{"id":1276,"date":"2016-09-20T13:02:06","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T17:02:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.comblog\/didnt-get-sales-job\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T12:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T16:26:12","slug":"didnt-get-sales-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/didnt-get-sales-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Didn&#8217;t Get the Sales Job? Here Are 10 Reasons Why"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-14376\" src=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Optimized-iStock_000031844570_Small-1260x840.jpg?strip=all\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Optimized-iStock_000031844570_Small-1260x840.jpg?strip=all 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1_Optimized-iStock_000031844570_Small-1260x840-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Optimized-iStock_000031844570_Small-1260x840-500x333.jpg 500w\" alt=\"optimized-istock_000031844570_small-1260x840\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/><\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\">In today\u2019s hyper-competitive sales hiring landscape, the interview process can quickly become a daunting and drawn out process. Candidates are required to complete\u00a0multiple interviews, behavioral assessments, and \u00a0psychometric testing. While it\u2019s frustrating when you don\u2019t get the sales job, understanding\u00a0why you didn\u2019t is your path to future\u00a0success. Key Takeaways? Know your numbers, come prepared, and communicate with your references.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Here are the\u00a0top ten reasons why you didn\u2019t get the sales job, and what you can\u00a0do about it:<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>1. You didn\u2019t know your numbers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In sales, numbers reign supreme. Simply put, it\u2019s rarely\u00a0possible to ace an interview without knowing the specifics of your performance metrics. T<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">op sellers know their performance metrics, so b<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e specific in your knowledge. Before attending your next interview, ensure you are able to answer the following questions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What was your quota?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much of your quota was new sales versus repeat business?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What was the average deal size?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much of your quota was made up of up-sells?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How long was your average sales cycle?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many leads were given to you versus hunted?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 What percentage of your targets did you achieve in the last year<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>2. You failed to come prepared<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>We live in a job market where each open corporate position is met with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.glassdoor.com\/blog\/50-hr-recruiting-stats-make-think\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">250 resumes on average.<\/a> Hiring managers are too pressed for time to allow for second chances if you fail to come prepared. It becomes clear to an interviewer when a candidate doesn\u2019t know the product, market, industry, or challenges facing an organization. Often, they will be quick to cease communication with a candidate who has failed to commit at the most basic level of spending time to know the company.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>The best sales candidates research the history, structure, and competitors of a given company. They go deeper by understanding the corporate strategy, key markets, ideal customer base, and corporate growth targets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Come prepared with facts, statistics, or your own insights\u00a0on how the company can surpass\u00a0their sales goals and you will demonstrate your commitment to the role.<\/p>\n<h3><b>3. You weren\u2019t the right cultural fit<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>While skills and experience are the first things to be analyzed in an interview process, it\u2019s also important that the organization deems you a good fit for the company culturally. Generally, employers can judge whether or not a salesperson will be a cultural fit by asking you about your personal values and communication style, your\u00a0understanding of the company\u2019s values, and how you approach conflict, coaching, and feedback.<\/p>\n<p>It can be hard to determine whether or not a candidate will be a good fit with a potential organization solely through the interview process, but employers need to ultimately determine if a candidate will integrate well with the current employees. While it\u2019s frustrating\u00a0to lose out on a sales job due to lack of cultural fit, studies have shown that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/erikaandersen\/2012\/04\/25\/the-most-important-reason-people-fail-in-a-new-job\/#36a5e5733a2e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">89% of hiring failures<\/a> are due to cultural fit.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more about how to determine if you will be\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"\/determine-company-culture-sales-career\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a good cultural fit here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. You didn\u2019t use your resume as a selling tool<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Your resume should be tailored to the specific skills, experience, and selling environment of each and every job you apply for.<\/strong> Because employers are only interested in hiring A players, you do not have the luxury of coming across as an \u201calmost perfect\u201d fit. You need to display from the first point of contact why you are an exact match for the position available, how your selling history matches this, and how your sales performance makes you a \u201ccan\u2019t miss\u201d candidate.