How to Transition into Sales (Without Sounding Foolish in an Interview)
Sales can be an incredibly rewarding career—both financially and professionally—but breaking into the field from a non-sales background can be tricky. One of the biggest mistakes candidates make when trying to transition into sales is telling the interviewer that their previous job was "basically sales." It wasn’t, and saying so makes you look foolish.
Instead of trying to retrofit your past experience into a sales framework, focus on why sales is the right next step for you and what makes you a strong candidate. Here’s how to position yourself effectively and land that first sales role.
1. Be Honest About Why You Want to Work in Sales
Hiring managers don’t want to hear that you’re getting into sales because you “want to try something new” or because you “like talking to people.” They want to see that you understand the role and that you’re motivated by what makes sales unique—whether that’s the competitive nature, the earning potential, or the challenge of influencing decisions.
Instead of saying: “I’ve always been great with people, so I figured I’d try sales.” Try: “I love problem-solving and working towards measurable goals. I know sales is high-pressure, but that’s exactly what draws me to it.”
2. Highlight Your Transferable Skills with Nuance and Precision
Your last job wasn’t sales, but you likely have skills that translate. Instead of forcing connections, focus on competencies that genuinely align with sales:
Communication & Persuasion – Sales requires tailoring messages to different audiences. If you’ve worked in customer service or consulting, highlight how you adjusted your approach to influence decisions.
Resilience & Handling Rejection – Sales involves constant rejection. If you’ve worked in fundraising or journalism, explain how you stayed motivated despite setbacks.
Goal-Orientation – Sales reps hit targets. If you’ve worked with performance metrics, discuss how you structured your approach to meet objectives.
Problem-Solving & Active Listening – Sales is about diagnosing customer needs. If you’ve advised clients or troubleshot issues, frame that as an ability to identify and resolve challenges quickly.
Adaptability – The best salespeople learn fast. If you’ve transitioned roles or mastered new industries quickly, emphasize that adaptability.
The key is to position yourself as sales-ready rather than exaggerating past experience.
3. Demonstrate That You’re Serious About Sales
A hiring manager needs to believe that you’re not just exploring sales as a backup option. Show them that you’ve done your homework:
Take a sales course or get a sales certification.
Read books like The Challenger Sale or SPIN Selling and be ready to discuss takeaways.
Follow sales professionals on LinkedIn and engage with industry content.
If you can show that you’ve invested time into learning about sales before even landing a job, you’ll set yourself apart from other transition candidates.
4. Show That You Understand What Sales Really Is
Many people think sales is just about being outgoing or “good with people.” In reality, sales is about understanding customer needs, overcoming objections, and consistently driving revenue. Show in your interview that you get this.
Instead of saying: “I love talking to people, so I think I’d be great in sales.” Try: “Sales is about identifying problems and helping customers see the right solution. In my previous role, I had to quickly assess client needs and recommend solutions, which is a skill I know will transfer well.”
5. Be Ready to Sell Yourself
Your sales interview is your first test—if you can’t sell yourself, how will you sell a product or service? Treat the conversation like a sales process:
Anticipate objections (e.g., “You don’t have sales experience”) and have a response ready.
Demonstrate confidence in your ability to succeed.
Close the conversation strong by reaffirming your interest and asking about next steps.
Final Thoughts
Breaking into sales is possible if you approach it the right way. The key is not to claim past experience that you don’t actually have but to focus on why sales is a great fit for you and how your existing skills will help you succeed. If you can do that—while showing that you understand what sales really entails—you’ll stand out as a strong candidate, even without direct experience.
