WHY EVERYONE SHOULD WORK IN SALES AT SOMEPOINT IN THEIR CAREER

A career in sales can often be quite rewarding for those who wish to pursue it. Many companies will need a salesperson and sales manager to help them maintain a healthy income and increase profit, in a wide range of different industries.
There are different levels of sales you can be recruited in. For example, graduates looking for jobs in sales will come across the business to business (B2B) selling rather than business to consumer (B2C) jobs. As well as entry level jobs there are training programmes that can help advance graduates into a higher level sales role also.
Fast-track management programmes are designed to enable highly suitable candidates to realise their management potential within a particular time frame. Over a period of time, fast-trackers will learn about the role before becoming a Sales Manager or a Team Manager. These unique training schemes enable you to develop leadership skills quickly.
Regardless of being a recent graduate or starting a new career path, people will begin at the same level as a sales executive in an office. Sale executives are required to answer queries, offer advice and introduce clients to new products. Career progression from there is based on performance levels.
With a few years experience as a sales executive, you will most likely be able to progress in your career to become a key account manager in sales, where you will have the responsibility of managing a few of the companies biggest customers and also looking after the main products. From there, it is possible to move into more of a management role as a Senior Sales Manager, and then Regional Manager before moving on to becoming a National Sales Manager and finally Sales Director.
Both Regional and National Sales Manager roles are more for larger companies that have various offices situated throughout the country. While smaller companies with only one office will typically bypass the roles of a Regional and National Sales Manager and incorporate a Team Leader into their structure, before becoming a Sales Manager.

Why Should I Work in Sales?

There are many benefits of working in a sales career, and these are:

• Independence: Working in sales requires targets to be set and achieved each month. The aim is to over-exceed the target. You will have the independence to work towards your goal; it is always your responsibility to show significant performance, and sales independence offers the opportunity to work on your initiative.

• Earning Potential: Jobs in sales mean that the harder you work the more money you will earn. In sales, you do get rewarded for working hard, while in other careers you will often have to do a lot more extra work which includes overtime and at the end you do not get paid extra for that additional work.

• Acknowledgment: When you do well in selling, your results are displayed so that everyone can see them, this means that you will be recognised for your efforts from others in the company and not just the boss, this can be an excellent motivational tool.

• Problem-solving: A sales person is required to identify the client’s needs and problems to provide them with the best solution to the issue.

• Career prospects: As with most businesses, they rely a lot on their income generated through sales. Therefore a successful salesperson is able to progress in their career even when switching company or even industry. Their skills are relevant in all industries.

• Personal development: There is an enormous range of resources for salespeople to continually learn from. There are workshops, books and training programmes put in place to allow improvement in sales skills.

• Variety: Many people say how sales is a job that is never boring, there are many job sectors to explore. It is filled with many opportunities to take advantage of. Each day will be slightly different and will always be filled with excitement and change. But, be aware this kind of job can be stressful at times.

• Stability and job security: Companies will always require a sales department. Therefore in times where they are required to cut back in departments, those in sales will most likely not be affected as they will be needed the most to drive the business forward.

• Career prospects: With skills in sales, it makes it much easier to progress to becoming a sales manager. There are also roles such as working in business administration because of the transferable skills learnt through working in sales. Managing budgets, improving time management, public speaking and learning to be an entrepreneur can all be developed when working in sales.

• Compensation: In exchange for getting high wages, there are many other benefits such as commissions or bonuses. Sales managers will often work long hours, but this is covered by a compensation package such as access to a company car, company-provided mobile phone or an automobile allowance.

• New product development: A sales manager can provide a wealth of information into what customers want. They can make recommendations to management for new ideas or expansion of existing products/services, this all helps to develop your own work portfolio.

• Direct customer/client contact: Working as a sales manager means that you will serve as a figure of contact for customers and clients of the company. The management will relieve the need to deal with sales issues that are brought up, as a sales manager will be able to handle them directly which means you will be able to take a lead on issues and take on more responsibility which makes the job more fulfilling.

• You get to wear smart attire: Many people may dislike having to be in corporate “business wear” however a sales role enables you to wear this and by doing this it presents a confident image.

• Strategic decision making: Working in sales allows you to have a say, advising on markets, products and services. Through strategic decision making, you can be involved in market research, product management, marketing and advertising.

• Networking: If you can show you are a strong leader and a valuable source you are more likely to be chosen to represent the company at networking events and conferences. Businesses rely on a person who knows how to “talk the talk” and grow the company to reach out and make their brand known. They need a person who has strong communication skills and negotiation skills to be the face of the business, which means you might get to attend exclusive company events.

Sales skills are incredibly useful -- in every field.
To many people the word "selling" implies manipulating, pressuring, cajoling... all the used car salesman stereotypes. If you think of selling as explaining the logic and benefits of a decision, then every job requires sales skills: Convincing coworkers your idea makes sense, showing your boss how a project will pay off, helping employees understand the benefits of a new process, etc. Communication is critical in any career; you'll learn more about communication by working in sales than you will almost anywhere else.


Here are more reasons everyone should work in sales, at least for a period of time:

• You'll learn to negotiate. Every job involves negotiating: With peers, with other departments, even with your boss. Salespeople learn to listen, evaluate variables, identify key drivers, overcome objections, and find ways to reach agreement -- without burning bridges.
• You'll learn to close. Asking for what you want is difficult for a lot of people. Closing a sale is part art, part science. Getting others to agree with you, and follow your direction, is also part art and part science. If you aspire to a leadership position, you must be able to close. Great salespeople know how to close. Great supervisors and managers do too.
• You'll learn persistence. Salespeople hear the word "no" all the time. Over time you'll start to see "no" as a challenge, not rejection.
• You'll learn self discipline. If you work for a big company, sometimes you can sleepwalk your way through a day and still get paid. When you work on commission, "If it is to be, it's up to me," is your credo. Sales is a great way to permanently connect the mental dots between performance and reward.
• You'll learn to work well with a wide range of people at all levels. Plus, working in sales is the perfect cure for shyness. Learn to step forward with confidence, especially under duress or in a crisis, and you can take on any role in an organization.
• If you want to own a business, you'll always be in sales. Every business is an extension of its owner. Even if they have a sales team, a business owner is always involved in sales. (In many companies the owner still handles the major sales personally -- or at the very least is brought into the process to help close the deal.) An entrepreneur who can't sell faces a major challenge. Gaining sales skills will help you win financing, bring in investors, line up distribution deals, land customers -- in the early stages of starting a company, everything involves sales.

Understanding the sales process and how to build customer relationships is incredibly important, regardless of the industry or career you choose. Spending one or two years in a sales role is an investment that will pay dividends forever.
Think of it this way: The more intimidating or scary a position in sales sounds, the more you need to take one. You'll gain confidence and self-assurance, and the skills you gain will serve you well for the rest of your business -- and personal -- life.