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"\/maximize-sales-resume-get-job\/\">Read here<\/a>\u00a0for the best tips on how to construct a standout resume employers can\u2019t say no to.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><b>Your cover letter was not targeted for the position<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Much like a resume needs to be tailored for each sales role you apply for, your cover letter needs to add depth and texture to the basic information of your resume. <strong>Use your\u00a0cover letter to tell a compelling story about your work experience.<\/strong> Instead of simply describing how you are a \u201cmotivated, driven, or ambitious individual,\u201d give a succinct example about a time when you displayed these characteristics.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cover letter is\u00a0used as a way to evaluate a candidates ability to communicate. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The best letters address the employer\u2019s requirements in the position they are hiring for. Highlight <strong>key sales accomplishments, awards\/accolades, sales methodology training, and industry experience. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>6.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><b>Another candidate was more qualified<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, this is the reality of any job candidacy. Ask the hiring manager for the specific reasons why another candidate was\u00a0considered a more qualified candidate. It will ultimately aid your job search going forward and provide you insight into what skills and experiences you need to build upon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the most common reasons another candidate attains a sales job candidacy are because they have:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More experience selling in the required verticals<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Built out a larger book of business<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A longer proven track record of success<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">More experience in a hunting role\/developing new business<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sold into the C-Suite <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>7.<\/b> <b>You lacked professionalism when speaking about past employers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Owning responsibility for your performance is a quality top salespeople fully embrace. \u00a0While it is possible that your departure from a previous company was under less than ideal circumstances, this should not factor into how you speak about a previous employer in an interview. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the reason for separation between you and your last employer was due to personal differences or conflict, ensure you speak only to professional differences in the interview. Refrain from speaking badly about a former boss. Maintain a respectful demeanor and keep it professional. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep emotions out of any conversations regarding former employers, and always guide the conversation back to what you learned from the experience.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><b>8. You failed to differentiate your value<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As we have explained, <\/span><a href=\"\/why-great-candidates-get-rejected\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">top performing salespeople are different.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The key to value differentiation in the interview process is to display your value early, and display it often. Above and beyond knowing your numbers and demonstrating a successful track record, demonstrate your ability to effectively communicate and build rapport. This is a competency employers need to see in their sales force. From the first point of contact, exhibiting your people skills and ability to establish relationships will gain any employer\u2019s attention. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>9. You didn\u2019t leverage your network properly<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s common knowledge that networking often leads to a job interview. In fact, hiring expert Lou Adler conducted a study which\u00a0found that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/new-survey-reveals-85-all-jobs-filled-via-networking-lou-adler\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">well over half of sales roles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are filled through networking efforts. Candidates are successful at using networks to learn about\u00a0positions, but\u00a0overlook attaining information that will provide\u00a0an edge in the interview process. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Think through what you would like to know <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">about the culture of the sales team:\u00a0<\/span>the scope and expectations of the job, sales methodologies used, unique aspects of the interview process, or any specific requirements the sales team has.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Privately reach out to your professional networks, such as LinkedIn, and you will find\u00a0the information you need. Be specific rather than general in your questions. You are <strong>getting information<\/strong>, not asking how to get the job.