Many business students today are under the impression that there are only a few career options after they graduate from university: finance, accounting, marketing, HR, and strategic management (consulting). For some reason, sales is always excluded from this list. When speaking to students, sales usually evokes the image of their grandfather in the ’20s trying to earn a living through selling life insurance. Things have obviously changed since then, but the underlying success of sales is still personality, perseverance and hard work.

Here are some reasons why you should consider a career in sales:

1. Sales will draw on your university knowledge

Sales is a career that I consider to be an amalgamation of all the various business courses that I took in university. It will require you to have an understanding of your company’s marketing strategies, your client’s organizational behaviour, your company’s financing options, and let’s not forget: forecasts and budgeting!  

2. Sales provides an excellent learning experience

As a recent graduate coming out of university, chances are that your resume will be pretty sparse. Sales is one of those careers that is willing to accept new graduates and nurture them through experiential learning. It is a great way to be able to receive immediate gratification as you are dealing directly with your clients and managing your own pipeline. Sales requires you to be resourceful and organized, which are imperative skills that will prove to be useful, regardless of whether you choose to stay in sales or move into another career.   

3. Sales is fun and fast paced

Sales is a great place for a young person to start a career. Instead of a monotonous desk job, sales is exciting and fun. The adrenaline associated with dealing directly with a client or closing a sale cannot be associated with any other career. Sales also tends to attract outgoing and fun personalities which liven up the work environment and make for great friends!

4. Sales gives an opportunity for monetary growth

As a business student, I know that money is always a consideration in your mind. Compared to other entry level positions, sales positions provide significantly higher opportunities to make more money. Commissions are a great way to directly see the positive impact of your hard work. The more deals you close, the more money you get in your pocket! How’s that for a positively sloped linear regression?