If you are striving for a certain position in your Sales career, you need to know how to execute an outstanding interview, one that leaves a great impression on your potential employer.

Despite many of us having had a bunch of interviews in our lifetime, most people still don't know how to do this. Most just don't get the basics right and this can cost you achieving that next step up in your career.

As a Sales Recruiter, I witness simple mistakes that people make time and time again.

Here's 6 quick tips to make your Sales interview a smash hit…

1. Allow for Travel Time

The number of times I get calls from frenzied candidates who are unable to make their interview because their car broke down, or some other such reason beggars belief. Always prepare for the unexpected and allow plenty of time to get to the interview. This is interview 101 stuff.  Allow for unforeseen cataclysms and make plans for these. If your car does break down, you should be early enough that you can order an Uber and still get your interview like a true professional.

HOT TIP:  If your car does break down and you still get to the interview early, use the story as a way to connect with your employer and a way to highlight your strengths and ability to overcome challenges that come your way.

2. Know Your Employer

Prepare information about your potential employer and bring it with you to the interview. Print off a page from their website, or some other relevant information which shows to the interviewer your initiative, preparedness, organisation and interest in the company.

When I first started in recruitment, there were no websites you could visit to look up information about a company. With the internet however we have information so readily available online, there is no excuse for not bringing in at least some information you've gathered on the company.

Most candidates I deal with don't do this, but the ones who do are guaranteed to catch the eye of their interviewer.

3. Bring The Tools for the Job

The number of candidates who don't do this is gobsmacking. Bring writing material with which to jot down anything of value or anything which the interviewer asks you to make note of.  It shows you are interested in what your employer has to say and that you are passionate about using this information and learning as much as you can.

Not doing this runs the risk of looking unorganised should your interviewer ask you to write something down. Not a good first impression. Sometimes in interviews I ask candidates to write something down for me purely for this purpose; to separate the candidates who are truly prepared from the ones who are not.

4. Connect Your Value with an Employer's Needs

Be smart about your interview; know your potential employer and what they need. Know what they want and convince them that you fill those needs so well that they needn't even consider another candidate. Of course, they probably will, but your aim when you walk into that interview is to leave it feeling confident that you have achieved that exact result.

The best way to do this is to do your research. Don't be afraid of spending a fair amount of time researching your prospective employer's standing in the market, as well as the issues in the industry which are probably affecting them. Think about why they're advertising the position you're going for and what they want out of their ideal candidate.

5. Use Your Talent

Make use of your skills as a salesperson while you're in the interview. Be persuasive, charismatic, slightly funny even, but keep it in moderation, you don't want to be seen as the over confident car salesman.

Demonstrate your sales talent from day one; at the interview. Make clear to the interviewer that you know about the industry and the company's needs and that you are the best person for the job, then lay one them WHY and HOW you are with factual information of how you have done this in the past.

If you had the highest sales in x quarter of a year, tell them. In other words, in dollars and cents if that's what it comes down to, what are YOU worth to a company?  As a salesperson, you should already know this. Tell them.

6. Thank the Interviewer

After your interview, either the day of or the day after, ring your interviewer to thank them for the interview. Again, this is something that most people don't do but taking this action will make you stand out from the crowd.

If you can't get a hold of your interviewer, call the company and leave them a thank you message. So long as your word of your thanks gets back to them, you will have made a good follow-up impression on your interviewer.

Like I said, it's about getting the basics right. Many candidates however, continue to forget to follow these tips. Make use of this advice to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer and secure the job you really want.

Looking for your dream job in Sales? For a professional recruitment experience, call Tony, (03) 8606 0330