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Working Conditions for Sales Service and Purchasing

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Working Conditions for Sales Service

Sales jobs are plentiful, but as this path indicates, they vary widely in quality, professionalism, training provided, use of your math background, opportunities to interact with colleagues, compensation, and growth potential. When you are a new grad out on the market for a sales job, there’s a temptation to look at all the sales jobs available, rationalize away any concerns you might have, and take the first one offered you.

Working Conditions For Sales Service And Purchasing

There are, however, three aspects of most sales jobs that are so dominant that they serve to define the nature of this employment experience, and you would be well advised to consider your suitability for a sales position against this criterion. Go back to the chapter on self-assessment and review what you learned about your personal traits, values, and skills. Measure what you've learned about yourself against the following three critical aspects of sales positions: the degree of sociability, nature of the client contact, and productivity/competitiveness.



Degree of Sociability

Most people remark on how easily sales professionals talk to just about anybody; the postal carrier, the cashier at a supermarket, the man or woman on the street. It's quite easy to explain. Despite the fact that their job emphasizes connecting with people, most sales professionals work alone and their contact with others is fairly brief and intermittent. They spend quite a bit of time alone with themselves and would tell you that you need to be comfortable with yourself to be good at sales.

Nature of the Client Contact

In most sales jobs, the actual "selling" of a product is not as challenging as connecting with the client. There are basically two ways to visit with a client: I) an invitation through some sort of pre-screening or pre-sales work that has the client requesting your visit, or 2) the "cold call" where you call upon a client who may not yet be aware of your product or service but whom you believe might be a good prospect for it.

Whether being invited or inviting yourself is more appealing or more challenging to you has much to do with your personality. Your tolerance of risk, your ability to handle new situations, and your ease in making acquaintances will be good barometers of which situation would be best for you over the course of a career.

Productivity/Competitiveness

Sale is often repetitive. It's not a career where you can sit home and rest on your laurels. For many in this profession, a success only motivates them to further achievement. This competitive drive may not be directed at others. It may simply be a competition with you. Because sales always involve seeking new markets and new clients for products and services, that competitive spirit is essential.

Working Conditions for Purchasing

Most of your time is spent in an office, although purchasing department employees will often visit plants or attend conferences. Though your workweek will probably be fairly standard in the early stages of your career, thesis largely dependent upon your particular sector of employment. There are many industries that, due to intense seasonality of production, demand overtime beyond the standard workweek during periods of intense output. Purchasing managers will find they are called upon to solve problems, handle details, and coordinate many activities during such intense work periods.

Training and Qualifications for Retail Buyers and Buyer/Merchandising Trainees

The environment of retailing is less one of glamour, travel, and clothes than one of computer printouts and statements of profit and loss. Because computerized information can tell the retailer so much about what is required inters of inventory, labor, and so on, students seriously considering retail careers need to consider mastering computer technology, including spreadsheet software and statistical packages, and have some exposure to database management. As our economy becomes increasingly technologically oriented, the candidate who can apply high-tech, information-based skills to a successful career in retailing has many advantages. In addition to these technical skills, there is a need for analytical skills. A course in marketing, general management, and/or economics might give you an even broader picture of the changing and very dynamic scope of retailing in our economy. The appearance of increasingly large merchandisers, whether they are department stores, warehouse showrooms, or grocery retailers, places demands on those candidates to understand the mechanics of big business.

Internships or, if your school has one, a co-op program, are ideal ways to help you ascertain your interest and suitability for the retail profession. Additionally, they help you to add valuable entries on your resume that will attract employers following graduation. Part-time employment in any area of the retail sector will give you immense credibility as a manager who can truthfully say to rank and file workers, "I've done that."

Training and Qualifications for Sales Service Representatives many are called, but few last. Success in sales positions often can't be determined well during the interview process. It may take several months of on-the-job work for an individual to assess whether he or she is right for sales. Some of the best sales organizations hope to improve the odds by having you interview with a large number of people to get a variety of impressions about you and your potential. Following selection, the very best sales firms have you undergo a lengthy (up to six weeks) training period which will involve role-playing, testing, and acquisition of needed product knowledge. These training programs are usually very professional, and you'll learn lessons that will stay with you throughout your entire working career. Some firms train you full time, others incorporate the training into part of the workday, and yet another option is to have you begin work and then have you return to train. The philosophy of this last option is that the worker who has experienced the job will understand the value of the training more easily.

Training and Qualifications for Purchasing Agents

Professional Qualifications

Entry into the field of purchasing is highly competitive, and college degrees are a must. In general, entry-level candidates with degrees in quantitative areas such as mathematics, computer science, and business degrees that focus on operations management are highly desirable qualifications. A number of certification programs are available for purchasing professionals, in private industry, the hallmark of experience and professional competence is the Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) that is awarded by the National Association of Purchasing Management, based on criterion involving years of experience and successful completion of a series of examinations. There is also a Certified Purchasing Professional (CPP) and a Certified Purchasing Executive (CPE) designation available through the professional development efforts of the American Purchasing Society. In governmental and public employment, there is the Certified Public Purchasing Officer (CPPO) that is awarded by the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing after meeting similar testing and experience requirements. It goes without saying that achieving this notable designation is enhancing to your career and your bank account.

These designations of excellence are a sign of how professionally the purchasing field handles itself. It should come as no surprise to you that continuing education is the norm and if you are located in a high-tech field, then continuing professional development will be imperative. Be certain task during your interview process what provisions are made for your training and continued professional growth by your employer. You'll be glad you did.
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