8 years ago
September 26, 2016

Why You Should Try Out Different Types of Sales Roles

Whether you’re starting a career in sales or you’re in a sales rut, trying out different types of sales roles is a great solution.

Rhys Metler

Working in sales isn’t for everyone, but if you’re entering the job market and considering a career in sales, there are a number of directions you could go in. While the perception of working in sales is recovering from the negative stereotype of being pushy or dishonest, it’s a career with potential for personal growth, professional rewards, and financial security. Different types of sales roles require diverse skills and qualities to make a great sales person, so it’s worth experimenting to see which is the best fit for you.

Here’s why you should try out different types of sales roles.

New Experiences

The best sales people will actively seek new challenges, and engaged and passionate reps will want a stimulating and exciting job. When you experiment with different types of sales roles, you find yourself facing new challenges to overcome, and this can be what it takes for you to go from being a mediocre sales person to an excellent one. By putting yourself out of your comfort zone and seeking new sales experiences, you’ll learn how to become resourceful, overcoming objections and obstacles that may be novel to you. Exposing yourself to new sales roles can diversify your knowledge and improve your ability to come up with creative solutions.

As you broaden your scope and add new experiences to your resume, you’ll show employers that you’re versatile and able to tackle new problems without panicking or dropping the ball.

Finding Your Best Opportunities

A career in sales isn’t for everyone. If you’re struggling to make it as a salesperson, it’s worth considering whether you’re just performing the wrong role for you. Maybe you need to be debriefed on different types of sales roles to find the right fit. For example, if you want to be out looking for new leads in outside sales or lead generation, you’ll need to be extremely self-motivated and goal oriented. If you have trouble setting your own deadlines but have excellent interpersonal skills, you may be better suited for client services or inside sales where your role would be to nurture existing clients and their concerns.

Part of pursuing a career in sales is finding the best match between your skills and the sales opportunities out there. “Working in sales” no longer means going door-to-door with a product in hand or working in the retail industry; there are a number of different roles that may be better suited to you.

Losing Motivation in Your Current Role

It’s possible you’re already a great natural sales person; you meet your quota, enjoy seeking out and building relationships, and have a knack for listening. But is your current sales role pushing you to your ultimate potential? It’s easy to get too comfortable in a job, and part of that is being satisfied with meeting the bare minimum for expectations. One of the selling points of starting a career in sales is the high pay; when you’re working hard, you can achieve the financial security that isn’t as easy with other jobs.

When you try out different types of sales roles, you may find a position that challenges you in new ways. All of a sudden you’re not merely interested in meeting your quota, but you’re motivated to surpass it—and the benefits are worth it.

Impressive Career Trajectory

Showing that you’re versatile and not afraid of a new challenge looks great on an impressive sales resume. When you’re able to show that you’re successful in a number of sales roles throughout your career, an employer will immediately recognize that you’re top talent. This can lead to exciting new opportunities for professional growth.

Rhys Metler

Rhys is a tenacious, top performing Senior Sales Recruiter with 15+ years of focused experience in the Digital Media, Mobile, Software, Technology and B2B verticals. He has a successful track record of headhunting top performing sales candidates for some of the most exciting brands in North America. He is a Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) and has expert experience in prospecting new business, client retention/renewals and managing top performing sales and recruitment teams. Rhys enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and daughters, BBQing on a hot summer day and tropical vacations.

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