give you an advantage.
Ken Sundheim runs Sales">KAS Placement, a New York City headquartered sales and marketing executive search firm. Ken is 29 years old and on his free time, gives entrepreneurship and career lectures at major universities throughout the Northeast, has been published on over 70 blogs, is featured in multiple books and does marketing consulting for clients around the world.