Trainee Sales Exec Interview Advice
Discussion
Hi all...
I've got an assessment day on Friday for VW, for a trainee sales exec position in my local area. Just wanted to know if anybody can help out with some advice as I really want the job. I've got no prior experience in sales other than my part time job as a sales assistant. I had a lengthy telephone interview with the sales manager and all seemed promising.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Josh
I've got an assessment day on Friday for VW, for a trainee sales exec position in my local area. Just wanted to know if anybody can help out with some advice as I really want the job. I've got no prior experience in sales other than my part time job as a sales assistant. I had a lengthy telephone interview with the sales manager and all seemed promising.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Josh
Learn about some of the new VW products coming up soon, always useful. Get some figures on VW sales from last couple of years as well, and as said before, people buy from people, so just be yourself.....if your trying too hard to impress, they'll see straight through you.
All the best, hope all goes well
All the best, hope all goes well
I'll answer this assuming that this a genuine thread....
In my experience the best car salesmen have never sold cars before. You do need to have the basic attributes of a good salesman though - a thick skin, confidence, intelligence, enthusiasm, personality and a good work ethic. If you have those things and you are genuinely interested in cars you can and should succeed.
Most of the people they interview will be lacking at least one of the above. For the interview dress well, have questions, educate yourself about the product and their company, be confident without being a smart arse and show them that you really want the job.
Good luck.
In my experience the best car salesmen have never sold cars before. You do need to have the basic attributes of a good salesman though - a thick skin, confidence, intelligence, enthusiasm, personality and a good work ethic. If you have those things and you are genuinely interested in cars you can and should succeed.
Most of the people they interview will be lacking at least one of the above. For the interview dress well, have questions, educate yourself about the product and their company, be confident without being a smart arse and show them that you really want the job.
Good luck.
delboy735 said:
Learn about some of the new VW products coming up soon, always useful. Get some figures on VW sales from last couple of years as well,
Probably pointless - the job will have very little to do with selling the cars, they sell themselves. It's about selling finance, paint protection and other high profit add-ons.andy-xr said:
Seriously just be yourself. Getting the job because you are 'acting' will be sniffed out fast by customers and managers later. I imagine all the sales interviews are those 'challenges to sell and persuade' team based ones. If you have natural charisma to make customers feel good, are upfront with them and chase sales with no hard sell it goes a long way. Best sales person I met made *everyone* feel like a friend when they walked in. Even the c***s.
t attitude.iloveboost said:
That movie gets a lot of hype I don't think it lives up to. Best thing about it is Jack Lemmon, who reminds me of Bryan Cranston (and the other way around).
I think anyone who takes it as gospel (and I've had a boss in recruitment who did, and who used to drag out a projector to remind sales staff) deserves a bash over the head with the cringe slipper. Sadly though, in certain sales sectors that attitude is still there. For the OP - it's probably not the job you'll retire from, if there's an honest day's work there for the money then I'm sure you'll put what you need to towards it. Asking questions such as 'do you think I can do the job' is a nice way to close off the interview, they might give you a nod and a smile for asking for it openly, shows you're not afraid to get in there.
Sheepshanks said:
delboy735 said:
Learn about some of the new VW products coming up soon, always useful. Get some figures on VW sales from last couple of years as well,
Probably pointless - the job will have very little to do with selling the cars, they sell themselves. It's about selling finance, paint protection and other high profit add-ons.Thanks everybody for the advice. Some points taken on board.
Has anyone had an interview recently or knows what they go like? On the email I was sent after the tele interview it said they were collecting all the candidates together for the said assessment day. Does anybody know if it will be a group based interview or a one to one? They've also asked me to prepare a presentation to be delivered to all present in the room from a recent mystery shop that I've done on a competitor main dealer that's not part of the VW group.
Anybody know what there asking for here? Or is it simply my opinion on there customer experience and how I was treated?
Cheers again all
Josh
Has anyone had an interview recently or knows what they go like? On the email I was sent after the tele interview it said they were collecting all the candidates together for the said assessment day. Does anybody know if it will be a group based interview or a one to one? They've also asked me to prepare a presentation to be delivered to all present in the room from a recent mystery shop that I've done on a competitor main dealer that's not part of the VW group.
Anybody know what there asking for here? Or is it simply my opinion on there customer experience and how I was treated?
Cheers again all
Josh
Absolutely no need to gen up on facts and figures - knowledge can be acquired
Attitude is all important
Do not state that you want to sell cars because you love them
Understanding / appreciating that there is a sales process is good
FFB - feature, function, benefit. What is it, what does it do, what benefit does it provide the customer with
Yes, people buy from people but many sales peoples failings are a failure to talk and listen in direct proportion to the number of ears and mouths they have, failure to actually ask for the business and an unwillingness to accept hat every customer is unique
I used to run assessment centres for VW so I could go on and on.
Be yourself, don't be afraid to say that you don't know the answer to a question
Best of luck
Attitude is all important
Do not state that you want to sell cars because you love them
Understanding / appreciating that there is a sales process is good
FFB - feature, function, benefit. What is it, what does it do, what benefit does it provide the customer with
Yes, people buy from people but many sales peoples failings are a failure to talk and listen in direct proportion to the number of ears and mouths they have, failure to actually ask for the business and an unwillingness to accept hat every customer is unique
I used to run assessment centres for VW so I could go on and on.
