How to land a virtual sales job
The way we work has changed, and almost every industry has had to pivot and give workers more flexibility. For instance, 30% of employees are now working remotely.
Traditionally, salespeople have communicated with customers in person, but now more and more people are working in virtual sales.
When you have a virtual sales job, you can work from home. You’ll connect with customers online or over the phone and use technology to record your sales.
Various virtual roles are available, including sales representatives, sales assistants, and freelance gigs.
If you're someone who understands the sales process and has excellent communication skills, this role could be right for you. Here's everything you need to know to land a job in virtual sales.
What is a virtual sales job?
Virtual salespeople help customers as they make their purchasing decisions. Unlike traditional salespeople who meet face-to-face, they communicate online or over the phone. They might even connect with customers via social media.
These team members answer questions, highlight features, and offer suggestions.
Roles can vary. Some virtual sales representatives call existing customers and follow up with leads. These sales reps can work for companies with long-term business customers or brands with higher value items.
And some work in online retail sales. They're available to assist customers browsing the website and give them the information they need to make a purchase.
What are the benefits of working as a virtual salesperson?
Virtual sales representatives usually work remotely. You can work from the comfort of your home and avoid traveling long distances. These positions can give you the flexibility you need to maintain a good work-life balance.
Virtual salespeople can work full-time or part-time. If you prefer, you can choose your own schedule as a freelancer. You’ll have the freedom to work independently, and companies often give bonuses or commissions to top-performing team members.
If you genuinely like talking to people, you’ll enjoy the social nature of the job. Even though you won’t be face-to-face, you’ll still spend time chatting online or over the phone.
What do you need to be successful in sales?
If you want to be successful in the sales industry, you'll need a few key qualities. What are they? Let's take a look.
1. Excellent communication
One of the most important sales skills is communication. You’ll need to build a rapport with your customers and know how to close the sale.
Excellent communication includes active listening skills.
You should give the customer an opportunity to speak during the conversation. Customers will often have questions about the product or service, and you’ll need to understand their needs. For example, if you’re selling clothing, customers might want to ask about sizes, fabrics, or colors.
If you’re selling over the phone, you should speak clearly and confidently. If you’re selling via chat or email, keep your tone professional and try to avoid any spelling errors.
Remember, when you use the person’s name during the conversation, it’ll give them a more personalized experience.
2. Organization
Virtual salespeople need to be organized. Even if you are part of a bigger sales team, you’ll still be working remotely.
You’ll have to keep track of your customers across different platforms and record your sales and leads.
Because it’s a virtual position, you’ll need a quiet workspace, reliable internet, a phone, and a headset. When it’s time to start your day, being organized will help you smash your sales goals.
3. Product knowledge
To be successful, you’ll need to know what you’re selling. Customers will expect that you understand the product or service better than they do.
For example, if you’re selling refrigerators, you should have knowledge of different styles, sizes, and brands. Or, if you’re selling swimming pools, you should know about local laws and regulations.
If a customer asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, don’t make it up. Tell them you’ll find out and get back to them.
When you have product knowledge, it can help you upsell or cross-sell.
4. Flexibility
If you want to work in sales, you’ll need to be flexible. Customers can be unpredictable, and some will require more time than others. Sometimes they won’t be interested, so you’ll have to be ready to move on to the next lead.
You might need to use a range of communication tools such as phone, email, social media, and live help. And your team members will also be working remotely, so your meetings might be via video conferencing software such as Zoom. So, you should be confident switching from one platform to the next.
It can be a fast-paced, unpredictable role, so being flexible will make it easier to succeed.
5. Self-motivation
Virtual salespeople need to be highly motivated. You’ll probably be working from home, and you won’t have your colleagues sitting next to you.
If you’re feeling flat or unmotivated, it can have an impact on your customer relationships. So, it’s important that you’re genuinely passionate about your job.
Your manager might have sales targets, with rewards and incentives for high achievers. For example, the top-performing salesperson each month could receive a gift voucher or cash bonus.
Tips to help you to land a virtual sales job
Looking for virtual sales roles? Here are our top tips to help you get hired:
1. Make your resume ATS friendly
Before a real person sees your resume, it'll probably go through an ATS (applicant tracking system).
The software will scan your resume and give it a rating. If it matches the hiring manager's criteria, you'll move on to the next stage of the hiring process.
The ATS will be looking for different keywords, which can usually be found in the job description. It's a good idea to tweak your resume for each position. For example, you can try to highlight any keywords that match your experience.
Don't try to beat the ATS by being dishonest. If you do pass this step, your resume will be seen by a real person.
Keep your formatting simple for the ATS reader. This means a short and sweet resume that fits neatly on one page and your employee experience listed in chronological order.
