Why can’t we dispel the myths about sales?

• Sales Talent pushes back against outdated sales roles stereotypes
• Financial independence and wellbeing benefits await graduates who move into sales
• It’s time to stop selling being seen as a fallback career option

A career in sales can be a rewarding, fast-track path to financial independence. So why is selling all too often seen as a fallback job?

The employment market is awash with those leaving school, college and university at this time of year. There are amazing sales careers out there waiting for them. The British Retail Consortium asserts that retail alone counts for 8% of all UK jobs, with retail sales in the UK worth £421 billion in 2021 according to Retail Economics. And that’s not even accounting for B2B selling, jobs in customer service, direct/field sales, export sales, IT sales, medical/pharmaceutical sales and so on. Suffice it to say, sales isn’t just about sitting in a call centre and talking to people about their toner needs.

UK sales transformation specialist Paul Owen, MD of Sales Talent, snubbed the idea of a career in sales for years. It was only when he was broke and desperate for a job that he gave a sales role a try. He never looked back and is now a passionate advocate for careers in sales.

“Sales isn’t about convincing people to buy something they don’t want. At its heart, selling is about helping people. About supporting them to understand their needs and then helping them find a solution that meets their needs. Once I understood that, I realised how positive and fulfilling a career in sales could be. It was a very exciting epiphany!”

Paul Owen, MD, Sales Talent

Paul now trains others to sell and delights in showing them how they can build their confidence. A Careerpass Network survey published in April 2022 found that 48% of graduates worried that their lack of confidence would hold them back when trying to secure a graduate job. Working in sales can help build that confidence, both professionally and personally.

“The biggest gift you can give anyone in sales is confidence. It changes everything. And that confidence comes from competence. If you give people the structure, practice and consistency they need to sell properly, confidence will naturally follow. That’s how you can elevate a company’s sales performance through training – there’s not some magic trick, it’s about giving people the confidence that empowers them to achieve.”

Paul Owen, MD, Sales Talent

Danielle Raymont has seen just how valuable a career in sales can be. She worked with Paul at Sales Talent during her university placement and then bagged a sales role with the firm when she graduated. Now in her late 20s, Danielle is financially independent, with all the freedom of choice that entails. She comments:

“Many people see sales as something of a last resort. But actually it can be an incredibly rewarding career. It’s a role that you can walk into with no experience, but which can have a major impact on your circumstances. Being able to become financially independent and in a position to buy a house just a few years after leaving university is more than just a fallback option. It’s about having choices that you wouldn’t otherwise have.”

Danielle shares Paul’s frustration that selling has such a bad rep when it comes to career choices. Sales has allowed her to build a career out of her love of helping other people. It has also made her more resilient and focused, as well as helping her to appreciate different perspectives and become more empathetic.

The fact that working in sales can deliver personal growth and wellbeing benefits is not to be sniffed at. A Gallup poll from August 2021 found that employees of all ages ranked “the organization cares about employees’ wellbeing” as among their top three criteria when asked about what they look for in an employer. For millennials and members of Generation Z, this was their top priority. Companies seeking to attract graduate talent therefore need to showcase how they plan to put wellbeing front and centre of their approach to employee retention.

“Sales ticks all the right boxes when it comes to attracting graduates. It’s a career that can deliver both challenge and excitement. It has the potential to deliver financial independence. And, with the right structure in place, it can do a huge amount when it comes to supporting employee wellbeing and personal growth. It’s time we stopped seeing ‘sales’ as a dirty word and encouraged more young people into these worthwhile and fulfilling roles.” 

Paul Owen, MD, Sales Talent

For more information, please call Sales Talent on 020 3859 2000, email admin@salestalentuk.com or visit https://salestalentuk.com/