Form car salesman and Bellevue Center Leader Sgt.1st Class Cody Ohman shares car sales tactics and techniques with company leadership teams during a recent Seattle Battalion training event.
Former car salesman uses same
techniques for selling Army
By Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
Nov. 3,, 2014
Before selling the Army for a living, Bellevue Center Leader Sgt. 1st Class Cody Ohman sold cars.
He’s found that many of the sales techniques he used to put prospective buyers in cars are helpful in putting people in boots.
“I like sales,” said Ohman. “It was rewarding to see a customer drive away happy with a good buying experience. It was one of the main reasons I was successful early in recruiting.”
During a recent Seattle Battalion training event, Ohman shared sales tactics and techniques from his previous job.
Tukwila Center Leader Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Mitchell found the training productive.
“You really only have that first thirty seconds to present yourself as someone they can trust,” he said. “That makes us pay more attention to how we approach and greet the people.”
While recruiting for the Army can be similar to selling other products to interested or reluctant consumers, there are differences, Ohman said.
“In car sales, customers are committing to making a payment on something they can touch. Recruiting is a harder,” said Ohman who’s been a recruiting for six years. “I can take somebody on a test drive with a car.
In recruiting, an applicant is taking a leap of faith in the recruiter that the journey he is about to embark on will forever change his life in a positive matter.”
By Tom Conning, USAREC, Seattle Battalion
Nov. 3,, 2014
Before selling the Army for a living, Bellevue Center Leader Sgt. 1st Class Cody Ohman sold cars.
He’s found that many of the sales techniques he used to put prospective buyers in cars are helpful in putting people in boots.
“I like sales,” said Ohman. “It was rewarding to see a customer drive away happy with a good buying experience. It was one of the main reasons I was successful early in recruiting.”
During a recent Seattle Battalion training event, Ohman shared sales tactics and techniques from his previous job.
- You have a very short period of time to make a trusting first impression.
- Smile often.
- Don’t try to fit a square peg into a round hole.
- Be reliable.
- When talking with someone with whom you want to agree, nod your head slightly in agreement.
- Be truthful.
Tukwila Center Leader Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Mitchell found the training productive.
“You really only have that first thirty seconds to present yourself as someone they can trust,” he said. “That makes us pay more attention to how we approach and greet the people.”
While recruiting for the Army can be similar to selling other products to interested or reluctant consumers, there are differences, Ohman said.
“In car sales, customers are committing to making a payment on something they can touch. Recruiting is a harder,” said Ohman who’s been a recruiting for six years. “I can take somebody on a test drive with a car.
In recruiting, an applicant is taking a leap of faith in the recruiter that the journey he is about to embark on will forever change his life in a positive matter.”