Tweet

Sales Jobs

Written by: Stephen Potter

Article Overview: What does it take to succeed in sales jobs? What kind of characteristics should you be developing in order to become a leader in the industry? When many people think of a career in sales, they immediately rule it out, thinking that they don’t have the guts to know how to push products on people. But, while it is a difficult line of work to be sure, succeeding in sales is not as hard as you might think.

Sales Jobs

What does it take to succeed in sales jobs? What kind of characteristics should you be developing in order to become a leader in the industry? When many people think of a career in sales, they immediately rule it out, thinking that they don’t have the guts to know how to push products on people. But, while it is a difficult line of work to be sure, succeeding in sales is not as hard as you might think.

First of all, you need to be an independent person. If you are the type of person that needs to get the advice or approval of everyone around you before you make a decision, then sales is most likely not for you. You need to be able to think fast on your feet, and to think for yourself. On that note, however, you also need to be flexible. Sales is not about getting your way all the time.

You also need to like dealing with people. If you are the sort of person that rarely goes out to social events, and when you do, you stay by yourself in the corner afraid to talk to anyone, then again, sales is probably not for you. Sales is all about people – talking to them, getting to know them, getting to know what they want. If you are afraid to approach people, then it will be very hard to ever make a sale. On the other hand, however, if you love interacting with people, then it shouldn’t be too hard for you.

Sales jobs require that people are always prepared for the unexpected. It is not a line of work where you can predict what will happen from one moment to the next. You never know where your job could take you, who you could be talking with, and what the outcome will be. So, to succeed in this field, you need to be ok with change, and sudden change at that. Nothing is ever slow or gradual in sales.

You also need to be ale to multitask. You will never just be selling one product to one person at a time. A good salesperson is always selling. No matter where they go or who they’re meeting with, they always need to be working on finding out what that person wants and how they can help provide for that.

Finally, to succeed in this line of work, you need to be a determined and optimistic person. No salesperson has ever had a career that was unblemished by rejection. It is a natural and inevitable part of this career, and you need to be able to deal with that if you are going to keep on going. Learn to focus on your successes instead of your failures and you will see just how much farther you will get.

Sales jobs are some of the most challenging positions out there, but also some of the most rewarding. The bottom line is that if you think you are up to the task, and you are willing to put in the time and energy to get it right, you can.

Related Articles
  America's Most Wanted Workers
  Innovation Creates Leaders - Sales and Marketing Tips
  Steve Jobs Apple
  Chipping His Way To The Top: Jobs’ Success Factors
  Perks of a Good, Demanding Job

Article Tags: sales jobs, Sales jobs



Related Forum Posts
Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing
Re: Online Sales and Marketing vs Traditional - [quote="ltrahan":31w9r2iz]Hi Evan, I am noticing that many of the posts in the Sales/Marketing section deal with online marketing, SEM and and SEO and Affiliates. I was wondering if it might be a good idea to separate that section into two; 1) Online Sales and Marketing; 2) Traditional Sales and Marketing[/quote:31w9r2iz] I second the request...
Re: What If Steve Jobs Hadn't Returned To Apple In 1997? - Thanks for sharing with us Yinko. Steve Jobs is definitely a visionary. Not only his products are innovative in a technological sense, but he's managed to turn a tech-company's products into a lifestyle.... a lifestyle!! [quote:zfqoq43n]Fast Forward to today. Apple has the sexiest products in the business: iMacs, Macbooks, iPhones, iPods and more.[/quote:zfqoq43n] I think not only tech would be different (music players and phones), but ways we can think of marketing and branding. What Steve Jobs did was of course no easy task for the smaller businesses, but he did start somewhere. What I did not know was that Apple is worth about as much as Google. How do you think Apple accomplish what they did? In terms of strategy wise? If you could advice Steve on one thing, what would it be?
Re: Are you getting an iPad 2? - @GT - we can talk more about it once I get one and I'm happy to answer any questions to see if it might fit your lifestyle. @Yinka - Sorry, no payment from Steve Jobs... I wish!
Re: What are the top videos for entrepreneurs on YouTube? - I've seen the Steve Jobs video a few times and it is a great one. Off to watch David's suggestion right now. Thanks guys! I'll try to find one of my own to add to the list.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Effective Leadership

Are You Fulfilled

Designing Employee-Enhancing Training Programs

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.