Why can’t we dispel the myths about sales?

A career in sales can be a rewarding, fast-track path to financial independence. So why is selling all too often seen as a fallback job?

The employment market is awash with those leaving school, college and university at this time of year. There are amazing sales careers out there waiting for them. The British Retail Consortium asserts that retail alone counts for 8% of all UK jobs, with retail sales in the UK worth £421 billion in 2021 according to Retail Economics. And that’s not even accounting for B2B selling, jobs in customer service, direct/field sales, export sales, IT sales, medical/pharmaceutical sales and so on. Suffice it to say, sales isn’t just about sitting in a call centre and talking to people about their toner needs.

UK sales transformation specialist Paul Owen, MD of Sales Talent, snubbed the idea of a career in sales for years. It was only when he was broke and desperate for a job that he gave a sales role a try. He never looked back and is now a passionate advocate for careers in sales.

“Sales isn’t about convincing people to buy something they don’t want. At its heart, selling is about helping people. About supporting them to understand their needs and then helping them find a solution that meets their needs. Once I understood that, I realised how positive and fulfilling a career in sales could be. It was a very exciting epiphany!”

Paul Owen, MD, Sales Talent

Paul now trains others to sell and delights in showing them how they can build their confidence. A Careerpass Network survey published in April 2022 found that 48% of graduates worried that their lack of confidence would hold them back when trying to secure a graduate job. Working in sales can help build that confidence, both professionally and personally.

“The biggest gift you can give anyone in sales is confidence. It changes everything. And that confidence comes from competence. If you give people the structure, practice and consistency they need to sell properly, confidence will naturally follow. That’s how you can elevate a company’s sales performance through training – there’s not some magic trick, it’s about giving people the confidence that empowers them to achieve.”

Paul Owen, MD, Sales Talent

Danielle Raymont has seen just how valuable a career in sales can be. She worked with Paul at Sales Talent during her university placement and then bagged a sales role with the firm when she graduated. Now in her late 20s, Danielle is financially independent, with all the freedom of choice that entails. She comments:

“Many people see sales as something of a last resort. But actually it can be an incredibly rewarding career. It’s a role that you can walk into with no experience, but which can have a major impact on your circumstances. Being able to become financially independent and in a position to buy a house just a few years after leaving university is more than just a fallback option. It’s about having choices that you wouldn’t otherwise have.”