Why careers in sales

One is not better than the other. You just need to know what works best for you. You may be asking, with most companies making product information available to buyers with a simple internet search, are salespeople still needed these days?

Salespeople know their product inside and out. They understand the problems they can solve for customers. And they often do as much consulting as persuading in the sales process.

You need to believe in the product you sell. Having said that, sales is not for everyone. A sales aptitude survey will tell you if you have the right personality and skills to be successful.

Some can even suggest what type of selling would suit you best. Successful salespeople are not born with the skills they need to succeed. Successful salespeople are trained for their trade, just like every other profession. You can take the initiative and take some online sales training to get you started.

We all sell. The real question is, can you make a living in sales? This will come in handy, not only in your professional life but also your personal life. A sales professional works in an environment that is challenging, engaging and rewarding. You will have in-depth knowledge about the products and services offered by the company, giving you an edge over your contemporaries. The rewards and bonuses are an additional incentive, especially because people in sales careers are known to draw high salaries.

In fact, some organisations pay sales professionals for conveyance, abroad trips and even vehicles! To work in an environment that has flexible work hours is a blessing in disguise.

Sales executives, especially those who work in field sales, have the liberty of flexible work hours. Networking is vital to all professions, irrespective of the industry. As a sales executive, you will constantly work in close proximity to customers. This means your relationship with the customer will be strong and you can make an impact on them. Job security is essential for everyone as no one wants to be involved in an uncertain job.

Sales careers are known to be one of the top jobs in terms of job security. More so, because the skills of a sales professional are transferrable. Since sales professionals possess transferable skills and the sales process is integral to all businesses, the demand for sales professionals is high.

Sales is an extremely exciting job. Sales roles require you to employ various tactics and techniques to generate profits, making the whole process interesting and exciting. What do you need to become a good sales executive? Following are the traits and skills you should possess to make it big in the sales industry: Critical Thinking: Critical thinking skills are crucial to all trades.

You should be ready to overcome an unprecedented challenge and you must have the ability to do it quickly. Critical thinking skills will help you determine the most appropriate solution to a problem in a short span of time. Competitive: Sales is a competitive profession and needs individuals who are comfortable with it. Being competitive will help you get an edge over your contemporaries and think one step ahead every time.

Passion: If you do not connect with a profession, it is unlikely that you will succeed in the domain. If you have an undying passion for sales and its techniques, you can think logically and effectively in the face of adversities. Open to Learning: Learning is a continuous process, so you should be open to learning along the way.

With sales entering all sorts of domains, new technologies and techniques are coming to the fore. This will help you stay up-to-date with the constantly changing trends in the market. Analytical Skills: As part of the sales domain, analytical skills are imperative.

They help you understand market surveys, profit reports and past trends, which further contribute to accurate sales predictions. People Skills: As a sales executive, interacting with people is a daily thing. Furthermore, the extra skills acquired through your degree may make you eligible for graduate positions. When deciding between B2B and B2C roles, you may consider how much responsibility would suit you.

Business-to-business positions often involve more expensive contracts and added pressure as relationships with important clients need to be maintained.

Do the below points entice or put you off a role in sales? Perhaps reading through the above points has led you to the conclusion that sales is the right career choice for you.

In order to find out more about applying, take a look at our article on how graduates get a job in sales. Careers advice. Careers in sales: what's involved and how graduates fit in. Careers in sales: what's involved and how graduates fit in Find out your career options when it comes to sales jobs, and get to grips with business-to-business and business-to-consumer sales.

Types of sales jobs The types of product or service you sell could differ vastly. Sales can also be conducted in several different ways: Face-to-face selling This is the traditional form of selling — through shops and stores. Online sales The responsibilities of a role in online sales may differ from employer to employer.

Business-to-business v. Will a sales role suit you? Earning potential. Salaries vary considerably in this career area. However, the chance to earn commission based on results, alongside the possibility of progressing quickly in your career, might make sales a desirable career choice — particularly if you like to be challenged.

Career progression. As alluded to above, showing aptitude and strong results when you start out in your sales career may enable you to progress quickly. Often, you will move from a sales executive to an area sales manager, later moving to national sales manager and sales director roles. Sometimes, this will mean changing employer.