The Future of Sales: Advice for Sales job seekers

There are few careers that are as central to the pace of change in business as sales – and the sector is entering a time of great opportunity and high risk. As Michael Murica, Senior Associate with Michael Page, explains, “In sales one thing is for sure – people who embrace the opportunities available from the new digital environment, from leaders to key talent, a truly action-packed journey awaits.”

“Where in the past the emphasis would be on the ability to sell a product by its price and what it does, now there is more demand for relationship-based selling,” he adds. “The relationship with the client is the core of sales. It that sense there has been a shift from hard skills to a need for more soft skills. It is more about to the introduction of who you are as well the product. However, the part of hard skills can be important in some sectors or roles where specific knowledge about the product is required.”

In this article Michael Page presents six trends for sales professionals over the next three years – the drivers and candidate ‘hacks’ that can help transform your potential into tomorrow’s must-have talent.  

Drivers of change in Sales

What should sales professionals look for in a role – and how can you embrace hot trends to stand out from the crowd? Whatever direction you take, sales remains a dynamic springboard to push your career to the next level.

1. An appetite for risk
2. Deal with challenges and solve problems
3. Be a good listener
4. Be mobile and learning-focused
5. Always be engaging
6. Be a native to change  

An appetite for risk

With the recent dawn in Europe of many ‘unicorn’ businesses, Michael Murica says, opportunity is there for sales professionals with an eye for a growth business model and a desire to grow their careers. “Some people find it really appealing to go and work for a brand that's agile and growing fast,” he says. “At the same time, not so many people have this ‘risk appetite’. The ones that do stand out.”

While their CVs are well-watched, he says some of these sales high-flyers still prefer the safety of a larger brand and planned progression to a ride on the career rollercoaster. “But some people really take on a risk at the right time, join a brand when it's emerging, then see the full story through. Obviously, there's massive potential upside – so it’s a calculated risk.”

Solve problems and think strategically

Ronak Marolia’s research into salesforce effectiveness for Aon Hewitt indicates that in terms of skillsets, sales professionals need traditional character traits and an aptitude for embracing new tools. “The core skills remain the same – they need to be great salespeople who are able to convince clients. That part is not going away,” he says.

Michael Murica says that in his view there will be less sales roles for people who only try to sell to prospects and don’t create trusting relationships. “People who can build relationships, who understand client problems and how to solve them with the product they have to sell, they are the ‘hot-property’ of the near-future,” he explains. “On top of that they need to be able to think strategically and see the synergy between different companies and sectors.”

Be a good listener

 “When I work with younger or more inexperienced people,” explains Michael Murica, “my advice to them is to become the best listener they can and have great time management. And as sales roles mix business development and marketing, being able to tell a good story is one of the keys to success,” he adds.

Be mobile and learning-focused

In an international company, a sales career offers rich opportunities for people seeking to broaden their geographical reach and learn about new cultures. “It’s about mobility to go places – the ability to adapt to new cultures. And making sure you become empathetic with your target group, where internal or external,” explains Heineken’s Anna Campagna.

In business, salespeople should be open with their time, she explains. “When people stop working and start socialising and having fun, it's important for us that you have real passion,” she says. “If you don't have that passion for your product and what it unlocks in people, then you're less suitable for the job, and it can be painful.”

Always be engaging

Whereas salespeople were famously urged to “always be closing”, the new mantra for the sales professional bolsters this by emphasising customer connection: “The salesperson is now more consultative than they were in the past,” says Michael Murica.

“The way the markets are evolving, you need to be someone who sells across multiple channels – and engagement takes precedence over closing the deal.” Highly developed listening skills and open-mindedness are critical to the new paradigm. “You need to be someone who has a lot of data points when you go to your customer.”

Be native to change

According to Heineken’s Anna Campagna, the skillsets that are relevant for sales careers in the digital age are those that help display high energy and an impatience to push into the unexpected: “I think the people who have the best rate of success are people that at this moment in time show a high curiosity, passion, and learning agility in every dimension – people that are actually welcoming change, as opposed to only adapting to it. I think this is super important.”