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.
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