Salespeople are the face of any for-profit business.
Sure, the snake oil pitchmen are out there. But chances are
they won't last long in any job and they certainly won't be
able to call on repeat customers--the true sign of a good
salesperson.
While there are dollars and cents involved in any deal, ask a
successful salesperson about her job and she'll tell you it's
really about listening to people, understanding their
problems, and providing a solution. Do your job right, and
the commissions will follow, along with thanks from a
satisfied customer and an appreciative sales manager.
Whether it's retail or business-to-business, inside phone
selling or territory sales, companies are increasingly
looking for those with a bachelor's degree who can connect
intelligently with customers. Salespeople are the face of any
for-profit business. They must be organized, disciplined,
able to talk, and listen to potential buyers, and they need
to think both creatively and analytically about how business
is conducted.
Experienced sales representatives say every job is different:
Some require in-depth product knowledge; others demand travel
and long hours. You might work on a sales team, or perhaps
you're a manufacturers representative who works alone selling
products from a number of companies. The common thread,
though, is you're responsible for what you sell and,
therefore, for what you make. In sales, hard work really does
pay off!
Entry-level positions abound in retail. While a bachelor's
degree is not a requirement, it is often helpful if an
employee hopes to eventually move up in the company and into
a sales management position.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2008 (the most
recent statistics available), 4.5 million people worked in
retail sales.
Computer skills may be needed to track sales leads, process
orders, and prepare often detailed proposals that may take
weeks or months to develop. Successful outside sales people
have strong communications skills, the ability to quickly
analyze a situation and think about creative solutions.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were
approximately 2 million business-to-business sales people in
the workforce in 2008.
Experts say overall job growth for sales professionals is
likely to be on par with the average job growth for all
industries.
Elsewhere, athletes, artists, medical experts, architects,
construction managers and others with specialized skills or
knowledge may find a niche within a sales team.
Product demonstrators and models and trainers are also
employed by companies to bolster sales, opening a door to
grads with creative arts and education backgrounds.
Given the wide variety of companies, product and services out
there, someone interested in a sales career should be able to
find a company they can trust, a product they believe in--and
most importantly, customers who will benefit from their hard
work and informed advice.
