Are you considering a career in sales? Maybe you’ll major in business first and then pursue management? Whatever your path to this career, here’s what you’ll need to know about working in this social and fast-paced career.
Network
When it comes to business, it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. The larger your network of professional contacts, the greater chance you will have of finding the sales job that you want.
Create a profile on LinkedIn to connect with professionals in your area. You can also use LinkedIn to reach out to people who are working in companies that you’re interested in. Then consider going to a career fair to see who is hiring sales professionals in your area and talk with as many people as you can.
Build relationships
Names are extremely important to remember. When you introduce yourself, try to repeat the person’s name a couple of times after you hear it. Give a strong handshake and look people in the eye when you talk to them. These physical actions indicate that you can be trusted.
If you want your customers to come back, you should make them feel welcome, appreciated, and maybe even a little charmed. Ask customers to refer their friends. Ask them how they think you’re doing. If you can, maybe even ask them to review the business online and mention your name.
Dress for success
You must look presentable if you are going to have a career in sales. Some companies will have a dress code, so you won’t have to worry too much about choosing your wardrobe. If you wear pants and a company shirt, then you can get by with good hygiene and a smile. A good rule of thumb in nearly any business is no jeans, no tank tops or T-shirts, and no open-toed shoes. Other than that, pants or skirts, jackets, collared shirts, blouses, sweaters, and closed-toe shoes are all acceptable.
Manage your money
A career in sales most likely will be commission based. This means that you will receive a base salary or hourly wage and also an additional percentage of your total sales per pay period. Your company will set goals for sales employees, but you will want to set earnings goals for yourself as well. Be flexible and remember some weeks or months will not be as good as others.
You should come up with a budget that you can live on with your base pay. Chances are if you’re in sales, you’re already good with numbers so take advantage of that knowledge to prepare for your financial future! Save, save, save.
Keep learning
Many people finish school with a sigh of relief, enter into a job, and never look back. This is not the path to career success.
Challenge yourself to read industry articles. Read up on sales tactics and what the top players in your industry are doing to make money. Follow those same people on social media and build a network of other professionals that you can learn from.
Written by Kathy Finsterle. Kathy was born in Jacksonville, NC and grew up in Virginia and Florida. She majored in English literature at the University of Central Florida and currently works with Remington College.
