Have you ever watched The Apprentice and thought you could do a better job of selling than the suits running around London like headless chickens in the hope of earning Lord Sugar's favour?
If so, why not try to make a career out of it? A job in sales can be rewarding and lucrative, with plenty of opportunities for progression. Here are a few reasons why becoming a salesperson might be right for you.
Show me the money
If earning a good wage is one of your main career aspirations, sales will be a sound choice. Many sales positions are commission-based, meaning you'll earn extra money on top of your salary depending on how much you sell.
This means your performance is directly connected to your pay and the better you are at your job, the more you will earn; not many other professions can say that. Businesses need good salespeople to survive and that means they often reward them with high pay and commissions.
Keep control
Another major positive associated with sales is the amount of control you have over your own working day. Salespeople are often responsible for arranging their own appointments and managing their day-to-day work. As long as you are bringing in the sales, it's common for your employer to leave you to your own devices.
Be a people person
Do you enjoy meeting new people and want a job that's highly sociable? Sales could be right up your street. Being a people person is key to success in this profession. Quite simply, if people don't like you they are unlikely to buy the product or service you're offering. Salespeople often have to deal with customers from all walks of life and building good relationships is key if you're to be successful in this career.
Look the part
If you're the kind of person who likes to look their best, sales allows you to get suited and booted every day of the week. Whether you're a man or a woman, image is important in sales and a good appearance will only increase your chances of closing a sale. What better way to spend your commission than on a new outfit?
Job security
Sales is a relatively secure profession to get in to. Businesses rely on salespeople to sell their products and services and there will always be a need for this kind of job. This means that if companies are forced to let staff go, sales personnel are likely to be in a more secure position than other workers.
Satisfaction
Salespeople love the feeling of closing a deal. When it comes to job satisfaction, it doesn't get much better than that. One of the best things about sales is that you get to directly experience the fruits of your labour and the results of your hard work as soon as you shake hands on that deal.
Moving on up
If you've watched The Apprentice, you'll know that sales skills are highly prized in the business world and many people start their career in this area before moving on to management and more senior roles. Indeed, even Lord Sugar himself started off as a salesperson.
Think you've got what it takes to be a success in sales? Take a look our guide to see if you have the necessary skills to make it in this profession.