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>10. Your references didn\u2019t check out<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a CareerBuilder survey, 62% of employers said that when contacting\u00a0a reference, the reference didn\u2019t have favorable\u00a0things to say about the candidate. This is significant because\u00a0prior to\u00a0an offer of employment, reference checks are often the last step in the interview process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure you have spoken to each reference in advance. Instead of hoping they will provide positive information on your behalf, <strong>ask them if they would recommend you to a potential employer<\/strong>. This is a clear way to determine if they will provide\u00a0a positive reference. Inform your references that they should expect a call from your prospective employer. Remind them of any past accomplishments you had with them. Prepare<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0them to speak to how you performed in your role with them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Learn\u00a0from your experience and\u00a0advance your career<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rejection at some point of your hiring experience is to be expected given\u00a0the competitive landscape of the sales workforce. While some aspects of job attainment are out of your control, understanding <em>why<\/em> you didn\u2019t get the sales job will allow you to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. P<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ay attention to the details of your resume and cover letter, be proactive in your communication with references, and know your numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Looking for more insight on your next sales interview?\u00a0<a href=\"\/ace-next-sales-interview\/\">Read this and ace it.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>relpost-thumb-wrapper<\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-wrapper\"><!-- filter-class --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-thumb-container\">\n<h3>Related posts<\/h3>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-container\">\n<div class=\"relpost-custom-block-single\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 215px;\">\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-image\" style=\"background: transparent url('https:\/\/g9d6c5a5.rocketcdn.me\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/dont-make-these-mistakes-when-hiring-150x150.png') no-repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 150px; height: 150px;\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"the entrepreneurial spirited candidate is the lone wolf to look out peak sales blog\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"relpost-block-single-text\" style=\"font-family: ProximaNova, sans-serif; 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;  font-size: 15px; color: #6eba57;\">Outside Salespeople: Our Quick-Start Guide to Hiring<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- close relpost-block-container --><\/p>\n<div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- close filter class --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>close relpost-thumb-wrapper<\/p>\n<div class=\"abh_box abh_box_down abh_box_business\">\n<ul class=\"abh_tabs\">\n<li class=\"abh_about abh_active\"><a href=\"#abh_about\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"abh_posts\"><a href=\"#abh_posts\">Latest Posts<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"abh_tab_content\">\n<section class=\"vcard abh_about_tab abh_tab\" style=\"display: block;\">\n<div class=\"abh_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" src=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1_ccd08f1de76ba2f1cf820b18e69dc158s80ampdmmamprg.jpg?strip=all\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1_ccd08f1de76ba2f1cf820b18e69dc158s160ampdmmamprg.jpg 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_social\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_text\">\n<h3 class=\"fn name\"><a class=\"url\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/author\/ebebbtcorp-com\/\">Eliot Burdett<\/a><\/h3>\n<div class=\"abh_job\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"description note abh_description\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"abh_posts_tab abh_tab\">\n<div class=\"abh_image\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"avatar avatar-80 photo\" src=\"https:\/\/media.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1_ccd08f1de76ba2f1cf820b18e69dc158s80ampdmmamprg.jpg?strip=all\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1_ccd08f1de76ba2f1cf820b18e69dc158s160ampdmmamprg.jpg 2x\" alt=\"\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_social\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"abh_text\">\n<h4>Latest posts by Eliot Burdett <span class=\"abh_allposts\">(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/author\/ebebbtcorp-com\/\">see all<\/a>)<\/span><\/h4>\n<div class=\"abh_description note\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/sales-follow-up-statistics\/\">31 Must-Know Sales Follow-Up Statistics for 2024 Success<\/a> &#8211; December 21, 2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/7-success-characteristics-that-define-top-performers\/\">7 Success Characteristics That Define Top Performers<\/a> &#8211; December 19, 2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/5-reasons-your-top-employees-quit-stop-doing-this-to-stop-them-leaving\/\">5 Reasons Your Top Employees Quit (Stop Doing This to Stop Them Leaving)<\/a> &#8211; December 14, 2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In today\u2019s hyper-competitive sales hiring landscape, the interview process can quickly become a daunting and drawn out process. Candidates are required to complete\u00a0multiple interviews, behavioral assessments, and \u00a0psychometric testing. While it\u2019s frustrating when you don\u2019t get the sales job, understanding\u00a0why you didn\u2019t is your path to future\u00a0success. Key Takeaways? Know your numbers, come prepared, and<\/p>\n<div><a class=\"text-primary mt-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/blog\/didnt-get-sales-job\/\">&#8230;continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Didn&#8217;t Get the Sales Job? Here Are 10 Reasons Why&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"limit_modified_date":"","last_modified_date":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1276","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sales-career"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1276"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1276"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1276\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1276"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1276"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.peaksalesrecruiting.com\/wp-json\/\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1276"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}