Why Sales Might Be the Perfect Fit for You
Heading into my first semester at Babson, I had my heart set on pursuing a career in Marketing. I had loved my previous Marketing internships and thought there was no better fit. If NatureBox had not offered me a Corporate Sales experience, I might not have given Sales a shot.
The reality is, Sales is not a common pursuit for business students. Although students may dabble in Sales while paying back debt or waiting for a “job they really want,” Sales does not have the same attraction as the wealth of Finance or the fun of Marketing.
Many students never get the well-timed opportunity to explore Sales and thus never discover if it would be a good fit. Through my time here at NatureBox, I have come to the find that if a person possesses these three characteristics, they have a larger potential of a successful career in Sales. If these qualities accurately describe you, Sales just might be a perfect fit for you.
1. Ability to Bounce Back
No one enjoys rejection. It’s unpleasant to all, but only some can develop the tough skin and not take it personally. It takes dozens of uninterested leads before one deal closes. An expert salesperson expects that not everyone needs their product or service and focuses on those quality leads that are a good fit.
2. Self-Motivated Worker
Almost all salespeople are paid primarily commission with a supplemental salary. There is a lot of autonomy, and it is up to you how you want to utilize your workday. A Sales Manager supports instead of micromanaging closely as supervisors often do. Your effort is directly correlated to your income; therefore you must be proactive and continuously put in the effort to fill up your schedule daily with calls and meetings. In a sense, you are your own boss and you must hold the internal drive to maximize your time and consistently be reaching out to new leads. Therefore, work may not always be contained to typical nine to five hours, and you must be able to plan your day accordingly to your client’s schedule.
3. Can Roll With the Punches
The timeline of each sale is unique. You might just end up closing on the initial call or more likely; you will have to follow-up five times or more.
In fact, according to research by Hubspot, 80% of sales require five follow-ups at least.
You must be able to go with the flow and be flexible with each client. Each client has a unique circumstance and different concerns that you must be able to adjust to. There is no foolproof plan to closing a lead, and a successful sales person can thrive in the unexpected.
These three qualities mark the core of a master sales person. Sales is a lucrative and valued position because only a small percentage of the workforce hold these certain characteristics and hence, it can be tough for businesses to find the right sales team. Therefore, possessing these characteristics give you an advantage in Sales and should not be overlooked. It is also not too late to develop these skills. These three qualities can be applied to any industry, and you can only benefit by building tougher skin, self-motivation, and flexibility. Perhaps an exciting and profitable sales career is right in front of you!