Deal or No Deal: A Guideline for a Career in Sales
Does a career in sales interest you? Are you on the ropes because you’re not sure if it would be the right fit? Or are you confused with what the role truly entails? Well, no worries! Here’s a beginners guide to one of the most fulfilling careers you can do.
Misconceptions
I know what you’re probably thinking: I could never be one of those greedy con artists who manipulates people to get money. Admittedly, I used to buy into this popular notion that sales representatives are just looking to get that sweet commission and satisfy their sociopathic itch by any means. However, when done properly, sales is fulfilling a need on both the buyer (what you sell) and sellers (usually money) end. There’s no manipulation involved.
Another misconception about sales is that you have to be extroverted. Although this role does require you to be talkative, that’s not always the case! Sales departments need introverted people because they can actually listen to the customers’ needs to gain a better understanding on how to help them!
Why are sales important?
It’s simple: salespeople bring in money to their company. That’s it. Without the funds generated by sales reps, then there is no product for the public.
What sales reps do
No. You don’t have to go door to door and try to sell something- maybe at times. The world of sales has evolved drastically in the last decade and now sales reps rely on technical tools as much as they do on their soft skills like verbal and written communication. In order to maximize their outreach, sales reps automate their search for leads by using tools such as LinkedIn’s Sales Navigator, Hunter.io, and Salesforce to save them time. Additionally, sales requires reps to be able to be extreme planners. Being able to juggle the demands of scheduling demos with account executives, following up with prospects, building lead lists, and much more can be overwhelming. Thanks to great organizational skills, salespeople are able to manage.
Am I right for the position?
I want you to ask yourself a couple of questions: Are you able to handle rejection? Do you like challenges? Can you manage a stressful workload? Being a salesperson isn’t meant for someone who folds under pressure when it comes to things like quotas and rejection. The best way to describe it would be: if they get knocked down, they get up and go back for more! So, if you answered yes to those questions, you are all set!
In Conclusion
Although there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the role of sales, salespeople are the foundation to any company. If you think you can manage the expectations above, it should be a hand in glove fit!
