Common comments and messages from young people when it comes to sales and marketing jobs: “I’m looking for a job in a bank but I don’t want a marketing job.” “I want to join a startup but I don’t want to be part of the sales team.” “Sir, I am no longer interested if the only job is a sales job.” “Mom, I looked at the offer and my partner said we should forget about it since it’s about selling!”
Good People, I have a message to young people: LOVE sales and LOVE marketing. There are two big things that matter in a career: building things or selling things. Every product must be created or built, and those who make it are given a special place. And when the product is ready on the “shelf,” someone has to get it into customers’ hands. So when you look at businesses, you really only have two main roles – construction and sales – with the rest being marginal.
So I find it very intriguing that many young people in Africa don’t like sales jobs! I understand the high pressure element, but that’s the fun of it. You are simply asking the company to give you a better deal so that when you succeed, you get rewards.
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In most industries around the world, knowing how to sell products will get you far rather than avoiding them. The main job of a CEO is to sell the products or services once they have been built. If you don’t like sales, you’re indirectly saying that you aspire to get to the top, because there it’s all about selling and closing big deals. Rethink sales and don’t have a negative view of this area.
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