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7 Cold Calling Secrets Even The Sales Gurus Don't Know
More and more e-mails are arriving in my in-box from people who hate cold calling. Here's what they're saying: - "Cold calling terrifies me." - "The phone feels like a 10,000-pound weight." - "Every time I have to make a cold call, I...
Internet Home Business :: 7 Ways To Choose The Right One For You
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Let The Market Choose Your Price?
Setting the correct price is hard for any on-line business, and there are plenty courses and manuals dedicated to this delicate subject. You want to have a price that will make you a profit, obviously. But you also want to have happy customers...
Working From Home Is A Family Affair
The level and quality of family input and support are often ignored when starting a business. Even with money and inventive ideas, family backing and emotional support are primary ingredients to success. This article provides questions which must be...
Yesterday's Hero
Wonder Woman makes it looks so easy. She gets up every morning, fights the good fight, calls it a day, and starts the whole process all over again. This is the way most of us begin our workday. We work hard, accomplish lots, and get up in the...
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So, Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself
"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" is the most frequently asked
interview question. It's a question that most interviewees expect and the
one they have the most difficulty answering. Though one could answer this
open-ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering this
question or any other interview question is to offer a response that
supports your career objective. This means that you shouldn't respond with
comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities. Trust
me, interviewers aren't interested.
Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your
candidacy. Every question they ask is used to differentiate your skills,
experience, and personality with that of other candidates. They want to
determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the organization's
mission and goals.
If answered with care, your response to the question, "So, why don't you
tell me about yourself?" could compliment the interviewers needs as well
as support your agenda. This is a question you should be prepared to
answer as opposed to attempting to "wing it".
Follow the four easy steps outlined below to ensure your response will
grab the interviewers attention.
1. Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that are key to
the open position.
Sample introduction: During my 10 years' of experience as a sales manager,
I have mastered the ability to coach, train, and motivate sales teams into
reaching corporate goals.
2. Provide a career summary of your most recent work history. Your
career summary is the "meat" of your response, so it must support your job
objective and it must be compelling. Keep your response limited to your
current experience. Don't go back more than 10 years.
Sample career summary: Most recently, at The Widget Corporation, I was
challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in
sales in the Northeastern
region. Using strategies that have worked in the
past, I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on cultivating
new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. The results were
tremendous. Within six months my sales team and I were able to revitalize
the territory and boost sales by 65%.
3. Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization. Don't
assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is
your job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how
your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to
fill.
Sample tie-in: Because of my proven experience in leading sales teams,
Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding your need for a sales
manager. Craig filled me in on the challenges your sales department is
facing.
4. Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you gain control
of the interview. Don't ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure
that the question will engage the interviewer in a conversation. Doing so
will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.
Sample question: What strategies are currently underway to increase sales
and morale within the sales department?
There you have it - a response that meets the needs of the interviewer AND
supports your agenda.
When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, "So, tell me about
yourself?" isn't overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively
gives you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and
qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run
with it!
About the Author
Linda Matias is an Internationally Certified Job and Career Transition Coach and a Certified Employment Interview Professional. She specializes in career coaching, resume development, and interview and job search training. Visit her website at www.careerstrides.com or email her at careerstrides@bigfoot.com.
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