Sales is one of the most diverse and most reliable career fields to get into. There are openings from entry-level positions to top-level managers in practically every industry, and job growth is expected to continue at an average pace for the next decade.
You might consider a career in sales if you like talking to people, if you’re capable of persuasion and public speaking, and if you’re looking for something with a lot of long-term flexibility. But how can a college student prepare for such a career?
These are some of the best steps you can take now to get ready for a career in sales:
- Become familiar with core statistics. First, look at some of the data on sales, including email statistics and close ratios. Countless companies have published the results of their research to better inform salespeople around the world, and you can start developing the right skills and strategies if you start reading them now. Plus, you’ll have some powerful statistics to pull out at your first job interview, which can make a lasting impression on your interviewer.
- Shadow salespeople in different fields. Sales isn’t for everyone. You should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of the career, and what a “day in the life” looks like for a salesperson in each of several different industries. Tap your existing networks to find people in sales, including friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors, and see if you can shadow them for a day or two. If not, ask them about their experiences and whether or not they’d recommend it as a career path for you. You might be surprised at what you learn.
- Get used to talking with strangers. In sales, you’ll be spending a lot of time talking to strangers, so it’s important you get used to it early. Being able to strike up a friendly conversation with anyone—and make them feel welcomed—is going to be one of your most important skills. The good news is, you can develop this skill at any time and practice it almost anywhere. Step out of your comfort zone and try it!
- Develop experience in persuasion. Sales is also about persuasion, so take every opportunity you can to boost your persuasive power. This could means studying and employing the principles of persuasion in your daily life. It could also mean giving more public presentations, or engaging in debates. You could even practice your persuasion skills by negotiating every chance you get.
- Challenge yourself to handle rejection. One of the hardest parts of any sales gig is learning to handle rejection—even if you’ve done everything correctly. Fortunately, you can practice these coping skills in your daily life. Challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone regularly, and ask for things you know you may not get; for example, you can ask for free extra toppings from the pizza place. Over time, you’ll learn to accept that rejection is a part of life, and it won’t sting so bad when you face it in your career.
- Don’t neglect other opportunities for development. Even if sales are your main focus, don’t neglect other opportunities to learn and improve yourself. The best salespeople are well-rounded ones who can talk about anything, and who can approach people from multiple disciplines and walks of life.
- Consider specializing in a specific field. You don’t have to have a field of specialty to begin a career in sales, but it can help you gain an advantage over other competitors. For example, you might specialize in selling equipment to other business owners, or specialize in selling on behalf of a marketing and advertising agency. The best ways to get this experience are to take classes related to that specific field, and consider getting an internship at a company that aligns with those goals.
- Network like your life depends on it. One of the most important strategies you’ll use in your sales career is networking—the art of meeting new people, engaging with them, and building up your professional social circles. The earlier you start networking, the better, and for multiple reasons. For starters, you’ll build up your networking skills so they’re easier to employ once you’ve landed a gig. You’ll also use this time to build strong connections, which you can tap into to make sales later on. It’s also a good way to meet prospective employers, and get leads on job opportunities in the future.
Most sales positions, especially entry-level ones, won’t require you to have a college degree, but it’s still a good idea to get one. Majoring in a field related to the industry you’re most interested is a good idea, or you might major in Business, Marketing, or English—any of these fields will equip you with the business acumen and/or communication skills necessary to have a leg up on the competition. From there, it’s a matter of landing your first gig, and proving yourself in the market.