Sales jobs have changed considerably over the years thanks to the shift towards online shopping. Nowadays, employers are searching for people who are able to effectively get their services or products to market in this digital age. Of course, the field of sales is extremely vast, and there are many different avenues you can go down. So, with that being said, let’s take a look at some of the various areas of sales you can work in, as well as providing you with further advice regarding working in this industry.

What areas of sales can you work in?

Firstly, it is important to take a look at the different areas of sales you can work in. Here are the categories of work in this industry, so to speak:

• Telesales
• Retail motor sales
• Online sales
• Scientific, pharmaceutical, and medical sales
• Advertising and media sales
• IT sales
• Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
• Export sales
• Field and direct sales
• Customer service
• Business to consumer (B2C)
• Business to business (B2B)

Sales roles can be found in all industries. The dream for more people is to sell something they love. After all, the best salesmen and women are those who are passionate about the product and service they are selling.

There are also many different types of recruiters in this sector. There are a lot of big worldwide companies who employ graduates in sales roles. A mere handful of examples include Virgin Media, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Mars UK, GSK (GlaxoSmithKline), EE, Coca-Cola, BT, and Amazon.

What can you expect if you get a job in sales?

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding regarding the sheer diversity of jobs that are available. However, what is working in sales really like? Well, the best place to start is by saying it is target-driven. You will typically need to reach goals per each sales period. You can also expect to be working in an environment that is busy, varied, and travelling. You also need to make sure you know your industry inside out. For example, in the motor trade, not only do you need to know about the cars you are selling but you must know how motor trade insurance works too. There are other characteristics associated with sales jobs in certain sectors. For example, if you work in telesales, you can expect split shifts or regular office hours. Moreover, if you work in medical sales or field work you can expect long hours away from home.

In addition to this, you can expect to be judged by your results. After all, if you are not making the required level of sales, you are not doing your job properly. There is also a very strong emphasis on creating, growing, and maintaining profitable customer relationships. In order to do this, you need a very specific set of skills. You need to be someone who can deal with rejection. You also need to be confident, diplomatic, and a good communicator.

Skills that employers are looking for

While we are on the subject of different skills you need to work in sales, let’s take a look at what recruiters will tend be searching for…

• Someone who can work well as a team but also has initiative to work on their own
• Relationship-building and networking abilities
• Ambition and drive to meet targets
• Good customer service skills
• Persistence, resilience, and confidence
• Honed presentation skills
• Effective time management
• Excellent communication skills

Will you need a degree?

You don’t necessarily need a degree in order to become a sales person. In a lot of cases, your aptitude and personality for the profession will be considered more crucial than any specific qualifications. However, do bear in mind that you may need to hold a related technical degree if you move into a specialised vacancy, for example, one involving medical, IT, or engineering equipment.

As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to working in sales. This is a varied area of work, which has a lot to offer. You are bound to find something that appeals to you and the sort of product/services you are interested in. Nevertheless, you do need to be prepared for just how manic this sort of job is, and remember, you live and die by your results, so your number one priority should always be to make as many sales as possible.