If you’re wondering if a sales job is right for you, we’ve come up with a list of things for you to consider. First, think about your personality. It takes a certain type of personality to succeed in sales. We’ve outlined a few key traits of a successful sales rep. 

The Personality

• Are you confident? You need confidence if you’re going to do succeed in sales. People are naturally attracted to confidence and they will want to hear more about what you have to offer if you radiate confidence. If you’re lacking confidence, prospects will doubt you, the products/services you are pitching, and the company you represent.
• Are you sociable? You’re going to have to make cold calls, send emails, participate in social media discussions, and maintain an online presence. If picking up the phone to make a phone call to a complete stranger sounds intimidating, you might not be cut out for a sales job. Nowadays, social selling is a crucial aspect of the sales process, so you’ll have to be prepared to interact with prospects on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
• Are you competitive? Sales is a highly competitive field. Other salespeople will be approaching the same prospects as you. What will you do to set yourself apart from the competition? Many salespeople are also competitive within their own team as each rep works diligently to achieve sales targets, quotas, and goals.
• Are you driven? You really need to be motivated in order to excel in a sales job. Consistent drive will help you stay on track when you’re faced with rejection. A highly motivated sales rep won’t let an obstacle interfere with her goals. You can’t take rejection personally. Keep track of your successes, strengths, and weaknesses. Learn from negative experiences, work toward improvement, and continue to assess your progress. A sales job requires continuous motivation and drive.
• Are you persistent? When a prospect dismisses you, you will need to be able to set aside feelings of rejection in order to persist.
• Are you enthusiastic? If you want to be successful in sales, you need to exude enthusiasm. If you can’t get excited about what you’re selling, why would someone buy from you?

There are many different types of sales jobs. Determine what type of industry you want to work in and then take a closer look at what a sales job in that specific field would be like. A sales job in pharmaceuticals would be very different from a car sales job. Perhaps you’re interested in selling real estate or maybe insurance. While many of the personality traits listed above apply to sales in various industries, you will want to think about other factors specifically related to your field of interest or expertise.

Get an inside perspective. Take the time to talk to different salespeople. Ask as many questions as you can. While each sales professional tells you about his/her sales job, consider his or her personalities as well. Are there similarities between sales reps? Do you see similar traits in you? What are their priorities in life? Can you see yourself doing this type of work long term?

Examine your motives carefully. Why are you considering a career in sales? What about sales interests you? You may be interested in a sales job because of the potential earnings. Perhaps you’re interested in travelling, networking, learning, and training. Whatever it is that interests you, remember that different sales fields may provide different rewards. Find out as much as you can about the industry you’re interested in and what that sales job would involve.

If you want to excel in a sales job, you need to be confident, sociable, competitive, driven, persistent, and enthusiastic. This type of work is highly demanding and can be overwhelming for those who do not possess these essential traits. Do you think you have what it takes to succeed in a sales job?