Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Sales Professionals
Erin, VP of Retail Partnerships at Blendjet, recommends entry-level sales or customer-facing roles as "the foundation for most roles," because these roles build crucial skills applicable across various careers, including "convincing somebody to buy" and "advising somebody on the best course of action." This experience, even unexpectedly gained, significantly propelled their career trajectory.
Sales, Client Communication, Customer Relations, Business Development, Entry-Level Roles
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erin Kristovich
VP Retail Partnerships
Blendjet
Washington University in St. Louis
NYU Stern Business School
Spanish & Other Languages, English
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Video Highlights
1. Entry-level sales roles build foundational skills applicable to many careers.
2. Sales roles teach you to sell yourself and advise others, valuable skills for career advancement.
3. Erin's unintentional entry into sales proved to be a pivotal and beneficial career step for her.
Transcript
What is the best entry-level role out of undergrad?
I think the best entry-level role out of undergrad is some type of sales or client-facing role. You learn a lot of skills that will be the foundation for most roles you do moving forward.
Even if you don't end up in a customer-facing role later, the skills you learn in convincing someone to buy, implementing tools, or using your software all come into play. You also learn how to sell yourself better in future roles.
You learn to come across as someone who knows what they're talking about and is advising on the best course of action. The foundation you get from learning to sell a product will serve you well in any other role you choose in your career.
I unintentionally ended up in a sales role right out of undergrad, and I think it was probably the best thing that happened for my career. I don't think I would be in my current role without having done that.