Sales careers are not for everyone.
That's pretty clear. Just consider how many people are in sales
positions only because they couldn't find a job doing what they really
want to do. Or think about how many people you've met who said that
they've "tried sales and it "wasn't for them."
The facts are that sales careers are not only not for everyone but also not everyone is right for a career in sales.
But
starting off you career in a sales position, despite you believing or
even knowing that you have no interest in staying in sales, can be the
best thing for your career, long term.
Here's why.
The Front Line
Sales
reps are often referred to as the "soldiers of a company." That's
because, in most cases, only sales professionals meet face to face on a
continuous basis with a company's most important assets: Their
customers.
Being as close to a company's customers gives those in sales a unique viewpoint and an advantage over everyone in the company.
They get to hear, direct from customer's
mouths, what is good and what needs improvement in their companies. This
information can make the rep a more informed, connected and valuable
employee should they move up in the company and into a position outside
of sales.
Think about where you want your career to bring you and
ask yourself if having some customer face to face experience will be an
advantage for you.
Understanding Finances
While not all
sales reps have finance degrees, most get a pretty good "on the job
education" on a company's finances. Sales reps learn, by understanding
their cost of goods sold and driving gross profit, how important it is that a company controls expenses and drives profitable revenues.
Sales
reps get a crash course in the unique finances of the company they work
for and often advance into finance positions in larger businesses.
Dealing with People
Sales
professionals work with all types of people. They can meet with a
strong type A person during their morning appointment then follow that
meeting up with a sit down with an introvert before lunch.
To
be successful in sales, a sales rep needs to both build rapport and be
influential with all types of people. This skill will serve them well as
they advance their career, despite the possibility that they never move
into a management position. Just having the skills to be comfortable
speaking with all types of people is a huge advantage. And if you couple
that with the gift of being influential, you can see how far they can
go in their professional life.
Taking Rejection
As you
know, sales careers are not for everyone. One facet of a career in sales
that proves to be too much for some is all the rejection that sales
reps need to face. Sales professionals are rejected by customers,
prospects, competitors and vendors all the time. In other words, sales
is not a career for someone who can't handle rejection.
But if you
can put in a few years in a sales position, and learn how to properly
handle being rejected (over and over and over again!) you will be in a
stronger position no matter where your career path leads you.
Just
think of the confidence boost you'll have when being rejected doesn't
stop you in your tracks but only motivates you to push harder!
By Thomas Phelps
Sales Careers Expert
