Sales is an activity involving selling goods and services. In organizational parlance buying and selling are two sides of the same coin and a person or an organization showing interest in buying the products or services are potential buyers, and the people within the organization who facilitate this exchange are sales professional or salespersons depending on the type of business.

Sales is also considered as a persuading art and people in this profession are expected to have exceptional management and inter-personal qualities. These qualities are not only beneficial for them while working in the sales, but can also be fruitful for them in switching to a different career profile requiring a similar skill set.

Real Estate

Buying and selling of properties existed long ago and continues to be so. In recent times, most of the deals in the real estate sector are carried out through real estate agents. A real estate agent can work as a listing agent to help a client sell his/her property or as a buying agent to help clients buy new properties. Showing houses, coordinating appointments, negotiating offers, and closing deals are some of the duties that a real estate agent performs. As a major part of the duty is to work with clients and buyers, the job of a real estate agent is best suited for a person having good communication skills and having a prior experience in sales. So a person having a background in sales can be a real estate agent. Switching into Real Estate will also not be difficult as there are no specific prerequisites and joining a training program for a month or two would suffice.

Real Estate Agent

Customer Service

Companies provide customer service in order to address queries and resolve issues faced by the customers. The main intent of providing the service is to ensure customer satisfaction so that they keep buying their product or continue availing their service. Therefore, companies hire executives who help in achieving that objective. Attending phone calls and addressing the needs and concerns of the customers are the main duties of the customer service executive. The person best suited to perform this job must have a thorough understanding of consumer needs, their behavior and must have good communication skills. People in sales usually are adept in understanding the consumer sentiment and have a tenacious ability to satisfy the customers and meet daily targets. So a sales person can switch to this profile as core skills required in the profile are almost the same.

Customer Service

Academia

People working in a sales and marketing profile in a corporate sector usually hail from a commerce background. Some of them are postgraduates having a specialization in sales and marketing. Even companies prefer candidates having an academic background while hiring for sales. So, as sales professionals have a formal education in their respective domain, they always have an option of working in the academia.

Business Development

Business development typically involves growing a business by acquiring new customers, or by selling additional products or services to existing ones. Other than that, the executives in business development are responsible in pitching for new products, contacting potential clients, researching needs of clients or companies in case of B2B enterprise, and maintaining fruitful relations with the existing customers. Business development is a critical aspect in ensuring client acquisition and creating important tie-ups that help in business expansion. A person with a sales profile is apt when it comes to working in business development because both the departments have a target-oriented approach and progressively work with the intention of continuous and sustainable growth.



A career in sales is exciting and offers a lot of opportunities to grow. It is probably one of the few careers that people can pursue irrespective of their field of education, and it also provides opportunities for people working in sales to work in different domains that are mentioned above.

Can you explain the difference between career and job? Switching from one organization to another in the same field is a job change, whereas, moving from one domain to other is a career change. For instance, a software engineer changing ABC company to XYZ is a job change, but if he/she takes journalism to engineering, then it is a career change.

People need a career change, because either they start developing antipathy towards their job, or they have different plans in their mind. But, is it possible to transform completely from one career to another? Well, it is not impossible, but difficult as it involves serious repercussions. Moreover, you cannot guarantee stability and work comfort in a new career. But, how to recognize the signs that will tell you need a career change?

When You Think You Have Gain Enough Experience in a Particular Sector

It's already been 10 years of working as a tutor in a school. Then, suddenly you start experiencing a feeling of contentment. You start saying to yourself that “I've done enough in this field.” Whatever was there to learn and impart, I have done it diligently and honestly. Besides being contended, you may also long for a change in your career because of boredom. After all, going to the same place and doing the same work for years is so mundane. So when you are contended and bored about your profession, that is the indication that now you need a change.

When There is Drop in Strength and Stamina

You need to be physically strong if you are a construction worker or a mechanical engineer. You have to visit different places often, stand continuously for the whole day, and need to handle heavy equipment at the work-site. But, as you grow old, you start losing capacity to handle this kind of work. You don't have the same kind of strength and power and that affects your productivity. So when age restricts you to do what you are skilled are, it's better to change your career.

When You Think You Can Take Over Family Business

There are some people who take jobs despite having a family business. They do so because they want to create their own identify. Take an example of Donald Trump. Trump's father was in a construction business, and one day they refused Donald's request of taking over his business because he was immature and inexperienced at that time. So, Donald borrowed one million dollar from his father and started working in a construction company to gain experience in that field. After a few years, based upon his experience, he successfully established own construction business and also took over his father's business. Therefore, once you feel qualified, you can switch a career to take over family business.

When You Have a Different Dream

We all have goals in our lives. But there are only a few who achieve it. They put all their efforts towards that goals and finally become successful. Others, who are far away from their dreams, keep procrastinating thinking that one day they will somehow fulfill their dream. Luckily, at one point in their lives, they see a ray of hope. For example, you want to become a wildlife photographer by the age of 30 and are doing a job to raise funds so that you can buy a high-end camera and accessories for a photography career. Then one fine day, you see an advertisement inviting photographs from budding photographers. When such opportunity comes in your way, you mustn't let it go and switch your career.

When There is No Scope for Career in the Future

There is no use sticking to a career that has become stagnant. If you are not progressing either mentally, financially, and emotionally, it's time take to the plunge and switch your career. Before doing so, analyze where the career you have taken is leading you. Try to research all the possibilities and limitations, and take a wise decision.


To change a career is a big decision because you must be versatile to accept the challenges entailed in the new field. It is necessary to do some self-assessment of your skills before changing a career. Taking efforts to know whether you will fit in the new work environment, and how long you can sustain it, is necessary before changing your career.