Did you feel boxed in by your major throughout college– meaning you didn’t get the opportunity to explore another area of study? Business students often face this challenge. Business majors must select an area of study within their college and learn the applicable skills for their major. Committing to one field may be scary, but rest assured: your business degree prepares you for various jobs. One of the many jobs you can pursue are entry-level sales positions— a solid career choice that leverages the transferable skills and qualifications you attain as a business major. Read on to learn more about why business majors are a great fit for an entry-level sales representative role.
Can you go into sales with a business degree?
Yes, entering the sales field is common with a business degree. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, business is the most common field of study for those in sales positions, but there are many specializations within the larger “business degree” umbrella. Other popular majors within the field transitioning to entry-level sales include marketing, business management, and finance, though companies often consider diverse educational backgrounds as a benefit when hiring salespeople.
Can a marketing major work in sales?
Sales and marketing typically go together in the corporate setting, with marketing generating leads for sales representatives. With those leads, salespeople make the pitch to clients. Students who specialize in marketing have segmentation skills, meaning they can identify patterns and common traits that can be used to communicate to different types of customers. From messaging tactics to presenting offers, marketing knowledge enhances the sales representative’s ability to create meaningful relationships and generate sales. This results in a customized strategy for their wide-ranging customer base, which proves to be highly beneficial.
Can you go into sales with a business management degree?
A degree in business management and a sales representative role go hand-in-hand. Having a grasp of business strategy and operations helps professionals excel in their positions. It means knowing not only how your own company works, but also how your clients’ organizations are structured. Even in an entry-level sales job, this knowledge can assist with handling organizational barriers and proposing the right solutions.
Can a finance major go into sales?
A finance major would be a good fit for an entry-level sales position, given their educational background. A major topic covered in finance courses is risk assessment. By understanding the concept of risk, finance majors can evaluate potential clients and deals and prioritize the ventures that have longevity. Sales representatives with this degree are trained with quantitative skills, translating to strong numeral skills that can assist in pricing strategies and demonstrating ROI to clients.
What qualifications do you need for sales?
Given the course load business majors have, their education helps shape their skills, knowledge, and overall qualification set. A common topic business majors are educated on is consumer behavior. The course helps students understand purchasing patterns and market interactions, enhancing their ability to effectively engage and persuade potential clients in sales.
Communication and presentation skills developed in business school help students master the ability to effectively engage their target audience. Without these skills, sales representatives are more likely to sound repetitive and can confuse the potential client. Besides presenting, schools like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) educate business majors on how to effectively inform and persuade others using data. Knowing how to communicate data effectively will assist sales representatives in explaining the significance of their product or service. Given this ability, business majors are qualified for a sales position.
While this is not a requirement for most sales jobs, fluency in more than one language is a competitive skill. In fact, most colleges, specifically the top best undergraduate business programs, either recommend or require a foreign language to graduate. Obtaining this qualification allows a sales representative to build a diverse client base, many who have been neglected due to the language barrier. Due to this, candidates with this knowledge are qualified for positions that require biliteracy.
Beyond academic qualifications, it is important to note that there are personal attributes that contribute to a strong sales candidate. To review our top four personality trait breakdowns for a salesperson, click here.
Why is a business degree actually beneficial?
A business degree is beneficial because it provides a world-class education about how the business world works, broadening a person’s perspectives. Even though most business majors choose a specific concentration like marketing, finance, or accounting, they are still required to take general business education courses. General courses, otherwise known as business fundamentals, allow students to learn and understand how topics like law, economics, and advertising affect their sales jobs. Understanding this knowledge is essential since there are many factors within a business that make a sale happen.
According to the Stern School of Business at New York University, all business majors must take a “social impact core.” The purpose of this education requirement is to inform students how professional responsibility goes far in the business world. As a part of this curriculum, environmental and social concerns along with sustainable business practices are included. While having this course is an industry standard across all colleges and universities, it is essential to highlight that a business degree is not limited to numbers.
Besides the academic and skill benefits, being a business major opens the door to networking opportunities. Many top business programs across the country require students to have internships, review case studies, and complete group projects. This allows students, hiring managers, professors, and industry experts to develop a close network. The common goal is focused on innovation, perspectives, exploring job opportunities, and potential collaborations.
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