Evening Gents (and ladies), maybe a bit late posting this, but I have a few concerns about a 2nd interview that I have tomorrow (all day trial day, me + one other person).

It's for a role I found advertised on the Jobcentre Plus Website, and it's for something that I have many many years of experience of, it consists of working for a well known producer of building equipment (block paving, architectural hardware etc). Cold calling Surveyors, estimators, architects and other main contractors, to re-introduce the products and aim to get them spec'ed onto projects.

I was doing this exact same thing for another company for about 5 years, 4 or 5 years ago. The company have set targets for individuals of 2 f2f (face to face) appoinmtents made a day for their sales reps. At my first interview I asked how successful their current telemarketers were and was told that they took someone on back in November and he is now getting 1 appointment a day *they claim to be happy with his progress*. The last time I did this kind of work I was making in excess of 14 appointments per week, and in one day once made 6 appointments with 6 different architects in 6 completed calls (6 calls in a row). Clearly I am damn good at my job (if not a tad modest)
The salary being offered is 16k - 20k doe and when I was asked what I was looking for, I said £21k + commisson (which is standard). A good bonus scheme is offerend apparently, where you are apparently ale to earn enough to pay for a holiday.....

Have I priced myself out of the market? Am I TOO good for this role?

What would you do if you were recruiting, risk taking on a "newbie" for peanuts, or look at paying a little extra for a better calibre of person??

I appreciate a lot could depend on budgets etc, but I am interested in your opinions

Rich

I've been in this situation.

As an out-of-work accountant I had to apply for 'office clerk' positions, knowing I could easily do the job. Even though I 'toned down' my CV and took off a lot of things that I'd learnt & had become responsible for, and took a chunk off my final salary, interviewers still took the line that "You're too experienced" and "You'll leave as soon as something better comes along". By far and away the worst comment I used to get was "You've been working in an office for 20 years, and you haven't managed to improve yourself or take on any responsibilities."

Sadly it's a sign of the times that people have to aim below their level. Often companies want some-one that hasn't got loads of experience as they fear that prospective candidates will be stuck in their own way of doing things and want some-one a bit less experienced so they can be moulded into the company way of doing things.

My advice is to stick out for what you think you're worth. Your CV will obviously say your previous salary, and it needs to be consistent with your skills/qualifications/experience. If you're worth your salary, then it's up to the company if they want to pay a little bit more to get some-one who can do the job or pay peanuts and get a monkey.

Good luck.

Most positions will have a grade and scale allocated to it which will stipulate the salary and there is often little leeway to adjust these upwards to accommodate an above average candidate. That said I would rather recruit someone above the job spec as I will then have somebody in place for a higher spec role should it become available. If they leave for a better job elsewhere then at least I will have the current work done to a higher than normal standard.

Seeing as this is Sales, then it is different to grades, bands etc.

On the basis that they can supply the extra demand that you could well bring to the Company, then they will\should pay you accordingly. You may have to accept a compromise on salary (only £1k out) and haggle for the Commission, as they want to hold it over for a Bonus?

Tbh, I may be over analysising it anyway, I guess all I can do is turn up and see what happens. It's clear that I am the most experienced person for the role (I have been told so)

Probably too late to advise now but it is always best to haggle over your salary once they decide they want you.

If you push it in the interview then they will convince themselves they want the other guy. Let them convince themselves they want you and then once they have made their mind up and offered you the job just say you want more and they are likely to up the offer - maybe only a bit but...

As a side question, is it now expected to put your previous salary(s) on your CV? I've not done a CV for a few years and don't remember that being the case back then?

Too late to be of any use - but hope it went well, good luck.

For what it's worth (and not an expert in sales) I would have advised a careful approach an "I know I can help the business grow" could be construed as arrogant but a "I feel I've a lot to give and would enjoy sharing my experiences" may come over more positively.

Got back from said interview about an hour ago.

The woman carrying out the interview kept thanking me for telling her things about lead generation that she didn't know! At one point I actually apologised and hoped I wasn't coming across as arrogant / cocky, she claimed I wasn't and that she was enjoying it! I then backed it all up by making some calls for them to get some new business in....

I'll find out on Monday if I get the job or not. I am quietly confident it's going my way when I compare myself with the other people that were shortlisted for 2nd interview. But am wary of counting my chickens before they have hatched etc.

Am kicking myself that I didn't claim to be on a higher salary at 1st interview as I certainly could command one....... future negotiations may be on the cards.

Thanks for the words gents.

R

It's something I have never done and haven't seen on any CV's before, maybe it's only in specific sectors / industries?

Sounds to me like the proof of the business' ambition will be if they take you on or not - it's their loss if they don't with what you can offer them. If they don't take you on it proves it's not the right place for someone of your calibre.

Very interesting comment Wilbert, one that makes perfect sense. Thanks.

...unless you have misunderestimated the (perceived?) calibre of the other candidates

1 of the "other candidates" took 1.5 hours to complete a test that I finished in 10 minutes. (all based on searching by use of filters in excel).

And the both of the other candidates previous experience in sales has been handling incoming calls for mobile phone companies. A little different than pro-actively calling estimators etc to get "jobs".

I feel that I may be talking my self up to much here and could fall heavily on my arse next week when I get told I haven't got it. For that puprose I will shut up until Monday

Congrats.

Get ready for requests for cheap paving etc................

You got the job?

Well done mate!

I'm out of work from 31st March

In all fairness it really should have been a forgone conclusion, but I was a little wary of counting my fertilised eggs....

Got offered the job this afternoon, slightly different than what was advertised due to my mass amount of experience. Will involve trying to win new business for the company as a lead generation agency as well as cold calling Estimators and Quantity Surveyors to promote building materials (Block paving, precast flooring, rain harvesting equipment).

Got to go in tomorrow to "talk about the role". aka discuss salary I guess.

Looks like Tidmarsh could be back in full time employment - thank god.....

Sorry to hear that Bud! What sort of work will you be looking for? and where abouts (geographically)?

Nice one Richt!

Take a bow son. Never a doubt. Back of the net.

London

Process redesign is my main skill - making anything work better, more efficiently and create data to make sure its working better. A sort of Mary Portas of healthcare.

But i'll do owt

Well done mate....don't undersell yourself.

Sh.....t Groomy.


PM sent.

Congratulations, richt! Best of luck with it.

Groomyd: I'm sorry to hear it. Hope something better turns up soon - and that you get some good days fishing while you wait.

Offically start on the 28th of March and my first week is going to involve me flying to Newcastle for a full weeks training...... (Never been up there before) My soft southern accent will no doubt cause for some giggles

Salary negotiated.... don't you just hate it when you think you could have probably got more? But atleast I am going to be getting paid.

Thanks for reading, love to you all xx

Great news Rich T but unfortunately compounded by Groomy's bad news

I can see now why Groomy was asking how much to retire. Groomy - you should get a decent pension from the NHS (one of the few good schemes left). Get a forecast. Also get a State Pension forecast from the DWP. See what you get when you get to 65 and then work backwards to see what you need to keep you ticking over between now and then. Good luck with finding another job

I'm at least 20 years away from retiring so hopefully something will come up before then!

Its bad times in the Groomy household though mate, three little ones and mortgage to pay.

Could be a lot worse, my wife works and may be able to up her days and we can go to interest only on the mortgage.

If we do all that and cut back we can still pay the bills