Instead of spending your summer vacation on the beach or just lazing around your house, why not look for a summer job instead? Not only can your summer gig earnings help with your college fund, but the work experience you get from it will also be a good addition to your resume.
There are thousands of summer jobs available to a college student, but if you are after a high-paying job, then apply for a sales representative position. The benefits that you will get from it are many. You’ll get to enjoy a decent salary, acquire new skills, and meet new people. However, before you send in your resume, you have to ask yourself if you have what it takes to be a good sales representative?
Listed below are the qualities that marketing companies look for in one.
Determination
Imagine your summer job is working at a trade show, where pop up displays help draw people to your booth, but converting interest to sales relies on your ability to close. One thing that marketing companies look for in a sales representative is determination. He should have the guts to pursue his objectives. Remember, in the line of work of a sales representative, you will get to meet different people with different personalities. Some will be approachable and friendly, but there will be more who are not. However, you have to find a way to show them that buying your product or availing of your company’s service is exactly what they need and that it is in their best interests to do so.
If you aren’t a determined person and you let these differences get through to you, then you’re going to do the company a disservice. You’ll be forsaking the company’s objective, and you’ll be passing up the opportunity of making a profit.
Empathy
Determination is a good thing, but it has to be tempered with empathy. Empathy in a sales representative is the ability to understand the customer, his needs and his wants. A good sales representative should be able to listen to the customer, and he should also be able to gain the trust and confidence of the potential customer. Only when the customer can trust the sales representative will a sale be generated.
Marketing companies need determined sales representatives to generate sales, but the company also needs them to know when to stop. If the sales representative thinks that his sales pitch is starting to annoy and irritate a potential customer, then he has to stop. It is better to lose a potential sale than to receive a complaint and a negative review.
Willingness to Learn
The job of a sales representative is hard. Not only will you have to go through trainings and seminars to perfect your skills, but you will also have to know how to deal with different people with different personalities. For this reason, you have to have a cooperative and patient nature. You should be willing to learn, and if you commit a mistake, you should be willing to accept your fault and rectify things.
Other qualities needed in a sales representative include a competitive nature, someone who’s informed not only about the his product and industry but the competition as well; flexible, someone who is a good strategist and can make quick decisions for the good of the company; and confident, someone who’s emotionally balanced, has a positive energy, and can get along with many people.
Citations:
- http://www.sxc.hu
Jennifer Dalenberg, a freelance content provider for Choose Vantage Marketing, writes articles on how to improve your sales skills and talents. She also writes about online marketing strategies and tips.