Sales and Marketing

Sales and Marketing department of any company is very important, as the success of the company hinges on it.  These are the people who are generally in the limelight and are often seen climbing the corporate ladder with much ease.

Sales and marketing careers can be yours if you have the right qualifications and aptitude.  Most employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in business administration with specialization in either sales or marketing.  You can also pursue these careers if you have a bachelor’s degree in any of the related fields like economics, finance, business law, statistics, etc.

To pursue marketing and sales careers you must have certain personal qualities.  These would include very good oral and written communication skills, interpersonal skills, analytical thinking, tactfulness and flexibility, among others.  You must also be good at handling stress and be able to cope with deadlines.

Sales and marketing jobs are not as simple as they appear.  Marketing careers include a lot of planning, preparation and development. You have to identify the target market and strategically plan to introduce products and develop pricing policies.  Similarly sales careersrequire product knowledge, professional attitude and maintaining a good customer base among other things.  You must be able to analyze sales statistics, analyze market trends and plan sales programs.

Sales and marketing careers are high-visibility jobs.  You must be ready to face stiff competition, not only before getting a job, but on a day to day basis.  These careers generally take you to the top most positions in most companies if you are successful.  The promotions are performance-based rather than seniority-based, so the pressures can be a bit tough at times.

The work schedule for sales and marketing jobs can be hectic at times.  It would involve a lot of travel.  You should also be prepared to work under pressure as deadlines and goals are very important factors in these careers.  Job transfers and frequent shifting are quite regular in these jobs.  Most jobs here require you to work more than a 40 hour work week.