6 Reasons Why Sales Is A Great Career Choice For You

Have you ever thought that a job in sales is for you? Maybe you love discovering new items and hyping them up to your friends. Or you can probably easily pinpoint the unique selling proposition of an unpopular item and turn its reputation around. Or do you like interacting with different types of people and consider yourself a good negotiator?

Maybe you’re all that, and you’re beginning to think that you can start a profession out of those qualities. And if you need some convincing to finally dip your toes in sales, you’ll find below more than a handful of reasons to give this career path a serious chance.

Is sales a good career?

The truth is, only you can give a definite answer to this question. But if you’re basing it on the many professionals who have soared and succeeded in sales, then the answer is a resounding affirmative.

You can start a job in sales no matter your age or stage in your professional life. Some get into it right after university and stay as they climb up the career ladder. Others jump from other professions as they realise how their qualities fit the requirements of the job. Sales welcomes everyone–especially if you can reach your targets!

You see, there are as many opportunities in this career as there are as many types of salespeople you can be. Whatever product or service you’ll need to sell, your main task is to make your customers realise the benefits of their purchase. And if you can succeed in that, then you will have a bright future in this career path.

The relevance of sales today

The rise in popularity of online selling platforms has turned so many individuals into salespeople. Have you ever tried selling products through Lazada, Shopee, or LeLong? If not, then it’s more likely that you’ve made purchases through these. How was your experience with the seller? You can definitely pick up a few tricks in sales through those interactions.

eCommerce has played an important role in the growth of the retail industry. Despite these new developments, sales remains to be a relevant career choice, so much so that it is among the top eight in-demand job specialisations in Malaysia. Companies need sales frontliners who can help bounce back their revenues and strengthen their recovery after the pandemic. And that’s where you can come in!

A job in sales is nothing like how it was 10 or 20 years ago. The situation has drastically changed, but that does not mean the role has become less valuable. A salesperson these days is even considered a strategic advisor, who can help consumers sift through all the data and information available online. The job now entails identifying and balancing risks and rewards for the buyer. They should be experts in their chosen industry, which makes the career route only more exciting.

Reasons why you should choose a job in sales

Now that you know that a sales career is still relevant in this day and age, it’s high time you take a deeper dive into the reasons that choosing will be worthwhile. JobStreet identifies six points that can help motivate you to try your luck in sales.

1. Because a career in sales promises good compensation

The pay is great! How’s that to get you motivated to kickstart a job in sales? The earning potential in this career is very promising, whether you’re a newbie or a specialist already. This is because your compensation will be based on your effort. Your income is dependent on your performance, which means that the harder you work, the greater the pay.

Commissions can also be earned depending on how much you sell. For some companies, you get a percentage for every transaction made. While for others, you get a bonus if you hit a certain number of sales or reach a quota. There are numerous ways in this field to pad your salary as long as you hustle and put in the effort.

2. Because a career in sales offers limitless flexibility

In this job, your productivity is never enclosed in a definite space and timetable. Your output will be dependent on you, so that also means working at your own pace and place that is comfortable for you. There may be weekly or monthly targets set, but how you achieve those will depend on your resolve.

This flexibility also ushers in a better work-life balance. If you’re planning to take a spontaneous week-long break, you can do so as long as you’ve already hit your numbers for the month. A job in sales allows you to work as little or as much as you prefer. Here, you are even entitled as much freedom to customise your schedule. Sounds like a plan?

3. Because a career in sales leads to stable growth

The promise of consistent career growth is a compelling reason for many to stay in this career. Here, much learning and development can happen even on a daily basis. As long as you can adapt to strong sales cultures and hone yourself to be better at forecasting and strategising, then you can expect a bright future ahead of you. The compensation already sounds inviting, but doesn’t this aspect sound even more appealing?

Even if you enter the salesforce as an inexperienced fresh grad, you can expect to be promoted to a mid-level position and then a senior post without waiting for years. The key is to evolve along with your products through training and mentorships, which you, too, can conduct eventually.

4. Because a career in sales embraces experiences of every level

A lack of working experience is nothing to worry about if you decide to start a sales career. While other job postings will require a certain amount of experience as a requirement, a job in sales is more welcoming to the inexperienced. Some positions do not even require a college education or specific training to get hired. This accessibility and security are appealing factors for those eager to enter the workforce and build a lucrative career.

Even if you jump from a totally different career path, in sales, you can start from the bottom and learn from team members or your manager. There is also much opportunity for networking in this career, allowing you to meet new people who can help you along the way. And who knows? These crucial interactions might lead you on a path to becoming a company’s CEO, vice president, or top director.

5. Because a career in sales develops numerous transferable skills

Persuasion, creativity, adaptability, customer service, and active listening–these are just some of the soft skills that you can pick up and develop with a job in sales. These transferable skills will not only make you better at your present job but in any profession you wish to conquer in the future. Someone successful in sales also means they have an excellent work ethic–a trait highly prized in most industries.

A sales career readies you to face discerning clients and entice them to agree to certain transactions. Along the way, you pick up skills in effective communication, crisis management, collaboration, and negotiation. Aren’t these skills just as important in wading through life?

6. Because a career in sales sharpens time management skills

Weekly, monthly, and yearly targets mean you have to learn to manage time wisely. And if you want to gain higher commissions and even balance work and your life effectively, then you have to almost be an expert at it.

A job in sales is highly dependent on time. Run out of it, and you won’t sell enough–affecting your targets and compensation. There are numerous deadlines, too, that may involve some paperwork. So if you don’t plan how your time will be spent, then you might only be setting yourself up for failure. But on the contrary, proper time management will usher in growth and development–and even some of those rewards you’ve been eyeing all this time. That dream out-of-town trip? Possible, as long as you use your time well.

Starting a job in sales

Ready to get your sales career started? You might want to learn further by reading about the typical career path of a sales executive. And if you’re already decided to pursue this path, why not prepare your resume already? Another good action plan is to set up your profile on the JobStreet website. And make sure it’s already updated to reflect your sales-related skills.

On the website, you can also just type in “sales” in the search box to find thousands of related jobs that you can apply to. You can also check out the Career Tools page to learn more tips and tricks. You already have all these tools at your disposal to achieve that career in sales. Your first test? Selling your qualities and capabilities to the company–just like a true salesperson.

Your first test? Selling your qualities and capabilities to the company–just like a true salesperson.