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How would someone be able to develop their sales career path in college?

Currently in college and I recently started door to door sales. I do want to get more into sales stuff, but so far it’s complicated. I don’t really don’t know what degree I should go for and what the next step for my sales career is. I’ve seen stuff like industrial sales and med sales and real estate sales and SaaS and the such but it’s all pretty much jumbled up. Basically, I’m super new to the industry and wanted to ask how someone would be able to develop their career and the path in college if there is one.

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Tasha’s Answer

Hi, Kenn. Many individuals in the sales field have pursued academic degrees in areas such as Business or Economics, which is one possible route. However, there's a more direct approach to honing your sales skills: concentrate on courses, including online webinars and face-to-face seminars, that impart sales techniques. There's a wealth of excellent sales strategies available, such as the Challenger Sale, MEDDIC, Solution Selling, and Gap Selling. Acquiring a framework like this can assist you in creating a sales process that guides your customer from the initial prospecting stage through to the final closing and implementation. Even if you decide not to pursue a career in sales, this learning experience can provide valuable insights and help you decide if this is the path you'd like to follow in life. Good luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Tasha! Kenn
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Marco’s Answer

Hello Kenn.

I've worked in sales for quite some time, and this includes working with people in different roles. I'll provide an answer to you as a student.

I am the technical expert on sales engagements, and I work most often with my salesperson. I often rely on my team that includes specialists during a sale, and people that perform implementation after the sale. We also have people that find new customers, and those that work with existing customers to help them use the product and expand their usage. There are more!

My question to you is: given there are multiple roles, which ones are most interesting to you? Your answer helps us provide a better answer to you.

I recommend you continue with your education because that will build on your foundation. Some disciplines require real study as you would expect. For example, medical devices need people that have been trained and studied the relevant disciplines. If you want to be a technology person, then the more mastery you have over relevant technology, the better.

In all cases, I believe the people that belong in sales are those that have a natural desire to work in their industry. Your enthusiasm is important, as well as the experience you have in the industry.

As others have noteded, there are reference materials for working professionals. These materials provide insights into the discipline, which is something we all have to do as part of the job.

Good luck out there and happy hunting!
Thank you comment icon This was super helpful, thank you! Kenn
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Julia’s Answer

I would suggest looking into the SDR (Sales Development Rep) & BDR (Businesses Development Rep) role. It's a great entry level role into tech sales specifically post grad. But transferable skills are your best resource when getting experience so I would suggest joining community groups or clubs and taking on a leadership role that you find interest in. A lot of sales is hearing no and learning how to work through the highs and lows of problem solving. A great salesperson is just solving an issue for a prospect with their product. A great book to read is The Challenger Sale. Lean on your network on Linkedin and build a profile for yourself there, look for any titles like "Sales Director" "Account Executive" " VP of Sales" " Director of Business Development" and ask them to mentor you.

Best of luck!
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Julia! Kenn
Thank you comment icon Julia is absolutely correct. There are many different titles but for the most part you are looking for the titles that she is recommending above. They are going to look for degrees from either Marketing or Business. Many schools have some specialization in Sales. I would also suggest that you think about the types of solutions that you would like to represent. Medical Sales will need some understanding of the solution as will software solutions. You might need to have some education or knowledge of those areas. I hope that this helps. Good luck to you! John T. Irwin
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Christopher’s Answer

Hi Kenn,

It's great to hear about your interest in a sales career and that you're taking steps towards long-term success. Door-to-door sales will help you develop foundational skills such as time management, objection handling, and persistence.

I recommend joining your college's sales club or other extracurricular activities to enhance your networking skills and gain real-world experience through practice environments like sales competitions, which are becoming increasingly popular across universities.

While a degree in Business or Finance is a solid starting point, top sales consultants come from diverse educational backgrounds, including education and engineering.

My final piece of advice is to focus on finding a company or product you are passionate about rather than solely pursuing financial gain. A career in sales can be a roller coaster but ultimately rewarding.

