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Every business relies on selling something. Whether it’s a storefront or a B2B service provider, there’s a sales process. The sales pipeline requires constant monitoring, and clients prefer to feel taken care of. All of these responsibilities come down to sales professionals.
Sales is not for everyone, but for those who fit in, it’s a highly lucrative and engaging career. In this article, we’ll talk about:
- The requirements for working in sales
- Common entry-level positions
- Career paths
Whether you’re starting in sales or looking to level up your sales career, the REDC has you covered. Take a look at a few of our sales and marketing courses:
Requirements For Working in Sales
Sales is a great career option for some people. It can be a highly competitive position, but people who have a certain personality, skills, and training can find a successful career.
A formal education is not necessary to start a career in sales. It’s more important to work on your skills through training and online courses.
Personality Type
Sales professionals talk a lot and spend most of their time connecting with other people. That being said, if you’re an introvert, then you may not be a good fit for sales. You can make it work, but it won’t be a natural fit.
The people who have the best chance of succeeding in sales have personality traits like:
- Extroversion
- Empathy
- Adaptability
- A can-do spirit
Salespeople need to be adaptable and willing to hear people out. It’s not enough to pitch someone a product or service, they need to meet people where they’re at and meet their needs.
Salespeople also need to be persistent and ok with rejection. They’ll hear “no” a lot, but it’s important to keep going in spite of what the outcome may be.
Training
Many organizations offer sales training that equips salespeople with the skills needed to effectively engage buyers. Sales training can occur in a formal classroom-like setting or in a workshop. Both are just as effective, but they each provide a unique perspective.
The REDC offers various courses on sales, including a course in sales fundamentals. This course will teach you everything you need to know about starting in sales.
Skills
The skills necessary for working in sales are mostly soft skills. They’re connected to how you work and communicate with others. These skills include:
- Creativity
- Adaptability
- Self-motivation
These skills can be learned, but some are more attuned to them than others.
Check out our article on the pros and cons of a sales career to learn if a sales career is right for you.
Common Entry-Level Sales Positions
Countless industries and organizations need sales professionals. Because of that, there are many career opportunities in sales.
Every organization will have different requirements for its sales workers, but there are similarities. Most positions will have a base salary and make a percentage in commission.
Because commission plays a role in how much money a sales professional makes, the base pay is often lower than the national average salary. However, depending on how well you do in sales, commission can increase your yearly pay significantly.
Sales Consultant - $66,000/year
Sales consultants are responsible for connecting buyers with the services or products they’re selling. They do this by creating and maintaining healthy relationships with qualified leads.
People in this role may sell anything from:
- Healthcare products
- Manufacturing products
- Marketing services
- Design services
While working as a sales consultant, you may also have some responsibilities in finding areas of improvement.
Sales Associate - $71,000/year
A sales associate also connects buyers to products, but the products they sell are typically retail-focused. These are the people who help customers find the right car, TV, computer, and home entertainment systems.
Sales associates need to know their products inside and out, especially if they sell multiple products that their buyers can choose from.
Sales Career Paths
After working an entry-level position for a time, you can move up to better-paying and more managerial positions. These will require experience and a good understanding of sales.
Sales Development Representative (SDRs) - $55,000/year
These sales representative help bring business to their organizations. They need to be well-versed in what the company does and the services it offers since they’ll be educating potential customers about the company.
The key responsibilities of a sales development representative include:
- Lead generation
- Prospecting and qualifying
- Pipeline management
- Building and maintaining relationships
Finding great prospects for organizations is key for SDRs. Their organizations require their leads to make money and get work done.
Account Executive - $79,000/year
Account executives are similar to SDRs, but they’re also responsible for maintaining relationships with existing clients. They work to drive revenue growth and client satisfaction.
The responsibilities account executives take on include:
- Developing business opportunities
- Negotiating contracts
- Traditional sales responsibilities
People who work well with others and get along with most people make great account executives.
Regional Sales Manager or Director of Sales - $95,000/year
These roles help manage entry-level sales representatives and overall sales efforts.
A regional sales manager position could include responsibilities such as:
- Managing the sales team
- Setting sales goals
- Training and developing talent
- Motivating and inspiring
This role is focused on developing a team of sales professionals who will reach and maintain sales goals for the entire organization.
A director of sales is more focused on high-level goals and strategy development. Their responsibilities may include:
- Analyzing market trends
- Setting goals and quotas
- Managing sales teams
- Collaborating with other departments
These two positions are similar and could be interchangeable depending on the organization’s needs.
Learn With the REDC
An entry-level sales position doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree, but online training can qualify you for the job.
The REDC at Yavapai College provides convenient online courses and career resources that can prepare you for almost any career.