The world's oldest profession is still a STIGMA in India!

Let me start this with a question. Have you heard of a course called Master of Sales? Master of sales management? Bachelor of Sales Management? Bachelor of Telemarketing? Master of Inside Sales? Bachelor of Prospecting??

Naaaaaah, I don’t think so. Why??

Because, India is a country that doesn't think sales is a real profession, at least not as much as doctors, engineers, or even magicians. That's why there are no degrees for this profession. However, you will find degrees such as Master of Medicine and Bachelor of Engineering, they pretty much get sold on every household in the shape of mom and dad.?But the same house holds tell the youngsters to stay away from a sales job because it is not cool enough to brag about and in their eyes salespeople are viewed as corn artists. Some call you a loser if you choose a career in sales, and some laugh at you if you say you started a career in sales.

This is a big contrast with the situation in America. They understand that sales is one of the main topics for business owners. There are massive organizations that are geared towards teaching people how to be great at sales. Being good at sales means living a rich life. People get it, aspire for it, and make careers in it. Great salespeople are considered heroes and are featured in magazines. There are even world records by salespersons in the Guinness Book.

But still, in India, salesmen are on average not esteemed very much. They're seen as being on a lower level than a skilled worker. You can get private tuition for learning sales in the USA so I do not understand why people in my homeland view salesmen with such a contemptuous attitude.?If they show interest, they have to read the latest news so they at least have some idea what is going on in the world and can become knowledgeable and more employable.

Most people think that India does not have high-paying sales jobs, but that is absolutely untrue. Every industry needs more sales and India is witnessing a surge in startups and guess what? Everyone is hungry to grow. Whom do they need to make that happen? You guessed it right, The Salespeople!?Most people are caught up in their deluded, pie-in-the-sky world thinking sales is for losers. Salespeople make more money and get better benefits than the clueless.

Most high-profile sales jobs are not advertised. They happen like matchmaking for a prince or princess. Rather than putting out an advertisement, some well-known headhunters are paid to approach suitable candidates and woo them with possibilities and dreams of a salary larger than they could imagine or a house overlooking a desert.

Well, I am here to bridge the gap between good salespeople and good opportunities. Why not? We have engineers who are finding no placements. On the other hand, the industry is desperate to hire good salespeople but they do not find trained salespeople. It is a sad situation and a huge reason for the slowing down of the Indian economy.?

Stories of sales success have been told for years. They have been told for the same reason that salespeople take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can about their product or service as well as their customers. The reason is simple; we aren’t born with it – we make ourselves into what we want to be.

It is also said that salespeople are born, not made. But nothing could be further from the truth. Individuals from all backgrounds and all education levels enter the sales industry and how far they progress in there is a result of their personal drive, ambition, and dogged determination to be the best at what they do.

An experienced salesperson can have a high salary. This is because they are paid a percentage of what this person earns from the business. Imagine, if a salesperson brings in a company 5 crores in a year, why would this person not get 15 lakhs? Now imagine that someone comes and shows that he can increase it from 5 crores to 6 crores, a 20% jump. If he asks for a 20 lakhs salary, would your company refuse it?" Let me tell you ladies and gentlemen - I know a few SaaS Startups in India pay 20 lakhs to someone experienced as less as just 3 years. What matters the most is - “How good are you at selling.”

Now that we have got that out of the park, let’s see why sales is and can be a great profession to millions of Indian unemployed millennials who never find what they aspired for??

Winning new customers and maintaining profitable relationships with existing ones is hence the need of the hour. These are times of competition; the consumer is spoilt for choice. Increasingly, companies are leveling their focus towards the customer for which sales and marketing functions have become an important corporate function.?

The future holds good news for the sales function. International companies are setting up operations, and Indian companies are growing bigger and bigger. This will result in more hiring along with good remuneration for professionals in the field of sales. To retain talent, companies would pamper their employees with good perks and benefits.?

Still, got a doubt if sales is good for you? Let’s see what other value this beautiful profession can add to your life.?

1. High Income Potential

Without effective salespeople, most businesses would not be able to generate revenue. Employers greatly value-effective sales staff, and they are compensated well, and the best ones can consistently earn six-figure salaries. There are a few other roles that have the potential to consistently pay as well as sales. Many sales jobs are commission-based, meaning that you earn more if you sell more. Getting proficient at your job can result in extremely lucrative paychecks.

2. A Strong Foundation for Career Growth

Your sales ability is an asset no matter which career path you choose. In just about any worthwhile job, you’ll need to be able to influence other people and sell your ideas to others. Sales will help you perfect your abilities to speak clearly and convincingly, persuade difficult customers and overcome challenges.

The sales profession provides the opportunity to learn many skills that can help you climb the ladder to qualify for better jobs in the future. Many people transition from sales to management after paying their dues to acquire the people skills required for achieving results.

3. A Degree Isn’t Necessary for Success

Looking for the best-paying job that doesn’t require a bachelor’s degree? Sales jobs will most likely be some of your most attractive options. While there are some sales jobs that do require a degree, academic credentials aren’t typically necessary for success in sales. This makes sales an excellent career choice for recent high school graduates. It’s a great career for those who are looking to start working now and don’t feel ready to go into debt or take on a four-year academic commitment.

4. Excellent Future Job Outlook

Most businesses and industries need salespeople, which means that job opportunities in sales are abundant. By the year 2026, experts are forecasting a 10 - 15 percent increase in available jobs for manufacturing sales representatives,?>20% percent increase in available jobs for financial services sales agents, and a whopping 28 percent increase in the field of software selling.

5. Find Work in Just About Any Industry

A career in sales is one of the most diverse and versatile jobs you could choose and is a skill that will benefit you for the rest of your life. If there’s a product or service that particularly interests you, you could probably get a job selling it. In fact, selling something that someone else produces offers some unique opportunities to sell yourself as well as the product or service itself. For example, if you can use this to your advantage, there are very few employers that will be able to resist hiring someone with experience in sales if they can also demonstrate interpersonal communication skills and business development ability.

6. An Impressive Professional Network

Salespeople have the opportunity to interact with a variety of people in a variety of roles, both within their own hiring organizations and at other companies. These interactions allow them to not only learn from others but also network with interesting new people. Think about it, this network can be used for both selling a product and getting a new gig!

7. Clearly Defined Sales Goals

Sales managers are forthright about setting sales goals for the people who work with them. It’s challenging to appreciate how wonderful this is unless you’ve worked in a job where goals were not defined, yet you were still expected to meet them – a problem for creative roles like graphic designer and web designer.

The sales goals may be hard ones. They might even seem impossible. But, at least they will not be a mystery. They will almost definitely be spelled out in black and white for you. You will not have to guess about what’s expected of you – which means that you can focus all your energies on meeting your goals.

Still, think if sales is right for you? Of course, it is!

If you’re ambitious and willing to work hard, a job in sales could be a stepping-stone to incredible wealth, an influential career, and a satisfactory level of work-life balance. These aren’t the only reasons you might want to consider launching a career in sales, but they’re certainly some of the most enticing reasons so many people choose sales as their career path.

We have witnessed Sales as an accidental profession for millions of people in India and we at MidGear, are on a mission to make sales a profession of choice. We not only offer free programs for sales aspirants and train freshers on b2b and b2c sales but also place them in various companies while giving you the freedom to work from where you are and do what you want.?

Let’s join hands and make Sales one of the accepted professions in India.?