8 answers
Kenn
Student
Springfield, Virginia
1
Question
Updated
398 views
How would someone be able to develop their sales career path in college?
Currently in college and I recently started door to door sales. I do want to get more into sales stuff, but so far it’s complicated. I don’t really don’t know what degree I should go for and what the next step for my sales career is. I’ve seen stuff like industrial sales and med sales and real estate sales and SaaS and the such but it’s all pretty much jumbled up. Basically, I’m super new to the industry and wanted to ask how someone would be able to develop their career and the path in college if there is one.
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8 answers
Tasha Frazier
Software Sales
29
Answers
Aurora, Colorado
Updated
Tasha’s Answer
Hi, Kenn. Many individuals in the sales field have pursued academic degrees in areas such as Business or Economics, which is one possible route. However, there's a more direct approach to honing your sales skills: concentrate on courses, including online webinars and face-to-face seminars, that impart sales techniques. There's a wealth of excellent sales strategies available, such as the Challenger Sale, MEDDIC, Solution Selling, and Gap Selling. Acquiring a framework like this can assist you in creating a sales process that guides your customer from the initial prospecting stage through to the final closing and implementation. Even if you decide not to pursue a career in sales, this learning experience can provide valuable insights and help you decide if this is the path you'd like to follow in life. Good luck!
Thank you, Tasha!
Kenn
Marco Morales
Solutions Architect
9
Answers
Havertown, Pennsylvania
Updated
Marco’s Answer
Hello Kenn.
I've worked in sales for quite some time, and this includes working with people in different roles. I'll provide an answer to you as a student.
I am the technical expert on sales engagements, and I work most often with my salesperson. I often rely on my team that includes specialists during a sale, and people that perform implementation after the sale. We also have people that find new customers, and those that work with existing customers to help them use the product and expand their usage. There are more!
My question to you is: given there are multiple roles, which ones are most interesting to you? Your answer helps us provide a better answer to you.
I recommend you continue with your education because that will build on your foundation. Some disciplines require real study as you would expect. For example, medical devices need people that have been trained and studied the relevant disciplines. If you want to be a technology person, then the more mastery you have over relevant technology, the better.
In all cases, I believe the people that belong in sales are those that have a natural desire to work in their industry. Your enthusiasm is important, as well as the experience you have in the industry.
As others have noteded, there are reference materials for working professionals. These materials provide insights into the discipline, which is something we all have to do as part of the job.
Good luck out there and happy hunting!
I've worked in sales for quite some time, and this includes working with people in different roles. I'll provide an answer to you as a student.
I am the technical expert on sales engagements, and I work most often with my salesperson. I often rely on my team that includes specialists during a sale, and people that perform implementation after the sale. We also have people that find new customers, and those that work with existing customers to help them use the product and expand their usage. There are more!
My question to you is: given there are multiple roles, which ones are most interesting to you? Your answer helps us provide a better answer to you.
I recommend you continue with your education because that will build on your foundation. Some disciplines require real study as you would expect. For example, medical devices need people that have been trained and studied the relevant disciplines. If you want to be a technology person, then the more mastery you have over relevant technology, the better.
In all cases, I believe the people that belong in sales are those that have a natural desire to work in their industry. Your enthusiasm is important, as well as the experience you have in the industry.
As others have noteded, there are reference materials for working professionals. These materials provide insights into the discipline, which is something we all have to do as part of the job.
Good luck out there and happy hunting!
This was super helpful, thank you!
Kenn
Julia Singer
Field Marketing
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Julia’s Answer
I would suggest looking into the SDR (Sales Development Rep) & BDR (Businesses Development Rep) role. It's a great entry level role into tech sales specifically post grad. But transferable skills are your best resource when getting experience so I would suggest joining community groups or clubs and taking on a leadership role that you find interest in. A lot of sales is hearing no and learning how to work through the highs and lows of problem solving. A great salesperson is just solving an issue for a prospect with their product. A great book to read is The Challenger Sale. Lean on your network on Linkedin and build a profile for yourself there, look for any titles like "Sales Director" "Account Executive" " VP of Sales" " Director of Business Development" and ask them to mentor you.
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Thank you, Julia!
Kenn
Julia is absolutely correct. There are many different titles but for the most part you are looking for the titles that she is recommending above. They are going to look for degrees from either Marketing or Business. Many schools have some specialization in Sales.
I would also suggest that you think about the types of solutions that you would like to represent. Medical Sales will need some understanding of the solution as will software solutions. You might need to have some education or knowledge of those areas.
I hope that this helps. Good luck to you!
John T. Irwin
Shaneh Fielding
Account Executive
2
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Shaneh’s Answer
Hi Kenn! I went to school for Biological Sciences and ended up in tech sales so the great thing about sales is that it really doesn't matter what you go to school for specifically, although some fields may help you a little more. For example, a degree in software engineering or IT may help you understand tech more for a tech sales role. Regardless, whatever you go to school for - you will be fine! Sales is more about your personality and networking.
