Sales Career Advice

Jobs in sales can cover a variety of industries and are usually in either business-to-business or business-to-customer. Sales roles can be involved in general sales or may require industry-specific knowledge if working in a specialist area such as pharmaceutical or medical sales. With sales jobs in everything from telecommunications and car sales to media and advertising sales, it is easy to find an existing opportunity in this industry.

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How to Work in the Sales sector

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to get a job in Sales

Should you wish to work in Sales you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for a Sales Job

  • 2 or more GSCEs (sales assistant)
  • 5 GCSEs (sales representative)
  • 2 or 3 A levels (shop manager)
  • Level 3 Diploma in Retail Skills Management (shop manager)

Core Sales Skills

A general sales role does not usually require a degree, but some graduate sales jobs do, in the medical or pharmaceutical fields, for example. Further training, as you work through your career, is usually part of the progression from entry-level sales to sales management jobs. You will need to be a great communicator and problem-solver to help you close deals 

If this sounds like you, then a sales career is certainly worth investigating. 

Key Responsibilities for a Sales Job

  • Building a network of potential clients
  • Contacting clients to arrange meetings
  • Planning marketing activities
  • Researching potential new businesses for sales opportunities
  • Increasing the value of the existing customer base by upselling
  • Attracting new clients through cold calling and other campaigns
  • Attending industry events
  • Creating proposals for clients
  • Meeting sales targets
  • Reporting to management on activities

What to expect in a Sales Job

Working in sales can give you an exciting career with many opportunities to try various industries and chances for progression. You can choose to specialise in a particular area or industry or move into different types of sales roles throughout your working life. The job requires an excellent ability to build relationships so that it will make the most of your communication skills.

Recommended Sales Jobs

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How to get Sales Jobs

Our advice on how to get a Sales job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete a Sales application. If you have not held a Sales position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held a Sales role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Sales CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Sales application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become a Sales in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become a Sales 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be a Sales and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Sales experience.

How to get Sales Experience

What does it take to be a Sales? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Sales jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Sales through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be a Sales Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Sales part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Sales or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Sales freelance work

If you have impressive Sales qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.