Sales Training

Overview

You can pursue a sales career with almost any training and academic program. Many sales professionals come from liberal arts and science backgrounds, holding degrees in literature, communications, history, psychology, business, economics, and engineering. Rather than focus on a discipline, you should focus on developing your interpersonal, communication, reasoning, and presentation skills. People can develop careers in sales, or they can use their sales training as a launch pad into other aspects of business. You will receive most of your sales training on the job.

Benefits

Limitless earning potential makes this job one of the best in any industry. Career options are flexible and plentiful since sales professionals are in high demand in all industries. Career growth comes with education and industry experience. Sales professionals can begin as trainees with the potential to become an account manager or account executive. Responsibilities and daily tasks include devising new sales techniques, management of goods, and marketing. Specializing in niche fields can help sales managers convert prospective leads into business clients.

Costs

The cost of a bachelor's degree ranges from $20,000 to over $100,000 depending on school, program, and location. Some sales professionals chose to pursue a master's degree in business administration (MBA), which range in cost from $50,000 to over $100,000.

Schools

A variety of options exist for individuals pursuing sales careers. People can enroll in 4-year colleges or online programs. Individuals may wish to consider programs at University of Phoenix, Westwood College, and DeVry University.

Testing & Preparation

Bachelor's and associate's degree programs require applicants to hold a high school diploma or GED. Admissions committees consider academic records from high school as well as SAT (Scholastic Aptitude test) scores. Master's degree programs require an undergraduate degree and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) scores. Some graduate programs may require the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language).

Financial Aid

Internships with stipends are available for undergraduates at many institutions. Scholarships and fellowships are also available for highly qualified students. Federal loans and private loans assist students by offering low interest rates and longer payback periods. Federal Perkins loans and Stafford loans are also available as financial options. Merit-based awards may exist at specific institutions.