Avoid borders and images, and choose easy-to-read fonts such as Arial, Garamond, Times New Roman, Helvetica, or Georgia. To get you started, we have three free ATS-friendly resume templates.
2. Grow your online network
Virtual sales jobs aren't always advertised. Your next job could be something you hear about through word of mouth.
Do you know someone with a career in sales? Ask them if the company they work for is hiring. You can also check with your friends and family to see if they know anyone in the industry who could help.
If you’re looking for new connections, grow your online network. You can start on Jobcase by connecting with others who have similar interests. There’s the option to send someone a message, or you can chat publicly in our community discussions.
3. Improve your computer skills
You'll be relying on technology to do your job, so you'll need strong computer skills.
You’ll probably get access to dedicated sales software when you get hired. If you're a new sales rep, you can expect training on how to use any company programs. You'll need to track customers and leads and record your sales.
Before you apply for a new position, there are other computer skills you can focus on. For example, most employers will expect you to have experience using Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel. And you should be comfortable using Google Workspace, including Docs, Forms, and Sheets.
You should also be confident using email and apps. Plus, you should be able to type quickly and accurately.
If you need to improve your computer skills, there are different short courses available. These can be done online or in your local community.
4. Research the company
One of the biggest challenges to getting a job is making yourself stand out. Hiring managers want passionate salespeople who will promote the brand in a positive way.
And, they want team members who will fit in with the company culture and share the same values.
The key is to learn about the company before your interview. Most companies have a website with a “history” or “about us” section, and this is the best place to start.
Then, you can check out their social media pages. If you notice anything unique about the company, such as a special achievement or a new product line, you can mention it in the interview. You’ll show that you’ve done your research and that you have great attention to detail.
5. Practice your sales pitch
If you're applying for a remote sales position, you can expect a virtual interview. It's not uncommon for the hiring manager to ask for a mock sales pitch as part of the interview process.
Get prepared by doing some mock sales practice. You can ask a friend or family member if they'll choose an object for you to "sell" to them. For example, they could ask you to sell them a pineapple, a glass of milk, or a bicycle.
When you practice selling different items without prior knowledge, it'll help you think on your feet.
We also recommend you practice your video interview skills. Set up a video chat with a friend and run through some common interview questions. When you're prepared for the interview, you'll improve your chances of success.
6. Set up job alerts
To make your job search easier, you can sign up for email alerts. Become a Jobcase member, and when a position is posted, you'll get the news in your inbox.
You'll never miss a job opportunity, and getting your application in early could give you an advantage.
There are other benefits when you sign up as a member. There's a free resume builder, so you can create a professional resume with minimal effort. Plus, you can search for people in the sales industry and keep an eye out for hiring events.
7. Learn how to sell
If you don't have much sales experience, look for ways to boost your skills. There are free resources available online, or you can enroll in a short business or marketing course.
Follow successful sales professionals on social media, and sign up for relevant email newsletters. Read books, download ebooks, and write down your goals. And visit the Jobcase community for current discussions about #sales.
Just remember, there are scammers out there. Before spending your money on sales training or ebooks, do your research. Do they have good reviews? Have others benefited from this resource?
8. Check your cover letter
Your cover letter introduces you to the employer and supports your resume. It should fit on one page and show examples of your sales skills and experience.
When writing the cover letter, make sure it covers the key points in the job description. If they're looking for someone with excellent customer service skills, you can share an example from a previous customer support job. Or, if they want specific computer skills, make sure you highlight these in the cover letter.
Check your cover letter to make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. And make sure you include your contact details in case they need more information.
If you know the name of the hiring manager, you can address your cover letter to them personally.
Where to find a virtual sales job
Want a virtual sales job? You can browse virtual sales positions on our job board.
Or you can look for virtual sales representative vacancies. If you want to narrow down the search, you can click “remote work only” in the sidebar.
Landing a virtual sales job
Do you enjoy sales and want a job you can do from home? Consider a virtual sales job.
You can assist customers over the phone or online and get all the benefits that come with a flexible role.
If you want to succeed, you’ll need excellent communication skills, organization, product knowledge, flexibility, and self-motivation.
To help you get a job, we put together our top tips. For example, you should make sure your resume is ATS-friendly and improve your computer skills. Research the company, and get ready for a virtual interview.
If you don’t have experience, you can access free resources to help you learn how to sell. And, you can set up email alerts, so you’ll always know when a new position is available.
Want to start your job search? Head over to our job board. Or, you can read more articles in our resource center.
@Eleana Bowman Very detail information, I really appreciate your post. A lot of people are interest in working Virtually.