Personality Types in Sales Roles
OK, if we both agree that we are not going to be a mean as possible with this one, we can try and be a little bit generous to those less ‘appealing’ sales types.
We have all come across those cheap-suited, slicked back hair types who love the hard sell. Whether it is someone trying to get you to buy an extended warranty on some white goods or a recruitment consultant trying desperately to squeeze a square peg into a round hole, those personality types are not ones we would wish to encounter.
If you are reading this because you are about to start your first sales job and are intrigued as to who you may meet, let’s have a look at some classic sales personality types and how you can make sure you get on with them/avoid them, depending on how you feel!
The ‘I’d Sell My Own Grandmother to Make Money’ Type
Hmmmm, this personality type is surprisingly common because they make money for their employers. That doesn’t mean you love to be friends with them, but they are worth watching for a few tips to boost your own career. Think of these types as the most extreme sales person – they know every trick in the book, are not concerned with friendships at work and tend to make a mint in commission.The ‘I Sell What I Believe In’ Type
These sales people are far more likeable and offer a great way to learn more about the type of sales you can be proud of. They have been clever enough to work out what they are able to sell without turning into the ‘I’d sell my own grandmother’ type.Here lies a very appealing prospect – you are able to make a decent living because you hit your sales targets, but not because you are doing a job that requires you to own soul. Once you have found a sales job that you can believe in, it won’t seem like the cheesy type of sales that is so depressing.
