Jobs in sales are always in demand. Utah Department of Workforce Services predicts a 2.2% annual growth rate in 2023, and 2% beyond that each year through 2026. Search the Sales category on KSL Jobs and there are usually more than 100 open positions to choose from on any given day. But there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding this industry, which often make people wonder “Are sales jobs worth it?” Yes! Sales can be a very lucrative, rewarding career. Don’t let these myths deter you from considering a sales job.
MYTH: All you do is make cold calls.
Do you have to talk to strangers? Yes. Do you have to make cold calls all day? No. Most sales people work in conjunction with a marketing department that provides warm leads, aka prospects who are already familiar with a product/service and have expressed interest in learning more. These potential customers may have filled out a form on the company’s website, commented on a social media post or even called the company themselves.
MYTH: You have to be pushy and deceitful to succeed in sales.
This is a stereotype perpetuated by all of the sleazy, plaid-suit-wearing salesmen in Hollywood productions. The most successful salespeople build genuine relationships with their clients by asking questions and listening to the answers (while wearing clothing from this decade). This allows them to offer an honest solution to a customer's problem rather than simply pushing a product.
MYTH: Sales roles have impossible quotas.
Will you be expected to meet weekly or monthly goals? Yes. That’s true of any job. But you won’t have to sell 50,000 brake pads in a single transaction to keep the factory open and pay off the company’s loan. A good sales manager sets achievable baseline standards by identifying resources, employing a specific sales strategy, providing feedback and offering additional coaching/mentoring as needed. Sales jobs are not difficult when the company has a clear strategy to support its sales people.
MYTH: Work-life balance doesn’t exist in sales.
This myth is closely related to the impossible quota myth: If you have to work unreasonable hours to attain a quota, then of course you wouldn’t have time for anything else. That simply is not true. Many sales positions have flexible hours. A real estate agent who works the weekend showing homes, for example, may choose to take Tuesday and Wednesday off instead. Someone who sells medical devices, on the other hand, will need to work “doctor’s hours” — no weekends or late nights required. Each industry has different scenarios, but with careful consideration of your own wants and needs you can find sales jobs with good work-life balance.
MYTH: There’s no opportunity for advancement.
As an entry-level salesperson, there are several career paths to choose from. You may be promoted to a managerial role or gain more territory. The in-depth product knowledge you gain as a salesperson makes the transition to marketing very common as well. And the communication skills you’ll hone on the job are valuable in any position. Your best opportunity for advancement is to choose a field that interests you — whether insurance or travel, fashion or financial services — to get an inside perspective of both lateral and upward roles within that particular field. You’ll also have more energy and enthusiasm for the products/services you are selling when you’re interested in the industry as a whole.
Start your sales career with KSL Jobs. Use keyword filters within the Sales category to narrow down your search to the positions that pique your interest the most. Once you start earning those commissions (or base + commission + bonus!), you’ll never wonder if sales jobs are worth it again!
