3 Ways Your Own Words Can Ruin A Sales Interview

    Crutch words are a common occurrence, and in most cases, we aren’t even they’re being used frequently. Filler words like “um” and “er” constantly punctuate the utterances of billions of people around the world. This isn’t always an ideal situation, however. Filler words ought to be avoided at all costs during a sales recruiter job interview.

    Here are a few reasons why:

    1. Your Crutch Words Make You Seem Unprofessional

    As any reputable sales professional knows, candidates are expected to be strong, to-the-point communicators, who are able to relay information as quickly and efficiently as possible – the team at Salesforcesearch.com are a prime example of people who have internalized the interview process and possess knowledge of recruitment as a second-nature. For over 20 years, this company has cultivated an unprecedented expertise in all things related to recruiting the best talent in sales.

    Experts like this know the horrible truth of candidates with crutch words. Indeed, having these terms will slow down the process of making a sale, and result in a loss of interest on the part of the potential client. Crutches, in other words, are like smear campaigns against your own means of doing business.

    1. The Filler Reads Like Hesitation On The Part Of The Salesperson

    The negativity surrounding these go-to words comes from the fact that they imply uncertainty, fear, and discomfort. These are traits that a sales professional should never reveal, in any way, shape or form. When one demonstrates a hesitant attitude – even in the smallest of ticks and “ums” – it can be extremely off-putting, as though a representative of a product doesn’t exactly know what’s going on.

    1. You Dilute Your Own Message

    Not only do crutch words slow down the process of making a sale, thwarting the entire ritual from the get-go, they are distracting. By adding more words to a pitch, you dilute and jeopardize the message you’re trying to send as a serious salesperson.

    These are excellent reasons to make time to exercise your rhetorical skills. Be sure to always practice a pitch before diving into it. Without this quality training time, you risk losing it all, by way of a few simple words. Indeed, the following can ruin careers instantaneously:

    • Um
    • Uh
    • Ah
    • Right?
    • So…
    • Totally
    • Fantastic
    • Anyway…

    There are so many unassuming words to keep in mind. But, in addition to these sounds, buzzwords and overly complicated specialized terminology needs to be left out – if you let a client feel stupid or inadequate, they’re not going to want to do business with you. Finally, catchphrases like “am I right?” or “you know what I mean?” should be disposed of immediately. They are long and drawn-out sentences that add little to no value to whatever it is you might be discussing.

    In short, once you become more aware of your crutch words, and are able to identify them, it should be no problem ridding them from your vocabulary, a process which frees up space for more economical terminology. The only way to do this, however, is through repetition – practice makes perfect, after all!

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    • Tom La Vecchia

      Founder of New Theory & X Factor Media

      Founder and Publisher of New Theory Magazine and Podcast. Serial Entrepreneur who loves wine, cigars and anything that allows to people to connect and share experiences.