When you think about a career in sales, your mind might jump to high-energy pitches, closing deals, and possibly even a cold calling service. Contrary to what many might believe, a degree in sales is not a golden ticket to success in the industry.
Sure, it helps. But the beauty of sales is that anyone can claim success in it. Although some employers want to hire candidates with a college degree, provided you are adept at connecting with people, understanding their needs, and proffering solutions to their pain points, you can crush it in the sales world.
So, in this article, let’s look at some of the best degrees you may need in the sales industry.
Business Administration (BBA – Bachelor of Business Administration or MBA – Master of Business Administration)
Starting with the obvious – a degree in business administration is a solid foundation for any sales career. This degree teaches you the ins and outs of running a business, from marketing to management and finance.
All these skills can be easily transferred into a sales role. When you understand the financial aspects of a deal, you are more likely to negotiate successfully and show clients the real value of your product.
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Marketing (B.Mktg – Bachelor of Marketing)
A marketing degree works well with sales. It can arm you with essential knowledge about consumer behaviour, branding, market research, and strategies to attract customers.
You will also get an in-depth understanding of why people buy, which is a powerful tool to have in your sales toolbox. People with marketing degrees are wizards at brand positioning.
Communications (BA – Bachelor of Arts in Communications or BS – Bachelor of Science in Communications)
Sales is essentially good communication. Whether you are negotiating a high-stakes deal or trying to persuade someone through cold calling, how you communicate can make or break a sale.
A communications degree hones your ability to engage with different audiences, create persuasive messages, and build rapport quickly. The adaptability of communication styles with different audiences is what makes communication degrees a great addition to better sales outcomes.
Psychology (BA – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or BS – Bachelor of Science in Psychology)
Why is psychology such a great fit for the sales world? Let’s say you have a client who is unsure or indecisive about buying your sales solution.
A psychology-based approach can help you tailor your pitch to meet their emotional and rational needs. This will likely prompt them to say “yes.”
Understanding people – their behaviours, motivations, and decision-making processes – is the hallmark of a great salesperson. Psychology or a psychology degree teaches you to tap into that and learn how to read people, pick up on subtle cues, and understand what makes individuals tick.
This ability to understand human nature can make all the difference when you are in sales and trying to solve a client’s problems.
It’s What You Do and Not the Degree
While having the “right” degree can give you an edge in the sales industry, success often comes down to soft skills like resilience, adaptability, and empathy. These are traits that no degree can truly teach.
If you have ever been knee-deep in cold calling services, you know that success sometimes hinges on grit and persistence more than a polished resume with certificates to boot.
At the end of the day, the best degree for sales is the one that helps you understand people and solve their problems.