Why you want to work in sales would be demanded of you by your employer, and it is important that you know the best way to answer this!
Regardless of your age or stage of life, being a sales professional is an excellent career path.
But it has a bad reputation.
It may not ring true today, but years ago, popular culture portrayed salespeople in an unflattering way.
The image was a suspicious used car salesman pushing people to buy something they didn’t need, didn’t want to, or couldn’t afford.
Perhaps this is the image he conjures up in his head:
However, salespeople in today’s world deserve to be seen differently because sales have changed and the role of the salesperson has changed.
How sales (and sellers) have changed
Today’s salespeople should be viewed as credible entrepreneurs, creative, independent, and attuned to the risks and rewards of running a business.
They no longer accept purchase orders or push products. They are trusted helpers and advisers, and they have to be.
Let’s face it, today’s shoppers have more power than ever.
They can research a product or service digitally through websites, forums, social media, and free trials.
94% of B2B buyers report doing some kind of research online before purchasing a commercial product, and 95% select a vendor that provided them with extensive content to help navigate through each stage of the sales process. purchase.
Buyers no longer have to talk to sales reps to take action. That’s why, rather than order takers, salespeople should be consultants, establish expertise, and position their solution in a way that connects the dots between the prospect’s business, challenges, and goals.
To quote Jeffrey Gitomer from Little Red Book of Selling:
“The new way of selling requires more work on the part of the seller. More research, more preparation, more knowledge, better presentation skills, more value differentiation, and more testing.”
They are no longer the shady used car salesmen of the past.
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But wait, aren’t sales work going away?
If you are thinking about Amazon and other tastes that are taking over traditional businesses and reducing the number of jobs in retail sales, then yes, but I am talking about sales professionals in the business-to-business (B2B) business. space.
There is an important distinction between this type of sales job and a job in retail sales. Selling in the B2B space is ready to be chosen.
Why do you want to work in sales: what to know?
So why choose a career in sales? Consider these seven reasons:
# 1. High-income potential
There are very few careers that offer the earning potential that sales work do many have unlimited potential.
In sales, you reap what you sow; In other words, your income is based on your effort and performance.
You probably have a goal or quota that you need to meet every month, quarter, and year, but when you do, you are rewarded.
Those rewards can come in the form of commission checks, annual bonuses, trips, prizes, and many other incentives.
And while the overall median salary for a position in this field is $ 54,550, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are plenty of sales jobs that will earn you twice as much.
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The trick is knowing which sales careers lead to six-digit salaries.
Some professionals analyzed its extensive user database and found that jobs in wholesaling and manufacturing, as well as jobs selling property, were the best.
Those who hire sales professionals hire them to increase their income. Without sales, the growth of a business can collapse and the doors will close.
Businesses know that selling is not an easy job because it requires a consistent “can do” attitude in the face of rejection; that’s why they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get the right people and keep them motivated with competitive compensation.
# 2. Job security
As mentioned above, sales work are a fundamental component of any business. So much so that more than 15 million people work in the sales industry in the US alone – that’s about 5% of the total population.
There is no other department or business function that has a greater impact on developing cash flow more important than the sales department.
If you are an effective salesperson with a proven track record of generating business and building relationships, you have significant market value.
Despite new technologies, tools, and business models, the skills and competencies of sales professionals will always be crucial to building relationships, closing deals, and finding new opportunities.
If a business is in trouble, successful salespeople are often the last to be eliminated because cutting sales means cutting the channel that generates revenue.
It is not a good strategy for companies trying to stay afloat.
#3. Flexibility
Many sales work positions have the benefit of flexible hours.
While the amount of flexibility depends on the job and the company, most sales professionals are free to set their daily hours, as long as they meet the activity requirements.
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For example, your business may have a weekly first date number that all salespeople must reach.
As long as you hit those numbers and don’t abuse your freedom, you can plan your days however you like, allowing you to establish a better work-life balance.
On a personal level, this type of accommodation allows you to avoid the rush hour commute in the morning, run a few quick errands during the day, or be home to pick up your kids from school.
On a professional level, having this flexibility allows you to choose the work environment that makes you most productive, allows you to work at your own pace, and allows you to schedule your day in a way that best suits your needs.
When you feel a greater sense of control and ownership over your life and work, you will have better relationships with your boss and co-workers, as well as feeling more motivated and less stressed.
#4. Continuous skill development
Opportunities to keep learning, growing, and developing your skills abound in sales.
Selling requires constant improvement and honing skills new and old alike.
For example, when new techniques, technology, and trends emerge. Your decision-making may seem like a tried and true skill, but this is another skill that also needs continued practice and refinement.
Pipeline management is another skill that may need refinement as new processes and techniques are developed and buyers change.
Not only do you need to be able to assess your sales flow and forecast your results for the week or month to know how close or far you are from reaching the goal, but you also need to be creative and strategize to complete your workflow. or give you ideas on how to take a potential customer to the next step.
Also, depending on your role, you may need to brush up on how to properly prioritize your opportunities, balance your sales channel, or manage your time.
Managers may need to review how to harden their systems during regular weekly team meetings and one-on-one meetings, as well as how to develop a strong sales culture, forecast more accurately, and strategize sales more effectively.
Even when I speak to some of the more seasoned salespeople, who have excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, they still find that the training strengthens and hones those skills even further.
#5. Professional trampoline
Let’s be honest; Many people may not dream of a career in sales, and that’s okay.
However, it is a great springboard for many other careers.
The CSO Insights research analyst spoke to a variety of business managers, trainers, executives, marketers, technical specialists, and university professors and found that they had sales experience and quickly recognized the skills acquired in their sales roles.
This may be of particular interest to recent college graduates, young professionals, or career changers who have their dream job in mind but, without work experience, have not been able to find an entry point.
#6. Master the skills on demand
In sales, you will develop and master skills that you can use to prosper in any area of ​​your professional life; skills that are transferable and applicable to any role you may take on in the future.
# 7. Challenges and rewards
People like to win and feel that their work makes a difference.
Knowing that your efforts outperformed the competition and helped your client solve a business problem can be even more rewarding than the income earned.
While the emotional rewards vary dramatically from one sales job to another, the excitement of your victories, the income rewards, the flexibility associated with sales, and the fact that you are creating and securing employment for others makes choosing a career in sales are very attractive. option worth considering.
