So you want to move into Sales?

A sales career can be challenging, rewarding, full of variety and most of all lucrative. It is a dynamic position that calls for quick-fire thinking, a certain charisma, and a determination to succeed. Where many jobs can be repetitive and not offer any indication of how you are progressing, selling offers you the daily buzz of closing the sale, getting that bonus, and rising above your competitors. Selling is not for everyone but it is a skill and approach that can be learnt at any age. So here are a few tips for breaking into the world of sales.

1. You may be working within a large corporate enterprise and want to make that move into a selling arena. The first person you have to sell to is your boss. You need to be able to convince him that you are confident in your ability to sell and motivate others. These fundamental qualities can be shown in how you are dealing with team mates or with the people you supervise.
2. Nurture your interaction and communication skills. Selling is not just about direct bartering. Especially in the Business to Business world. It focuses on building strong and trusting relationships with clients. You will need to feel comfortable in this kind of environment.
3. You know you have the skills and techniques, now you need to build on your confidence. One without the other is a little like having the theory without the practical expertise - only a confident pitch wins the day. If you feel and appear confident about yourself, your business, and your product, this message will be picked up by the prospective client. Ensure you know your company and their products back to front and have faith in their unique selling points.
4. Seek out professional sales people who are experienced in selling. Don’t be afraid to spend some time watching how they work with their clients. Be humble – ask for tips and techniques. Bounce your own ideas off people you respect.
5. Learn the art of listening. It is a myth that it is all talking and a good salesman is someone who can talk the hind leg off a pony. The salesman needs to understand what the needs are so he can genuinely match his product to the client’s requirements. Being able to stop and listen is fundamental to building on-going business relationships.
6. Learn how to deal with rejection. Although difficult to deal with at first, successful sales people learn to use incidents where they have lost sales to teach them how they can be more effective in the future. So therefore don’t think of a rejection as a failure but more as a learning exercise.