Fun Fact: Many influential individuals started their careers in frontline sales positions.
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Shaneh’s Answer

Hi Kenn! I went to school for Biological Sciences and ended up in tech sales so the great thing about sales is that it really doesn't matter what you go to school for specifically, although some fields may help you a little more. For example, a degree in software engineering or IT may help you understand tech more for a tech sales role. Regardless, whatever you go to school for - you will be fine! Sales is more about your personality and networking.

You said you're in door to door sales, that's a great first start. It's recognized as the hardest type of sales so if you can stick to that and show some numbers, future sales employers will for sure give you a shot. Any time you win an award, achievement or anything like that, put it on your linkedin. Even if you don't make a post, just add it under your role description. eg "Achieved highest number of sales for Q2", "Achieved 100% of quota in 2022"

Next what you'll wanna do is figure out what industry of sales you want to be in. I would recommend tech !! There's lots of money and for the most part, you get to work from home. But that's not for everyone. I used to have a job where i had a brand new company car and had to drive around to all the restaurants and hotels in my city which I liked it for the networking aspect. If you want to be in sales, you can sell anything. I know someone that sells paper, like the office. I used to sell cleaning chemicals. Now I sell software. So if you can figure out what you want to sell or an industry, start adding people from that company. Reach out to people in the starting roles and ask them for some advice on how they got in, if they can give you a referral, etc.. a referral is always the best way to go. And also feel free to add the managers as well. There's a lot of competition out there so do what you can to get noticed.

Let me know if you have any other questions!
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Allston’s Answer

I found that a degree in Business Management was relevant for getting a software sales job. It's general enough to give you exposure to basic econ, marketing, management style, and more.

Entry level sales jobs are things like "ADR, BDR, SDR, DSR" some form of acronym like that. You'll be working to book meetings for your Account Executives. It's a common way for people to start their sales career.

As noted, there are lots of different sales roles within a company. Do you want to be an Account Executive, do you want to be a Solutions Engineer (technical), Value Engineer (business)? Depending on your desire you could also start off with a more technical role and then move into sales.
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AJ’s Answer

When I was in college, I wanted to work in sales. I took marketing classes, and my school even offered a class on sales skills. For the final exam, we had to sell something to the class, and I chose golf clubs. I suggest talking to your school counselor for guidance. Also, try to find a part-time job where you can sell products. This will help you learn your style and handle rejection, which is a part of any sales career. Stay positive, and keep learning from every experience. You'll do great!
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Pluralsight’s Answer

Deadlines, presentations , research, communication.
Leveraging the above existing skills will allow the student to get an understanding of the importance in a professional environment. Allow them to shadow you in day-to-day activities and relate your day structure to their current one.
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Thuli’s Answer

Degrees in business, marketing, or a related field will help in building the necessary foundation. Enrolling in sales training programs or workshops can also provide valuable skills and knowledge.

Build a Network: Networking is essential in sales. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and connect with other sales professionals to expand your network and learn from others.

Stay Informed: Keep up with industry trends, market changes, and new sales techniques. This will help you adapt and remain competitive in the field.

Seek Feedback and Mentorship: Regularly seek feedback from managers, colleagues, and customers to continually improve your performance. Finding a mentor in the sales field can provide guidance and support as you grow in your career.
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Steffi’s Answer

Hi Ken,

Consider starting in a Sales Development Representative (SDR) or Business Development Representative (BDR) position—both excellent entry points into tech sales for recent grads. Building transferable skills is essential, so get involved in community groups or clubs where you can take on a leadership role that aligns with your interests. Sales demands resilience, especially in handling rejection and developing strong problem-solving abilities. Successful salespeople focus on understanding a customer’s needs and offering effective solutions with their product. For an insightful approach, consider researching the Sandler Sales Methodology. Also, build a strong LinkedIn profile, and connect with experienced professionals like Sales Directors, Account Executives, or VPs of Sales who might be open to mentoring you.
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Pluralsight’s Answer

