5 reasons why working in sales is a great first job - Viewpoint - careers advice blog Viewpoint careers advice blog

5 reasons why working in sales is a great first job - Viewpoint - careers advice blog When I first started working at Hays, I refused to admit that I was working in sales. I remember telling a lot of my friends that I got a job at a consulting firm. Like many graduates I meet, sales isnt a glamorous word I wanted to be associated with, and I thought the idea of being called a salesperson was enough to put my entire education to shame. However, over the years, I have come to embrace the idea of working in sales. Ive come to learn that sales is an essential skill to own and certainly a lucrative one if you master it. Ive also come to realise that many professions are in fact sales-related-investment banking, law, accounting, education, and even CEOs. Having recruited for different sectors in banking, finance, property and FMCG, I have to say that if you want to get ahead in your career, you need know how to sell. So if having strong sales skills  is such an integral part of building a successful career, why is it that so many graduates are reluctant to start their career in sales? In this post, Id like to share with you why I am an advocate of working in sales, particularly for fresh graduates. Ill share with you what Ive learnt over the years, and why Ive come to LOVE being a salesperson. 1. You learn to have thick skin: One of the first lessons youll learn in sales is that rejections and objections are simply part of the job. Getting from a no to a yes is no easy feat it takes skills,guts, patience, but more importantly, resilience. Similar to sales, most jobs require resilience. Its not uncommon in the business world to have to fight for your case and  persuade  stakeholders to agree with you. I am thankful for learning this early on in my career as a result of being a recruiter. Nowadays, I dont take criticisms as personally, and I see every no as a step closer to a yes. 2. You see the fruits of your labour:  When I ask some of my friends why they despise their jobs, one of the most common responses I get is that they dont feel like theyre seeing their hard work paying off. In sales, this is definitely not the case. As a recruiter, I was constantly surprised by how closely related  handwork  and result is. Its really true that the more you put in, the more you get out of it. Being a salesperson typically gives you exposure to the end-to-end process you begin with an initial interaction with a client, and you finish with closing a deal all handled by yourself. It is a lot of hard work, but the great thing is you really get to see and feel your  hard work  paying off. 3. You really get to deal with different people:  Whilst a lot of professions claim that you will meet different people on a daily basis, the end result is that you end up meeting the same types of clients with the same needs. In recruitment, I was exposed to two types of people: those looking for a job, and those looking to hire people. Within those two groups of people, I can’t begin to describe how many different personalities, backgrounds, professions I encountered. You simply never know who you’ll meet or talk to on any given day. What this has taught me is that to build relationships and rapport with people, you need to start with being flexible yourself, never assume and always listen. 4. You learn how to communicate effectively: Effective communication isnt just how well you speak to people; its more around how you build relationships and  trust with those who are different to you. I learnt early on in my career that communication is key to success. Communication to me in 20% WHAT you say and 80% HOW you say things. Communication is also about your ability to ask questions and listen, rather than just talking about what you can do. 5. You see the bigger picture: To be successful in sales, one must learn to thinkboth small  andbig-picture.  In this competitive world, successful salespeople can no longer just rely on the gift of the gab. They need to be well versed in micro and macro-economics, understanding how the larger world words and what really sets yourself apart from others. In recruitment, you learn to run your business through strategic business planning â€" focusing on achieving short-term and long-term results. You learn to assess risk and identify potential threats to your business, and most importantly, you learn to be accountable for your work. There’s really no one or no “market condition” to blame when it comes to results â€" it’s all up to you. Four years ago I made the decision to move from front-office recruitment to training. Though on the surface it may seem like I’ve given up on my career in sales, the reality is very different. I’ve been so blessed to have learnt the science and art of sales that I feel the need to inspire and educate others to also flourish in this area. As I’ve stated before, sales is everywhere, and training is of no exception. My role now requires me to “sell” more than ever, selling ideas and techniques to new joiners, strategies and beliefs to managers, and skills to my team. The salesperson in me is still very much alive â€" and that is why I still do what I do. So for those of you interested in working in a sales-driven environment, my final word of advice for you is this: You will work harder than you’ve ever worked, but you’ll also achieve great things if you put your heart to it. Hays is currently recruiting for multiple levels of recruitment consultants from graduates to experienced recruiters,  visit http://www.haysplc.com/join-hays for more information. //