<p>I have no sales experience? Does this limit me from getting an interview?</p>
<p>I assume you are applying for sales jobs and have no prior sales experience.</p>
<p>To answer your question, it depends on what the job description says. Let me explain how this job application/interview business works. In a big company, most likely, your application will land in the hands of the HR department, or possibly an otiside contracted service that does initial pre-screening of all applications. If that is the case, your application will be compared to the job description, perhaps with the use of a computer program, and if the key parameters do not match, it will end up in the rejected pile (if the description says “two or more years of prior sales experience is a plus”, you are most likely out of luck here). The hiring manager will see only the “cream of the crop” pre-selected by their HR. If the job description does say that prior sales experience is not needed, you have a shot at the job if the rest of the application matches their requirements. The trick which works sometimes is to find out who the hiring manager really is, and contact him/her directly. Good luck!</p>
<p>No with companies recruiting sales trainees out of college.</p>
<p>Companies recruiting sales trainees are looking for outgoing, smart, articulate folks. Is it inside or outside sales? Inside you will be on the phone all the time. Outside you will be meeting people. </p>
<p>You want your application to demonstrate good grades, good outgoing activities, and self starting capability. Did you do any undergrad research? Major studies? etc. Relate any of your classes to the company, industry or business in general when you apply. </p>
<p>Sales can be very rewarding but you need to be able to be outgoing, self motivated and able to take rejection. It is however the path taken by most of the executives in companies where I have worked. If that sounds like something that is appealing go for it and good luck.</p>
<p>I think this might depend on the industry you’re considering, too. My d knew she wanted to work in pharmaceutical sales, but didn’t decide this until after she graduated from college, so she couldn’t take advantage of any on-campus interviews/recruiting at that point. She did have extensive retail experience with great references, which was of no help whatever in getting anyone in the pharma industry to consider her. So she took a job as a store manager for 9 months (growing retailer with a program to hire new grads as full-fledged managers), which gave her the experience she needed to get an interview in office supply sales. She interviews really well, so was hired and established herself as a sales rep for a year. She hated the field and the company, but knew she was building her resume.</p>
<p>Happy ending: after just over a year selling copiers, she was hired at a great small pharma company. She was too young to have the 2 years experience required, but a supportive recruiter pushed her through to an interview and that, with her bachelor’s degree in Bio from a well-respected school, was what she needed. And so far (more than a year later), so good.</p>
<p>Sorry to be long-winded this AM. I guess I’m saying that you may not have what the HR folks are looking for in your chosen field, but you can get it in another industry and then make the jump.</p>