Congratulations! You made it past all the screening process, interviews and came up on top over the other candidates for the sales job opportunity. Before you accept the sales job offer, you should ensure that the conditions of your employment is in line with your needs. It is sometimes hard to step back when you worked so hard and to review the offer, but you deserve that opportunity and the tough part is over as you know that the company indeed does want you if there is an offer on the table. The ball is in your court now. This article will explore some of the common focus areas sales candidates should look at before signing the offer letter.
SALARY AND PAY
Money usually is on top of the list and with sales, the pay structure could be different with each sales job opportunity. You should clearly understand the commission structure and how and when you will be paid for commissions. Another inquiry you might want to ask is about a “guarantee” commission as you start to build your territory and business. Some companies provide this to give you time to build your business so that after the set amount of time, you will be producing and earning commissions based upon performance.
Understanding how you get paid and when is just as important as the how much part of your compensation and total compensation package. You can always negotiate here if needed. For example, if the company does not provide a “guarantee” period, you can always ask for a sign on bonus to help get you to where you need to be with your business. As a hiring sales manager, I was always given a budget to provide a sign on bonus if asked by the candidate. You will not always get what you ask for, but it doesn’t hurt to ask if you requests are reasonable. Do your homework and learn how to negotiate your salary and total compensation.
BENEFITS
Salary is only a single part of an entire package, so it is important to fully understand your options here that you and your family are qualified for and when you will have them. Many companies have a “benefits at a glance” information sheet and usually is covered during on-boarding, but it is important to understand and know what you will get as an employee and your eligibility.
Vacation, leave, company holidays are also benefits that you want to know and understand as companies treat these differently. This is another area you can also negotiate.
OTHER MISC SALES JOB OFFER ITEMS TO CONSIDER THAT IS NOT ON THE JOB OFFER
- Another benefit that comes with being an outside sales professional is possibly a car allowance and gas reimbursements. Some companies provide fleet vehicles. It is important to know and understand the details so you could plan your transportation.
- Sales tools and technology: Many companies provide their sales team with tools to do their job. This might not be on the job offer but having a company phone, internet, laptop etc. can be costly if you have to provide these yourself. Find out before you are left having to provide these for yourself.
- Expense Accounts: Will you have a company credit card or will you fund your own expenses. Learn about how your expenses get reimbursed and the type of budget you get to spend for traveling and business expenses. This really will dictate how often your travel and fund your sales activities.
These are only a few key items that you should look for as a sales candidate considering a sales job offer. Make a list of what you currently have in your current sales job to do a comparison or talk to other sales reps and see what they look for. Many times the sales manager could help you if you ask him/her if there is anything you should look into or find out prior to signing and accepting the job offer. Ask the questions and negotiate before signing and taking on the job.
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