Guide To A Successful Sales Executive Career Path
Every company in the world is in the business of selling products or services. That is why sales will always be relevant through all the changes in society, technology, or the economy. While the job of the sales executive will continue to evolve with the times, its role in all businesses will always be foundational. The career path of a sales executive will also continue to be one of the most rewarding in the job market.
For those interested in building a career path as a sales executive, read the following information and tips that can help you with your new career journey.
What does a sales executive do?
Sales is the lifeblood of every company. Following this, sales executives are at the forefront of this very important aspect of a business. They are the foot soldiers that carry out a company’s goal of maximising profit. To do this, sales executives serve as the company’s representatives to customers and clients, introducing products and services, and forming business relationships.
Sales executives sell products and services. They also perform many functions and duties, including:
- Meeting with prospective or existing clients and customers
- Making effective presentations that highlight key product features and sales points
- Growing and nurturing relationships with existing clients
- Facilitating continuing businesses
- Negotiating with prospective clients and closing sales
- Generating periodic sales reports
- Meeting (and preferably, exceeding) sales targets
- Generating leads, doing regular follow-ups, and creating a consistent sales pipeline to optimise business opportunities
- Properly filing and processing invoices, contracts, and other sales documents
- Staying abreast with the company’s latest products, offerings, and updates — even undergoing product training if necessary
Salary Range
A sales executive could expect to earn an average annual salary of RM 37,429. A large percentage of a sales executive’s earnings comes from commissions, so your earning potential will depend mostly on the company’s commission scheme and your sales performance. A sales executive can exceed the average annual salary by having an above-average sales performance.
What is the career path of a sales executive?
Sales executives have plenty of career growth potential. Many high-performing sales executives eventually move up to lead sales teams and even the entire sales department as Sales or Product Manager.
Sales are directly connected to a company’s growth and profitability, so excellent performance in this field hardly goes unnoticed. Many General Managers and CEOs have backgrounds in sales. Their deep knowledge of both the company’s products and clientele make them highly qualified to make the biggest business decisions in the company.
Want to start pursuing a career path as a sales executive? Depending on your skills and years of experience, the following jobs may be applicable to you.
Junior level (1-3 years experience)
Mid-level (4-8 years experience)
Senior level (8 years or more)
What requirements do you need to become a sales executive?
To become a sales executive, you must have many business-related core competencies, such as:
Customer service skills
Having empathy with a customer and knowing how to deal with them are perhaps some of the most important skills to have for sales executives.
Negotiation skills
The ability to persuade prospective clients is a skill that sales executives use on a daily basis.
Presentation skills
To sell products or services, sales executives must first be able to sell ideas.
Excellent communication skills
Being a sales executive means talking to a lot of people face-to-face or through correspondences. You must be able to do this while projecting a positive image for the company at all times.
Many transferable skills are also required for this job. If you are coming from a different industry or are fresh off of college, these are some soft skills that may help you in a sales executive career:
Persistence
Not all leads are converted to sales. But hitting sales targets is a numbers game. It is all about reaching out to as many people as possible despite frequent rejection.
A results-oriented mindset
If you are the type that is motivated by setting goals, then sales executive might be the job for you.
Math skills
Sales executives deal with numbers all the time. The ability to think on your feet in terms of numbers can be a handy skill in this job.
Although a high school diploma is enough for some hirers, a college degree, preferably in Business or Management, can give you more opportunities. A college degree in other fields can also be an advantage, depending on the type of company you are applying for. A pharmaceutical degree, for instance, can give you an edge as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company.
Opportunities for Continuous Education
A Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree can increase your chances of moving up someday. However, there are plenty of courses available online that can give you additional and updated knowledge right now. For example, it pays to know more about Customer Experience (CX), which is a more holistic approach to sales and customer service. It is also one of the biggest trends in business right now. Knowing the newest best practices in sales will increase your marketability among hirers.
How to write a sales executive resume?
If you are a fresh graduate applying for your first sales executive job, make sure to cite any relevant sales experience you may have. Mention any sales-related work you may have done in school organisations or personal projects. The same goes for job hunters looking to shift into a career in sales. There are some transferable skills that you may have developed in your previous job that you can use as a sales executive.
Your resume should ultimately communicate your passion for sales and your willingness to learn and take on new challenges.
Here is a sample resume for sales executives:
Peter Tan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Career SummaryA proactive multitasker with excellent communication skills and a strong passion for selling ideas and solutions. Looking to work as a sales executive for a reputable company and further building my wide skill set by learning from the best in the business.Work ExperienceAssistant Project ManagerAlpha Corporation, 2019-2021
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Download the Sales Executive resume template here
Related careers
There are many other entry-level sales jobs that can jumpstart your new career. Not only are they similar in nature, but they also require a similar set of skills.
- Sales Associate
- Customer Service Representative
- Business Development Executive
- Account Executive
- Marketing Officer
Taking on a new career journey can be life-changing. Start building your sales executive career path by updating your JobStreet profile, so the right employers can find you as you seek passion and purpose in a new career. You can also search for the #JobsThatMatter to you on our website or app.
For more expert insights and helpful tips on growing your career, visit the Career Resources Hub.