You said you're in door to door sales, that's a great first start. It's recognized as the hardest type of sales so if you can stick to that and show some numbers, future sales employers will for sure give you a shot. Any time you win an award, achievement or anything like that, put it on your linkedin. Even if you don't make a post, just add it under your role description. eg "Achieved highest number of sales for Q2", "Achieved 100% of quota in 2022"
Next what you'll wanna do is figure out what industry of sales you want to be in. I would recommend tech !! There's lots of money and for the most part, you get to work from home. But that's not for everyone. I used to have a job where i had a brand new company car and had to drive around to all the restaurants and hotels in my city which I liked it for the networking aspect. If you want to be in sales, you can sell anything. I know someone that sells paper, like the office. I used to sell cleaning chemicals. Now I sell software. So if you can figure out what you want to sell or an industry, start adding people from that company. Reach out to people in the starting roles and ask them for some advice on how they got in, if they can give you a referral, etc.. a referral is always the best way to go. And also feel free to add the managers as well. There's a lot of competition out there so do what you can to get noticed.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
You said you're in door to door sales, that's a great first start. It's recognized as the hardest type of sales so if you can stick to that and show some numbers, future sales employers will for sure give you a shot. Any time you win an award, achievement or anything like that, put it on your linkedin. Even if you don't make a post, just add it under your role description. eg "Achieved highest number of sales for Q2", "Achieved 100% of quota in 2022"
Next what you'll wanna do is figure out what industry of sales you want to be in. I would recommend tech !! There's lots of money and for the most part, you get to work from home. But that's not for everyone. I used to have a job where i had a brand new company car and had to drive around to all the restaurants and hotels in my city which I liked it for the networking aspect. If you want to be in sales, you can sell anything. I know someone that sells paper, like the office. I used to sell cleaning chemicals. Now I sell software. So if you can figure out what you want to sell or an industry, start adding people from that company. Reach out to people in the starting roles and ask them for some advice on how they got in, if they can give you a referral, etc.. a referral is always the best way to go. And also feel free to add the managers as well. There's a lot of competition out there so do what you can to get noticed.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Steffi Zubek
Sales
1
Answer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Updated
Steffi’s Answer
Hi Ken,
Consider starting in a Sales Development Representative (SDR) or Business Development Representative (BDR) position—both excellent entry points into tech sales for recent grads. Building transferable skills is essential, so get involved in community groups or clubs where you can take on a leadership role that aligns with your interests. Sales demands resilience, especially in handling rejection and developing strong problem-solving abilities. Successful salespeople focus on understanding a customer’s needs and offering effective solutions with their product. For an insightful approach, consider researching the Sandler Sales Methodology. Also, build a strong LinkedIn profile, and connect with experienced professionals like Sales Directors, Account Executives, or VPs of Sales who might be open to mentoring you.
Consider starting in a Sales Development Representative (SDR) or Business Development Representative (BDR) position—both excellent entry points into tech sales for recent grads. Building transferable skills is essential, so get involved in community groups or clubs where you can take on a leadership role that aligns with your interests. Sales demands resilience, especially in handling rejection and developing strong problem-solving abilities. Successful salespeople focus on understanding a customer’s needs and offering effective solutions with their product. For an insightful approach, consider researching the Sandler Sales Methodology. Also, build a strong LinkedIn profile, and connect with experienced professionals like Sales Directors, Account Executives, or VPs of Sales who might be open to mentoring you.
Ashley Claborn
Recruiter, Account Manager
2
Answers
Ruskin, Florida
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Hello! Sales can be a very tricky industry to get into. The best advice I can give is to reach out to professionals on LinkedIn and try to build your connections. Ask for shadow sessions and which ones offer internships. Keep track of your sales with door to door and make sure you put metrics down on your resume of your growth. How many items sold, margin, how many customers you reached per day, etc. Good luck!
David L. Phillips
Solution Consultant
4
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
David L.’s Answer
I have been in sales almost my entire career. I started in product support to learn more about the products. The best part of those pre-sales roles, was that I had opportunities to work with successful sales people in the company. Find a mentor that can help you get into sales. Start reading a studying trends in sales methodology to stay ahead of the curve. Validate those methods with people who do the job every day. Sales in an art. You will get lots of opinions and input. Over time you will find what works for you.
Kirstan Sandoval
Software Sales
2
Answers
Denver, Colorado
Updated
Kirstan’s Answer
Hello Kenn,
It seems like you're looking for guidance on the ideal college major that could pave the way for a successful sales career. The answer to this question is nuanced and depends on the specific sales field you're aiming for. For instance, if you're eyeing a career in medical device sales, a foundation in biology or chemistry could be beneficial.
A good approach might be to delve into companies or sectors that pique your interest, and subsequently explore their sales teams on Linkedin. Digging into their backgrounds could provide valuable insights into the kind of candidates that have been effectively recruited for the roles you're looking to secure. This will not only give you a clearer picture of the educational background your prospective employers might be seeking, but also spark more ideas about the entry-level positions you could potentially apply for.
I hope this guidance proves beneficial on your journey!
It seems like you're looking for guidance on the ideal college major that could pave the way for a successful sales career. The answer to this question is nuanced and depends on the specific sales field you're aiming for. For instance, if you're eyeing a career in medical device sales, a foundation in biology or chemistry could be beneficial.
A good approach might be to delve into companies or sectors that pique your interest, and subsequently explore their sales teams on Linkedin. Digging into their backgrounds could provide valuable insights into the kind of candidates that have been effectively recruited for the roles you're looking to secure. This will not only give you a clearer picture of the educational background your prospective employers might be seeking, but also spark more ideas about the entry-level positions you could potentially apply for.
I hope this guidance proves beneficial on your journey!