Sales jobs in Nigeria: targets, commission and what recruiters look for

Sales roles appear across many Nigerian sectors, including FMCG, telecoms, banking, insurance, pharmaceuticals and manufacturing. Because they are often measured by results, they are also among the easiest to judge on paper.

What recruiters check

• A track record of meeting targets, shown with numbers where you can.
• The customers you have sold to: retail, corporate, government or distributors.
• The territory you have covered, and how large it was.
• How you handle rejection, which interviewers probe with questions about lost deals.

How the pay is usually structured

Many sales jobs pay a basic salary plus a target bonus or commission. Read the advert for the split between basic and variable pay, the monthly target, and any ramp-up period before commission starts. Ask in the interview what a typical month looks like for someone who hits target.

Show results on the CV

Prepare a 60-second pitch

Interviewers often ask you to sell them something, even a pen. Practise a short, clear pitch for one product you know well, with one customer benefit and one reason to buy now.

Get the commission plan in writing

Sales pay plans have many moving parts: the target, the rate, when commission is paid, how returns and unpaid invoices are handled, and what happens when you leave. Ask for the plan in writing before you accept. A commission that is paid only after a customer pays, or that resets each quarter, is a different job from one with a steady monthly target.

Be wary of adverts that promise high earnings but do not state a basic salary, a target, or the route to earning it. Ask questions before you attend any paid training, and before you buy stock, samples or a uniform that the employer says you must pay for.

A useful test is to ask the employer how many people reached the target last quarter. A clear answer is a good sign. A vague answer, or a refusal to answer, tells you something too.