What is professional sales?
To be literal, sales is the exchange of products or services for money. The art of achieving this seemingly simple, but really complex, goal is called professional sales. Sales professionals conduct research, study human behavior, and use persuasion and negotiation skills, to fill needs that potential consumers have. Providing excellent customer service and solving problems are key factors in making a sales professional successful. Sales careers are found in a variety of work environments, including securities/financial services, manufacturing, wholesale, technology, hospitality services, industrial (business-to-business), direct sales, advertising agencies, real estate, promotions and special events, and pharmaceutical sales.
The Bachelor of Science in Professional Sales program is housed in the Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business. The 60 credit program is divided as follows: 18 credit hours of required professional sales courses, 33 credit hours of professional sales program core courses, and 9 credits of directed electives. Classes within professional sales include, but are not limited to, Professional Selling, Negotiation, Global Perspective on Sales, and Key Account & Customer Relationship Building. The Department of Professional Sales is part of the Russ Berrie Institute. Students have the opportunity to hone skills in the professional sales lab, in ‘smart’ classrooms wired for teleconferencing, and to learn from sales professionals with major corporate experience.
To learn more about the degree requirements, please visit this link:
http://www.wpunj.edu/rbisales/UndergraduatePrograms/undergraduate.html
Admissions information on Professional Sales is located here:
http://ww2.wpunj.edu/admissions/AcademicPrograms/ProSales.cfm
What interests and skills do potential employers value in this career?
- active listening skills
- problem solving skills
- oral and written communication skills
- ability to understand human behavior and motivation
- ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- persuasion skills
- ability to interact with diverse groups of people
- presentation and public speaking skills
- numerical computation ability
- analytical skills
What types of jobs can sales majors get?
Work Environment :
Sales professionals, or careers related to sales, are located in a variety of industries and environments. Professionals may choose to work in securities/financial services, manufacturing, wholesale, technology, hospitality services, industrial (business-to-business), direct sales, advertising agencies, real estate, promotions and special events, and pharmaceutical sales.
Possible Job Titles
Brand Manager
Marketing Director
Product Manager
Branch Manager – any industry
Retail Sales Manager
Real Estate Agent
Insurance Salesperson
Marketing Administrator
Service Marketer
Hotel Sales and Marketing Director
Sales and Marketing Consultant
Database Marketing Manager
Advertising Executive
Sales Tracking Associate
Market Research Associate
Sports Marketing Representative
Special Events Coordinator
Copywriter, marketing
List marketing consultant
Sales Representative
Pharmaceutical Sales Rep
Data Processing Manager
Manager- Information Systems |
Computer Service Sales Support Rep
Systems Analyst
Commercial Programmer
Database Analyst
Meeting Manager
Communication Analyst
Customer Service Representative
Occupational Analyst
Restaurant Manager
Travel Agent
Wholesale buyer
Retail Buyer
Promotions Manager
Health Services Manager
Public Relations Manager
Recreation Manager
Merchandiser
List manager
Account Executive
Marketing Analyst
Circulation Manager
Direct Mail Manager |
In what locations and capacities have William Paterson business alumni worked?
Account Coordinator Merck-Medco Managed Care
Customer Service Representative Prudential Investments
Sales Representative Canon
Sales & Service Representative Summit Bank
Sales/Catering Coordinator Prime Hospitality
Service Manager United Radio Service
Assistant Customer Supervisor Flight Safety International
Merchandiser Liz Claiborne
National Accounts Coordinator Ohaus Corporation
Office Sales Representative BASF Corporation
Pharmaceutical Sales Glaxo Smithkline Pharmaceuticals
Public Relations Creative Force
Purchasing Agent Power Battery
Account Executive Interior Technologe
Account Manager (Sales) GE Information Services
Customer Service Manager Measurement Specialties
Manager Gap, Inc.
Realtor Coccia Realty, Inc.
Supervising Marketing Manager Russell Marketing Research
Sales Representative Albums, Inc.
Aside from majoring in sales, what else can I do that may enhance my qualifications?
Successful students tend to seek out opportunities to enhance their qualifications through a variety of means. Within sales, some suggestions may include joining or becoming a leader in career-related campus organizations, including the Student Business Association; joining a national professional sales association; gaining practical experience through an internship/practicum/job shadowing; and attending networking functions.
What else can I read about sales?
Related Web Sites :
Occupational Outlook www.bls.gov/oco/
Industry Information www.vault.com
Job Search and Salary information www.rileyguide.com
Sales Jobs www.marketingjobs.com
…more Sales Jobs www.salesjobs.com
National Association of Sales Professionals www.nasp.com
United Professional Sales Association www.upsa-intl.org
World Association of Sales and Marketing Mgt. www.smei.org
MBA information www.mba.com
NJ specific sales information http://www.njnextstop.org/workarea.asp?workid=1
Other sources of information :
Please drop by the Career Development and Advisement Center to learn more about careers in sales. The career library carries career-specific books and counselors are available to answer any further questions you may have. Visiting the Department of Professional Sales on campus may also prove valuable in addressing questions.
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