You have probably heard the saying, “you only have chance for a good first impression”. If you are looking for a sales job or networking to explore possible sales career opportunities, it is important to handle communications with potential hiring sales managers with professionalism.
I have seen it many times from candidates who are referred in and take a more relaxed approach when communicating. Small things like misspelling will give a negative first impression to the hiring sales manager showing the lack of importance from the person sending the message. When sending a message to the hiring sales manager and using a smart phone, the message on the bottom stating, “please excuse the misspellings, sending via iPhone/Android etc.” is no excuse for reviewing before hitting send.
You also don’t want to come across as too cocky or trying to be cute in your messaging. Email messages can miss-communicate what you are trying to convey because, 1) you don’t know the hiring sales manager 2) the hiring manager doesn’t know you yet. Take extra care and keep professional when pursuing any job opportunities, especially ones that you were referred into. It is easy to take on the persona of a relaxed messaging that the person who referred you, but you are the one looking for the job, so keep it professional and portray yourself in the best possible light as possible. Whether it is a non-formal phone call, email, face to face conversation, always act as if you are interviewing, because you will be judged upon what the hiring sales manager sees.
You have one chance to make a good first impression, and it doesn’t stop there. Continue to stay professional with all communications and interactions you have with potential hiring managers and employees so that you do not send the wrong message of being unprofessional.
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