Sales jobs have been considered as the most money-making jobs. In the world of cinema, people with sales jobs are presented as people making a lot of money. However, in the real world, you don’t become rich overnight by getting a sales job. If you want to make your career in the sales field, then you are required to obtain an entry-level sales job and work hard your way up. Of Course, once you have proven your talent, then only you can enjoy the perks that come with a sales job. In this article, you will learn all about what kind of skills and traits you require to get entry-level sales jobs, what will be your responsibilities as a sales representative, and the best entry-level sales jobs available in the market.
What is an entry-level sales job?
A salesperson is a person that sells products and services produced by an organization. In the present competitive times, companies hire sales representatives with excellent skills and vibrant personalities. However, no one is a born salesperson. People develop their skills by learning and getting relevant training.
Companies are also aware that most people that come for the sales job come with zero or minimal experience. Therefore, entry-level sales jobs are for those candidates who are qualified for the job but don’t have any prior sales experience.
What are sales at a respectable organization?
In a well-established and respectable organization, salespersons are not required to sell products by going door to door. In such an organization, entry-level sales roles contribute directly to the bottom-line of the company. Every little effort made by an entry-level sales rep helps in the growth of the company. In this way, you get the satisfaction of seeing your company grow because of your hard work.
The following are the things that you will notice working in a respectable organization.
- There will be well-crafted methods to reach potential customers.
- You will be required to understand the value and service of the product before selling it to a customer. You will be required to use a professional and articulated method to convince potential customers to buy the product.
- Identifying customers who can take benefits from the products produced by your company.
- Understanding what your customers want and then convey how your product can fulfill the requirements of your customer.
- Planning and preparing new strategies for potential outreach customers and streamlining messages of your products and services.
What isn’t sales at a respectable organization?
- Try to sell products to someone who doesn’t even need that product.
- Deploying different methods to get money out of people or scamming customers.
- Cold-calling people with zero knowledge about them and with no personal contact with them.
Skills and traits required for an entry-level sales job
However, employers don’t expect entry-level sales representatives to have sales experience, though having little experience in the field is always welcomed by most employers. Employers are more interested in the ability to learn new soft skills like professional work ethics and communication skills.
The following are the set of skills and traits that a sales representative must have to have a successful sales career.
1. Strong writing skills
In present times, sales are much more than just cold calling. The sales representatives are required to write error-free emails in a short period. Grammatical errors or a lack of writing skills can put a negative impression on your customers.
Many employers conduct a written assessment of candidates before hiring them.
2. Strong verbal communication skills
Strong verbal skills are necessary even if you are trying to get an entry-level sales job. The hiring manager world wants to know how well you can explain a concept, how long you can hold a conversation, and whether you are articulate or not. These verbal skills matter if you want to get an entry-level sales job.
3. Perseverance
Perseverance is a trait that a person who wants to get an entry-level sales job must-have. In the present competitive times, you will face different challenges and will face rejections several times.
In such scenarios, you are required to have the perseverance to get back as many as you get knocked down.
4. Work ethics:
If you have all the above traits, but you don’t have good work ethics, then no matter how hard you try, you can never succeed in the sales career. Sales jobs are unlike other jobs where you just do your part and leave things on the organization.
In a sales job, you are required to work hard to get successful. Remember that in the entry-level sales job, you get out what you put in.
5. Competitiveness
Last but not least, a sales representative must be competitive to succeed in the sales field. Healthy competition is good. It pushes you not only to perform well but outperform your peers.
When you compete with your peers to make more calls and get more orders, unknowingly, you get close to your target. Therefore, competitiveness is a trait that an entry-level sales representative should have to succeed in this field.
Tasks and responsibilities of an entry-level sales representative
If you have all the skills and traits that I have mentioned, then you are a fit for an entry-level sales job. But before you get an entry-level sales job, you should know what kind of work you will be required to perform as a sales representative.
The day-to-day tasks of all entry-level sales reps vary depending on the type of industry and the company they work for. However, the following are a few tasks and responsibilities that you will get when you land into an entry-level sales job.
- Researching and finding potential customers on different platforms like Linkedin, etc.
- Using innovative and subtle ways to get in touch with your potential customers, often with the help of social media.
- Crafting personalized emails and messages to grab the attention of potential customers.
- Contacting your potential customers by using different means such as social media messages, emails, or phone calls, etc.
- Taking follow up on emails and messages sent to them.
- Calling your prospects to follow up on your previous efforts.
- Scheduling meetings or call for account executives.
The best entry-level sales jobs
The following are the entry-level sales jobs that can help you start your career in the sales field.
1. Inside sales
Inside sales are one of the best entry-level sales jobs that can teach you skills that you will use throughout your sales career. Inside sales means selling your products and services through email, phone, or internet.
You will learn the skill of perseverance and to handle the rejections. Your communication skills will improve, and you will learn to deal with different types of customers.
2. Commission-based positions
Commission-based jobs are the type of entry-level sales jobs where you are not given a monthly salary for the work that you do, but you are paid in the form of commission for every unit that you sell. The one who can succeed in commission-based jobs can succeed in any type of sales job.
It is considered one of the hardest entry-level sales jobs, But at the same time, one can earn well by being in the commission-based position. In commission-based jobs, you will get a great experience and a strong start for your sales career.
3. Retail sales
Retail sales are the type of entry-level sales jobs that many candidates consider right after they finish their graduation. Retail jobs mean you will meet several customers in a day, and sometimes you will be required to handle multiple customers at the same time.
You will be working at different shifts. In this way, you can build skills of working round the clock, rapport building skills, as well as closing skills.
4. Insurance sales
The insurance industry is famous for hiring sales employees with zero or minimal experience. As an insurance sales representative, you will get trained to enhance your skills and will also get ample opportunities to build your sales skills.
5. Real estate sales
Real estate sales are also considered as the best entry-level sales jobs. As a real estate agent, you will either represent the seller or the buyer of the real estate property. However, this entry-level sales job is not as easy to get as the previous jobs that I mentioned.
You will be required to take a training course, qualify the exam, and obtain a license to work as a real estate sales representative. However, this entry-level sales job has the potential to help you start a stable sales career.
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