How to Begin a Career in Sales
A career as a sales professional is more common than you may think, sales representatives are found in many industries including medical sales, pharmaceutical sales, insurance sales, real estate, automobile sales, sales and marketing and even software sales. A sales job looks at customers’ needs, and a successful sale will see both the company and customer benefit from a purchase in more ways than one. Read on to find out how to get started!
What Qualifications Do You Need For A Career In Sales?
Starting a new job is always scary, that’s why it’s important to undertake any sales training program available within your sales role and before you start looking for one. Entry-level sales jobs in the UK typically require little to no qualifications, one of the best things to have is experience in your desired industry.
For a career in sales, it’s also important to have an up-to-date LinkedIn and social media presence to let recruiters know of your industry experience (sales or not) and where you see your future being.
As a Beginner, Where Should I Start in Sales?
One of the first steps to building a career in sales is to fully understand the fundamental process of your company. How sales shape the company’s decisions as well as who and how the performance is impacted. Almost all companies require a salesperson, so understanding who you work for and their competitors will help when making future decisions.
Skill Set Required for a Career in Sales
No matter the industry you work in, a career in sales needs skills such as:
Communication
Perseverance and flexibility
Time management
Persuasiveness
Self-confidence
Imagination
What Does a Salesperson Do?
The job of a salesperson is all about seeking out and making contact with prospective customers in order to drive sales. Whether the contact is initiated in person, via email or social networking sites, the idea is address customer needs and find suitable product for it.
Typical Duties in Sales Careers
A sales position typically has the following responsibilities:
To build a career in sales it is important you continuously learn from the sales team and the sales process. It’s a highly competitive industry and being a successful salesperson will come from years of sales experience and a career path full of strong work ethic and training outside sales.
