Sales Courses

Benefits of Pursuing Sales Courses 
Sales courses are designed to give you the knowledge and expertise required to manage a sales team and effectively market products. These courses also enable you to meet the expected sales levels. Sales and marketing is one of the most exciting and fastest growing fields around the world today. Sales professionals work in almost every major business and industry. As the economy shifts from manufacturing  towards service, sales and marketing professionals play a vital role in serving customers and helping them select the goods and services that suit their needs. Sales professionals may also work for media outlets and broadcasting companies. To be a successful salesman you need to have a friendly and approachable nature and have excellent communication skills. You must be an innovator and independent thinker, and must have the ability to come up with new and unique ideas for your products. 

What courses can I take?
Sales courses are offered by almost every major college, where students can obtain an Associate’s, Bachelor’s or master’s degree in the field. Typical courses include subjects such as accounting, marketing, economics and basic management skills. Several colleges are now also offering sales courses online, appealing both to working professionals who wish to climb up the corporate ladder and expand their advancement opportunities, as well as students who are working part time or taking on-campus classes in another subject. Online sales courses have the added flexibility of allowing students to take classes from anywhere, at any time, all through a simple internet connection. Often lectures are recorded and made available online for viewing at a later time, ensuring that you never miss a class. Some colleges also offer the additional feature of viewing classes through your cell phone, facilitating you on the go. Additionally, online courses allow students to tremendously increase their communication and technical writing skills, as most of the interactions with teachers and fellow students take place through emails. Students also become highly proficient in the use of digital technology for various projects and presentations and gain valuable IT & computing skills which are highly desirable in the field of sales.

Students who aim for an Associate’s degree in Sales & Marketing can complete their courses in as little as 18 months and can support themselves and their families by immediately finding entry level sales jobs in various shops, malls, advertising agencies and broadcasting companies. Students are taught basic courses that help them become motivated, goal oriented individuals with strong sales & marketing skills. Students also learn how to identify emerging trends in the market and learn about regional, national and international business methods. For those who wish to enroll in a full time degree program, the 4 year long Bachelor’s degree in sales is the ideal choice. This degree includes in-depth instruction in areas such as accounting, economics, product marketing, sales management and various techniques on using the media for promoting sales. Students also gain vital negotiating skills and learn how to deliver a winning sales pitch. For working professionals who wish to climb up the corporate ladder or simply wish to increase their career options, the Master’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in sales and marketing opens up loads of opportunities in various businesses, advertising agencies and radio & TV networks.

States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State	Employment	Employment per thousand jobs	Location quotient	Hourly mean wage	Annual mean wage
California	1660	0.11	1.26	18.13	37720
Florida	1130	0.14	1.68	17.97	37370
Illinois	960	0.16	1.92	17.9	37240
Texas	760	0.07	0.78	16.62	34570
New York	650	0.07	0.85	20.12	41840

Source: bls.gov

 

How long does it take to complete a Sales Course?

A number of schools in the US, such as the Appalachian State University and the Arizona State University, are offering sales programs. Students can enroll in a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with a concentration in Sales that takes 4 years to complete or a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in Marketing and Sales that takes up to 2 years to complete. Certificate courses in Professional Sales are also offered that can be completed within a year.

What are the requirements to complete a Sales Course?

Students enrolled in the BSBA program typically have to complete 120 credits. The Certificate in Professional Sales requires completion of 15 credit hours. Students have to study a number of modules like Principles of Marketing, Legal Environment and Business, Professional Selling, Sales Management, Introduction to Finance and Strategic Management. These programs incorporate sales related workshops, interactive class room sessions, assignments, projects and exams.

How much can I make after completing a Sales Course?

After completing a sales course, individuals can pursue their careers as Sales Representatives and Sales Managers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay of Sales Managers was $124,220 in 2018. The number of jobs in this field in 2016 was 385,500. Also, the employment in this field is predicted to grow by 7%, which is as fast as the average for all other professions.