There are various advantages to working in sales. Sales consultants develop talents that employers find incredibly useful – and, let’s be honest, they make a decent livelihood. However, if you want to transition into a sales career, you must approach the change correctly if you want to maximize your chances of success.

Salespeople can have a poor rap, yet careers in sales have improved in recent years. People are conducting research before purchasing a product or service, using Google search and live chatbots. When people contact sales representatives today, they are looking for advice and are frequently on the verge of completing a purchase. Sales representatives will be first and foremost advisors in 2022, particularly in the B2B arena.

Here are a few more reasons why you should seek a sales profession in 2022.

• Greater independence. Many sales jobs offer a flexible schedule, as long as you’re making sales, you can work anytime you like. If you’re an intrinsically motivated person, you might enjoy setting your own schedule. You may be able to travel more and lead a more active social life.
• More opportunities. We’ve had a few economic scares recently, and sales is an avenue with some security. There are so many sales opportunities out there that you can always find a new position (if you’re good at what you do). Sales can also be a stepping stone into other careers, because salespeople master various in-demand skills like social and communication skills.
• More power over income. Many sales careers offer unlimited commissions, and others still offer a very high-income potential. Sales is one of the few careers where the amount you make is linked to how well you perform. If you want that kind of control (as well as the cash and prizes that come with it), sales may be a good fit for you.

Are you planning to relocate? Consult these practical sales suggestions to make the transition as easy as possible.

Start building your network now

Networking is an essential component in sales. The larger your network, the more likely you are to acquire referrals, establish a positive reputation for yourself, and uncover new prospects. That is why, if you are serious about a career transition to sales, there is no better time than now to begin growing your network. Making more of an effort to communicate with other professionals in your business and adjacent ones will help you get started.

Begin your in-person networking by asking those in your group for introductions. Above all, put yourself out there. Participate in networking events hosted by various chambers of business, industry associations, and local chapters of industry associations. Remember to include:

• Professional conferences
• Training events
• Job fairs
• Public speaking events
• Alumni events
• Charity events
• Volunteer opportunities
• Cultural or community events

While in-person networking is usually best, there are also plenty of virtual networking events nowadays, so networking is easier than ever. To find in-person or virtual opportunities, here’s what we recommend:

• Ask alumni or affinity organizations
• Join pertinent Facebook, LinkedIn, and Slack groups
• Eventbrite.com
• Create your own event!

Assess your strengths and weaknesses

Great salespeople do not appear out of nowhere. You may already possess some of the characteristics of a great seller. However, you will almost certainly have some shortcomings that you will need to fix as you progress.

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The first step in doing so is determining your strengths and shortcomings. Once you’ve identified your flaws, you can work on improving them.

You can discover a good method to analyzing your talents at the Harvard Business Review. You can also ask trusted mentors, friends, family members, or prior employers to lead you in the correct direction. Once you understand your personal strengths and shortcomings, you can go on to the next steps.

Choose the right training program

If you’ve never worked in sales before, there’s a strong chance you’ll want to go through some sort of training first. Keep in mind that not all types of sales training are the same. Each training program will have a distinct focus that may or may not be suitable to the type of sales you wish to pursue. That is why it is critical to carefully consider your training options before committing.

HubSpot has put up an excellent collection of sales training courses ranging from “Introduction to Sales” to “Strategic Social Selling.” They provide both virtual and in-person choices, so you can find something that works for you. University education classes, on the other hand, are always dependable; if you don’t want to attend locally, online university courses are also available through colleges such as Southern New Hampshire University or University of Phoenix.

Study popular sales techniques

Every salesperson has a distinct method of closing business. However, before you can tailor your own strategy, you must first understand what works and why. This entails researching and testing common sales methods.

The more you experiment, the better you’ll grasp what works and what doesn’t. Then you may devise a strategy to improve your sales process.

Rebuild your resume

If you’ve never worked in sales before, you may be concerned that your CV will fall flat when you apply for sales jobs. However, it’s very probable that your previous work has helped you acquire talents that will be really useful in your sales position.

More particular, try rephrasing your previous work descriptions to emphasize how they prepared you for what you want to perform as a salesperson. Hubspot has compiled a list of some of the most popular sales job interview questions and how to best reply to them.

Start building an online presence

Nowadays, the vast majority of sales transactions take place online. That is why it is critical for salespeople to build online brands for themselves. It might be as simple as being more consistent with your posting, particularly on LinkedIn – especially if you have opinions to share about the sales industry.

Whatever you do, make sure you’re putting yourself out there online so that buyers in your business can come to know you. Most essential, be yourself and be real.