Top Reasons to Pursue a Career in Sales

A surprising number of high school and college graduates don’t have a clear idea of what their career options are in the professional world. They may have focused on a specific field they’re interested in but are never really taught the different jobs available in it. For people with outgoing personalities, a competitive drive, and a desire to make lots of money, a sales position may be the perfect fit!

It’s the Clearest Road to the Top

In most industries, members of sales management, CEOs, and general managers rise through the ranks of their organization. Many people don’t realize that most of them came up through sales.

There are several reasons for this. First, the skillset it takes to successfully make deals, manage expectations, and deliver on promises all translate directly from sales to management. Second, in most businesses, the sales department is the lifeblood that keeps the lights on. If revenue is not in a good place, the company is not in in a good place. This is where it’s crucial for upper managers to understand sales, so they can motivate and help their sales team.

You Get Back What You Put In

While it varies from industry to industry, most businesses pay their sales forces on commission. That means that sales people receive a percentage of the value of the revenue they bring in. For example, if a sales person is on a 10% commission structure and they bring in a $10,000 transaction, they will receive $1000 commission.

Some companies operate with a “floor” or guaranteed wage plus a commission percentage. Others run off “straight commission” where a salesperson’s salary is determined entirely by the revenue they bring in. Those structures usually offer higher percentages, and while they are a little riskier, they can offer massive income potential.

Regardless of the structure, hard work and results are rewarded. A successful salesperson gets back what they put in, in the sense that the more business they generate, the more commission they are paid.

You’ll Have Lots of Employment Options

If you stop to think about it, almost every for-profit industry has some sort of sales department. While there are certainly many different sales philosophies and approaches to closing deals, most of the basic tenets apply to sales in any industry. In other words, if you sell cars, you explain the benefits of a certain model, negotiate the price, overcome objections, and offer follow-through and care after the sale. The same is true if you sell advertising, software solutions, or insurance.

An accomplished, successful salesperson is always in demand. While you don’t want to have a resume littered with short stints, your employment options are vast. It’s much easier for employers to train a new salesperson by explaining their product or service’s features and selling points than to have to train them on the skills required to sell it.

You’re Helping Others Succeed

The best salespeople believe and understand a simple truth: the goods or services they are selling will improve the lives of their clients. This empathetic approach sounds simple, but it must be genuinely lived to succeed. Think of this example: an advertising sales expert calling on a new restaurant can offer exposure and awareness. They can tailor their marketing message to inform the public about lunchtime or happy hour specials. Their efforts can get people in the door, helping the restaurant succeed and thrive.

The same is true for business-to-business sales agents. An account executive selling computer software to make a company run more efficiently will save its employees time and stress. A sales rep selling hardware for anything from specialized machinery to parts will help that business build their product. The list goes on.

Sales is all about relationships and knowledge about the products being offered. A driven sales person can make considerable money, rise to management, or transfer to other businesses or industries smoothly, all while helping serve clients. For many people, sales is an easy pathway to success and satisfaction!