Be yourself, don't be afraid to say that you don't know the answer to a question
Best of luck
Andy665 said:
Yes, people buy from people but many sales peoples failings are a failure to talk and listen in direct proportion to the number of ears and mouths they have, failure to actually ask for the business and an unwillingness to accept that every customer is unique
That's the best advice for would be salespeople.....lots of people believe that being able to talk is a priority, it isn't, the quote above is. Assessment days are similar at most large companies. I've been to days at a couple and both have been OK.
The company will normally start with a presentation with some valuable information in you can use for your tasks throughout the day.
There will be at least one team task. You want to make sure your voice is heard during this without being too loud and rude.
There may well be a group discussion. Again, make an effort to stand out and make some good points so you are noticed and remembered.
The interview is normally at the end of the day, during which you will no doubt gather some questions to ask them and be more confident in answering anything they ask you.
Remember, this is a two-way process. You need to make sure they are right for you, not just that you are for them!! Yes you may be very keen for the job, but they understand they need people like you too. So as silly as it sounds, try and enjoy it and don't be intimidated.
I won't say good luck because it doesn't exist. Hope all goes well.
The company will normally start with a presentation with some valuable information in you can use for your tasks throughout the day.
There will be at least one team task. You want to make sure your voice is heard during this without being too loud and rude.
There may well be a group discussion. Again, make an effort to stand out and make some good points so you are noticed and remembered.
The interview is normally at the end of the day, during which you will no doubt gather some questions to ask them and be more confident in answering anything they ask you.
Remember, this is a two-way process. You need to make sure they are right for you, not just that you are for them!! Yes you may be very keen for the job, but they understand they need people like you too. So as silly as it sounds, try and enjoy it and don't be intimidated.
I won't say good luck because it doesn't exist. Hope all goes well.
Josh,
I worked for Ford as a trainee sales exec for a short while and a previous poster was absolutely spot on in what he said. You are jumping into a pool of sharks that aren't going to give you an easy time and let you 'gain experience' on customers that could potentially be earning them money. We all used to stand at the windows like hawks, particularly on slow days where any customer at all was a bonus. Cold calling was a regular thing I'm afraid, being given lists of previous customers and following them up, informing them of sales and deals available generally being a nuisance.
If you've got the right attitude and a truckload of confidence then go for it, you can be earning a small fortune straight away at a young age. It really wasn't the industry for me unfortunately and stressed me out to the point that I couldn't wait to leave, the only plus point being that you'll get to drive some half decent cars! A good friend of mine still works as a training manager at the company and tells me they have had tens and tens of trainees come and go, so it's really not an industry that's for everyone.
As for the interview process mine was quite simple, I was asked the standard questions, told what I was expected of, and then asked to sell the nearest item to them at hand, that being a calculator. Show its good points and promote them, you get the idea, refer to your previous experience and try not to let the nerves get to you!
I worked for Ford as a trainee sales exec for a short while and a previous poster was absolutely spot on in what he said. You are jumping into a pool of sharks that aren't going to give you an easy time and let you 'gain experience' on customers that could potentially be earning them money. We all used to stand at the windows like hawks, particularly on slow days where any customer at all was a bonus. Cold calling was a regular thing I'm afraid, being given lists of previous customers and following them up, informing them of sales and deals available generally being a nuisance.
If you've got the right attitude and a truckload of confidence then go for it, you can be earning a small fortune straight away at a young age. It really wasn't the industry for me unfortunately and stressed me out to the point that I couldn't wait to leave, the only plus point being that you'll get to drive some half decent cars! A good friend of mine still works as a training manager at the company and tells me they have had tens and tens of trainees come and go, so it's really not an industry that's for everyone.
As for the interview process mine was quite simple, I was asked the standard questions, told what I was expected of, and then asked to sell the nearest item to them at hand, that being a calculator. Show its good points and promote them, you get the idea, refer to your previous experience and try not to let the nerves get to you!
iloveboost said:
That movie gets a lot of hype I don't think it lives up to. Best thing about it is Jack Lemmon, who reminds me of Bryan Cranston (and the other way around). Anyway back on topic:
Seriously just be yourself. Getting the job because you are 'acting' will be sniffed out fast by customers and managers later. I imagine all the sales interviews are those 'challenges to sell and persuade' team based ones. If you have natural charisma to make customers feel good, are upfront with them and chase sales with no hard sell it goes a long way. Best sales person I met made *everyone* feel like a friend when they walked in. Even the c***s.
Put that coffee DOWN!!Seriously just be yourself. Getting the job because you are 'acting' will be sniffed out fast by customers and managers later. I imagine all the sales interviews are those 'challenges to sell and persuade' team based ones. If you have natural charisma to make customers feel good, are upfront with them and chase sales with no hard sell it goes a long way. Best sales person I met made *everyone* feel like a friend when they walked in. Even the c***s.
Coffee is for closers.
I LOVE that film, definitely one of my faves.
Used to model myself on the Baldwin charecter and used a lot of the lines with my teams.
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