Go to college picking a career that is of interest but do activities that would prepare yourself for a sales career
There are new colleges that have sales development skills programs seek out these colleges
Marketing where you can learn how to present your company’s brand
- Internships
- Freelancing
- Networking reach out to people in a role you’d like
- Find a mentor
- Gain experience part time
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Pluralsight’s Answer

Focusing on business management courses
Psychology, courses, understanding how different people think
Get involved with the development office to help fund raise
Practice public speaking, you can listen to toastmasters
Learn through books on sales methodologies

Extracurricular activities help massively getting rolling sales a bar restaurant, etc. helps you develop some customer skills and negotiation skills. Team sports also help communication tactics and strategy. It’s also not mandatory that you study business. Lots of people do, but there are many learning experiences.
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Beth’s Answer

Hi Kenn, I have been in software sales for 17 years - and I studied English & Philosophy. It can come in helpful, especially the ability to think critically, creatively and to be able to communicate a proposal through a clear story. However in reality I think you can be successful in sales with any degree, the degree just shows your commitment to study. A lot of places do still require a degree to advance your career, but with sales there is no shortcut, you have to start at the bottom with BDR / SDR type roles, practice the skills, gain success and progress. You'll likely progress a lot in the early years if you're able to deliver against targets, then a lot of sales people see out their career in senior level sales where they can be an individual contributor forever, or others think about moving into Management. Good luck on your journey!
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Ashley’s Answer

Hello! Sales can be a very tricky industry to get into. The best advice I can give is to reach out to professionals on LinkedIn and try to build your connections. Ask for shadow sessions and which ones offer internships. Keep track of your sales with door to door and make sure you put metrics down on your resume of your growth. How many items sold, margin, how many customers you reached per day, etc. Good luck!
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Kirstan’s Answer

Hello Kenn,

It seems like you're looking for guidance on the ideal college major that could pave the way for a successful sales career. The answer to this question is nuanced and depends on the specific sales field you're aiming for. For instance, if you're eyeing a career in medical device sales, a foundation in biology or chemistry could be beneficial.

A good approach might be to delve into companies or sectors that pique your interest, and subsequently explore their sales teams on Linkedin. Digging into their backgrounds could provide valuable insights into the kind of candidates that have been effectively recruited for the roles you're looking to secure. This will not only give you a clearer picture of the educational background your prospective employers might be seeking, but also spark more ideas about the entry-level positions you could potentially apply for.

I hope this guidance proves beneficial on your journey!
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David L.’s Answer

I have been in sales almost my entire career. I started in product support to learn more about the products. The best part of those pre-sales roles, was that I had opportunities to work with successful sales people in the company. Find a mentor that can help you get into sales. Start reading a studying trends in sales methodology to stay ahead of the curve. Validate those methods with people who do the job every day. Sales in an art. You will get lots of opinions and input. Over time you will find what works for you.
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Molly’s Answer

Hi Ken, That's great that you are doing door to door sales! Everyone has to start somewhere.

The great thing about sales is that you can work in any industry. I'd encourage you to think about what you are interested and then look for sales roles within that industry. Do you like new technology? Then Saas sales could be a good fit. Into health/wellness - then I'd think about medical sales.

Another question to ask yourself is how do you like to work? A lot of Saas jobs are remote and rely a lot on virtual meetings/emails - are you good at holding yourself accountable and could you thrive working remote?

As far as what to do while you're in college, try to build up your network. Do you know anyone currently working in sales? An aunt/uncle, parent of a friend, recent alumni from your college? Reach out to them, ask them about their job, ask them to connect you with others on LinkedIn.

Finally, for sales your specific degree isn't as important as it is in other fields. A business or communications degree would be the obvious answer, but as a music education major working in tech sales for the past 6 years, it's all in how you sell yourself.
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Pluralsight’s Answer

Focus your major around sales or business get a sales focus career and retail restaurants and get experience with direct customers develop your people skills and communication skills. People don’t sell products they sell themselves. Explore your passions, embrace competition maybe even in sports look for opportunities for mentorship and learn to live with rejection.
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