Sales Consultant – Eastern PA

As a Sales Consultant at Sysco, you will establish and nurture business relationships with both current and prospective customers within your assigned territory. Your key responsibilities will include making in-person sales visits, processing customer orders, and addressing any customer concerns promptly. You'll also analyze sales reports to identify improvement opportunities and keep abreast of market conditions to effectively meet customer needs.

To succeed as a Sales Consultant at Sysco, a high school diploma is required, while a preferred four-year degree in fields like culinary arts or business can be advantageous. Candidates should have at least two years of prior food service or sales experience and possess strong consultative sales skills, along with a familiarity with the meat and seafood category.

A Sales Consultant at Sysco should be self-motivated with excellent time management skills, as well as a strong ability to build and sustain customer relations. Basic computer proficiency, particularly with MS Outlook, along with a consultative sales approach, will help you be effective in this position. Additionally, a passionate understanding of culinary sales can significantly contribute to your success.

In the Sales Consultant position at Sysco, you can expect a travel commitment of up to 75%. This travel will primarily cover the Eastern PA territory, allowing you to meet clients in person and establish valuable connections. It's a fantastic opportunity to engage directly with customers and understand their needs better.

Sysco is committed to the growth of its employees, offering comprehensive training programs and sales meetings designed to enhance your skills and knowledge in food service sales. You will have opportunities to participate in customer events and internal training, ensuring that you stay at the cutting edge of industry trends and best practices.

When answering this question, focus on specific sales roles you've held, highlighting your successes and how they relate to the Sales Consultant position at Sysco. Discuss metrics like sales growth, customer satisfaction, and any innovative strategies you implemented to achieve your goals.

Emphasize your consultative sales approach. Discuss how you take time to understand client needs, engage in active listening, and follow up regularly to maintain relationships. Providing examples of successful relationships you've developed in previous roles can also strengthen your response.

Share methods that highlight your organization and planning skills. Talk about how you prioritize client visits, set sales goals, and track your progress through sales reports. Mentioning your adaptability to changing market conditions can also demonstrate strategic thinking.

Discuss the importance of empathizing with the customer’s concerns and using them as an opportunity to clarify the value of your product. Practice active listening techniques and explain your process for addressing objections positively and constructively to guide the conversation toward a sale.

Before the interview, research Sysco’s products and their unique selling points. Discuss your understanding of their meat offerings and how they stand out in the food service industry. Showing knowledge about their product range demonstrates your interest and preparedness for the role.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to clearly articulate the challenge faced, your approach to overcoming it, and the positive outcome achieved. Highlighting a successful sale reinforces your problem-solving capabilities and persistence.

Think of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators that drive your performance, such as achieving sales targets, building client relationships, and contributing to the team’s success. Be honest about what excites you about selling meat products and serving clients in the food service sector.

Discuss the resources you use for industry insights, such as trade publications, networking with colleagues, or attending industry events. Showing that you proactively seek knowledge indicates your commitment to remaining competitive and effective in your sales efforts.

Explain that consultative selling is focused on identifying customer needs and providing personalized solutions rather than simply pushing a product. Illustrate with an example from your past experience where you employed this technique to achieve successful outcomes.

Describe a strategy of analyzing competitor strengths and weaknesses, assessing your own client relationships, and devising a plan to address areas where your value proposition could be improved. This demonstrates your ability to think critically and proactively manage challenges.