The competitive world of B2B sales can be tricky to navigate, especially for those looking to land their first or second sales rep position. In an increasingly tight marketplace, which demands experience even for entry-level jobs, how do you prove your merit, and how do you stand out among all the others trying to do the same?
You have options. For sales rep hopefuls looking to make their big break in the industry, it is advisable to peruse and apply for jobs on the Sales Talent Agency website, or, if you are a student, go through their Great Canadian Sales Competition, an annual competition that can put you into contact with potential employers. But before you do any of that, you need a resume, which is what this article will explore. Here are four important tips for sales rookie resumes.
- Be Honest
It might be tempting to inflate your achievements or fudge certain details. You might even believe that’s what is expected of you, to make the sale (in this case, to sell yourself) at all costs, even at the expense of honesty and ethics. That is not how it works in the interview process, and that is not how it works in the industry. Be honest and upfront about your record, even if it is nonexistent, and try to prove yourself in other ways.
- Emphasize Your Supporting Attributes
Speaking of proving yourself in other ways: in the absence of ample experience or a sales record, try to emphasise attributes that support your case. You may not have experience in sales, but perhaps you have experience in public speaking, cold calling, research, marketing, public relations, or lead generation – to name just a few common, transferrable skills. Anything that makes you less of a risk, and more of a potential success, is fair game on a resume.
- Pitch Yourself
As established, a resume is like a sales pitch, and one of the key components of a pitch is the value proposition. A value proposition is some service or feature that makes you attractive to a customer or client (in this case, the interviewer), in a unique way. It begins by understanding an issue or problem your customer has, and then positioning yourself as the way to solve it. Now, it would be a might presumptuous of you to go detailing your potential employer’s problems, but you can research their sales department and pitch them on how you can offer value to their current model.
- List Numbers
If you have any results-based experience, list it. Even if it seems unimpressive, at the very least it will show that you are serious about gaining a foothold in sales. Now, the first tip on this list still applies, of course: be upfront with the nature of the achievement, i.e. whether those results were achieved as part of a team or partnership, etc.
As intimidating as the B2B sales world can be when you are first starting out, a little self-confidence, a lot of persistence, and a willingness to remain curious are going to go a long way. Use whatever you have to your advantage, and sell yourself as a good bet.
