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Is a career in sales too boring for graduates?

Sales brings up images of a loud, chaotic office โ€“ row after row of suited youngsters behind busy desks, calling up elderly citizens and convincing them to purchase insurance they donโ€™t need.

Of course, this is not the reality of sales. Sales differs depending on industry and what is being sold; one sales job might be very different from another.

However, research demonstrates that many UK graduates are hesitant about taking a job in sales, despite the fact that on average 20% of live roles on graduate jobs boards are related to sales.

Graduate recruitment firm, Inspiring Interns conducted a survey on 250 university students on their perceptions of sales jobs. They found:

  • Only 2 in 10 would consider sales as a careers option.
  • Common reasons for not considering sales as a career include โ€œnot wanting to pester peopleโ€ (34%), โ€œfinding it boringโ€ (28%), โ€œlack of creativityโ€ (17%), โ€œhigh pressureโ€ (13%) and โ€œcompetition at workโ€ (8%).
  • 65% assumed that those in sales are required to make 100+ calls a day.

This may well be the case for some sales roles, but the average sales person makes 60 calls a day.

Students would be more likely to consider sales if they came from degrees in economics, business and marketing.

Reasons given for considering a role in sales include โ€œusing presentation and negotiation skillsโ€ (36%), โ€œhigh payโ€ (25%) โ€œitโ€™s fast-paced and excitingโ€ (18%), โ€œface-to-face interactionโ€ (12%) and that โ€œitโ€™s challengingโ€ (9%).

The research also demonstrated that job titles are important when advertising for sales roles. Account executive and business development executive were reported as the most popular titles, at 50% and 35% respectively. Sales executive in contrast only received 10% and field sales executive a mere 5%.

Sales survey infographic

Why consider a role in sales?

  • The average starting salary for graduates for a sales role is ยฃ23,000 (Total Jobs) and most sales roles have commission on top โ€“ something uncommon in other industries.
  • Sales staff are required in a variety of industries.
  • A role in sales gives you experience in communicating, negotiating, giving presentations, being adaptable and flexible.

Sam, Head of sales at Inspiring Interns comments:

โ€œSales roles are the hardest to fill. There is a perception that sales roles arenโ€™t as fulfilling as other careers, but sales can be fulfilling as you are working directly with people every day. It requires being thick-skinned but also possessing and developing excellent communicative skills. Having strong passion and knowledge for the industry youโ€™re working within is imperative.โ€™

James, 21 โ€“ business development executive at a large marketing firm comments.

โ€œI wasnโ€™t sure about going into a sales role as I had the idea it would be totally demoralising and not using the skills gained in my degree. Six months in and I love the job. Itโ€™s not all cold-calling but also attending meetings with leading specialists in many fields and pitching our services. Itโ€™s made me more confident and comfortable speaking to people from all walks of life.โ€

Ella Patenall writes for Inspiring Interns, which specialises in sourcing candidates forย internshipsย andย graduate jobs.