You look around your college campus looking at everyone studying extremely hard for highly technical exams, and doing extremely interesting projects just for fun. You? You just want to become financially independent, be in control, and you’re pretty dang good at talking to people.
If that sounds like you, a sales internship might help you understand if sales is the right job for you without committing for the long term. Sales is a crucial part of any industry, but in the tech world it’s a unique role, focusing on building relationships with customers, understanding their needs, and guiding them through the decision-making process to implement the proper solution for them. When I was first starting my career I had a coworker tell me “Tech sales is more like consulting, because it doesn’t benefit anybody at all if you sell your software to someone who doesn’t need it, or isn’t the right fit for it.” That’s stuck with me to this day!
An internship in sales is a unique opportunity to learn the ins and outs of what the job looks like, while also gaining an understanding of how sales interacts with all parts of an organization. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know to secure a sales internship while still in college.
What is Sales?
Before you start your internship search, it's important to grasp what a career in sales involves. Sales professionals are on the front lines. Since people buy from people, which is especially true as products get more technical, salespeople are really the representatives of a company's product or service. They play a key role in driving revenue, understanding and relaying customer needs to the rest of the organization, presenting solutions, and closing deals.
Strong communication skills, resilience, and a customer-focused mindset are essential traits for success in sales, but there’s a lot more to it than that. If you can translate technical ideas into easily understandable written and verbal communications you’ll be a top performer in no-time. Additionally, the ability to hear “no” over and over again without losing enthusiasm is a career hack that benefits everyone in every career, but in sales it’s a requirement.
Lastly, sales is a creative vocation. While it’s a bit of a science (“How many calls do I need to make in order to close a deal?”) it’s more of an art (“How can I tailor my pitch in order for it to resonate with my ideal customer?”). If you’ve got a highly creative mindset, then sales might just be right for you.
What Does an Internship in Sales Look Like?
While every company is going to offer different levels of hands-on experience, most internships won’t involve closing deals or even making sales calls. Interns often assist with data projects, CRM software management, and market and customer research.
The most eye-opening part of every internship, but especially in sales, is the chance to shadow salespeople who are right at the top of their game.
Finding an Internship in Sales
Not every company offers sales internships. While big names like Salesforce, Oracle, and IBM have established internship programs, smaller startups can offer a more hands-on experience with greater responsibility early on. As the largest job board of venture-backed internships in the world, TalentRamp can help you discover a curated list of sales internships at leading tech startups.
Given that sales internship roles are limited, it’s likely that they’ll be highly competitive roles.
Standing Out to Recruiters and Hiring Managers
A polished resume and LinkedIn profile are crucial for catching the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Highlight experiences and skills that demonstrate your potential as a sales professional, such as any previous customer service roles, leadership positions, or successful school projects. Emphasizing your communication skills, ability to work in a team, and dealing with conflict would be important to highlight.
Showing your enthusiasm for sales and the specific challenges and opportunities within the company’s market would also make a great impression (as long as you know what you’re talking about). Networking is key, so leverage industry events, alumni networks, and online forums to connect with sales professionals. Consider creating content related to sales strategies or market trends to share on LinkedIn or a personal blog. Sharing your interest in a specific vocation publicly will help put you above the 80% of students who aren’t.
Preparing for the Interview
When preparing for a sales internship interview, research the company's products, target market, and sales process. Be ready to discuss your understanding of sales, your interpersonal skills, and how you handle rejection—a common aspect of sales roles. Prepare for role-play scenarios where you might have to sell a product to the interviewer, demonstrating your persuasive abilities and how you handle objections.
If you’d like help preparing for sales interviews, please email me at [email protected]. Your success is our success! I’ll meet for 30 minutes with anyone who’s interested in landing a sales internship.
Conclusion
Landing a sales internship while in college is a fantastic way to build the foundation for a successful career in tech sales. By gaining a solid understanding of sales principles, tailoring your internship applications, going to as many networking events as possible, and preparing thoroughly for interviews, you can position yourself as the candidate for competitive sales internships. Stay persistent, keep honing your communication skills, and remain passionate about understanding and meeting customer needs. Good luck on your journey to becoming a tech sales professional!
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