Sales jobs London

The sales industry is one of the largest job sectors in the country – in 2005, it employed 11% of all UK workers. Moreover, continued growth is projected, and more than a quarter of a million new jobs are expected to be created in the industry by 2012. Thus, the prospects of those who will seek sales jobs in London during this period seem good.

Entering the sales industry in London exposes individuals to a broad spectrum of job opportunities and career options. The sector includes many different branches of sales, including retail sales, property sales and telesales, and several aspects of the marketing industry are closely correlated to the retail industry. Often, those seeking sales positions in London will also secure marketing positions – and visa versa. Many multi-skilled individuals will find that they have the expertise to move between these two industries with relative ease.

Skills required for doing sales in London

The qualifications required for sales in London are dependent on the type of position in question. For example, sales recruitment jobs, marketing jobs and executive positions often call for sales or marketing qualifications. These jobs may also require a certain amount of experience in the marketing, commercial or sales sectors, depending on the level of the position. Significantly, candidates for sales and marketing jobs are expected to a have excellent communication skills, as they will engage in frequent interactions with clients and companies.

While many employers favour experienced candidates over those with formal qualifications and little or no work experience, specialised and more senior positions often require a solid academic grounding. Senior IT Sales Executives, for example, will be expected to have an extensive knowledge of the IT industry in order to fulfil the role, while those in institutional sales would require specialised product knowledge and good negotiation skills to be successful in their sales jobs in London.

On-the-job training for sales jobs in London

Regardless of their qualifications, individuals working in the sales, marketing and commercial sectors acquire most of their industry-related expertise through actual work experience. While formal study instils technical knowledge in students, the majority of practical training takes place on the job. For this reason, many retail employers expect their staff to complete further training programmes and courses in order to enhance their skills and sales techniques, thereby making them more valuable to the company.

Job opportunities in the sales sector

Those hunting for sales jobs in London will be pleased to know that the industry offers graduates and experienced candidates a wealth of different types of job opportunities. For less experienced individuals entering the job market, positions exist in telesales and telemarketing. This branch of sales and marketing, which focuses heavily on “cold-calling” and direct marketing, allows candidates to “wet their feet” as they enter the working world. On the other hand, sales jobs in London’s advertising, finance, IT and property sectors are best-suited to those with specialised knowledge and expertise in this particular field.

It is also interesting to note that many sales employees gain the skills and experience required to start their own businesses, and a significant portion of individuals employed in the retail sector invariably go on to become self-employed, rather than staying employed doing sales jobs in London.

Once you have secured a job in the industry, promotions can often occur quite quickly and frequently. A store management graduate, for example, could earn a salary of up to £70 000 after only five years in the industry, and employees who prove their worth could find themselves moving up the ranks fairly swiftly.

Gain sales experience while studying

If you’re still a student, it’s advisable to secure weekend or holiday employment in a sales job in London in order to get a feel for your chosen career. More importantly, this part-time work would provide you with valuable experience that you could add to your CV when you begin applying for full-time work. Gaining work experience while still studying streamlines the process of finding a job after graduating, and makes you more attractive to potential employers.