If we ask how many sellers and sellers there are in Spain, it will not be easy to find an answer. Perhaps the closest estimate is the number of people living in our country according to the last census, 48,345,223. Devote yourself professionally to sales and make a professional career out of it This is another story. Far from clichés, the sales profession requires qualification, specialized training, constant recycling and very specific competencies and skills.
occasion Trade Day will be celebrated next October 1, Adecco GroupThe world leader in human resources management and expert of this open profile presents this initiative “Sales House”.
through this community Adecco Group wants to contribute To ensure the recognition the profession deserves and to close the trade deficit in our countryCreating a “Sales House” site where there will be valuable content by and for sellers, good, regular and bad practices, advice, development options, training, tips… a site where salespeople will feel at home.
To better understand the profile of this profession, Adecco Group conducted a survey with the participation of 10,000 professionals about some important aspects of selling such as professional recognition, profession, skills and benefits of that job.
Value the sales profession
Asking about professional recognition, Only 23% of people working in sales think the profession gets the recognition it deserves (a lot or enough). For the vast majority of professionals surveyed (77%), this is a profession that does not have the prestige it should have and has little or no recognition. This means there are a lot of positions. Commercial quotas still cannot be filled. Surprising, considering that it is one of the most in-demand professions in the Spanish labor market.
This first information coincides with another very striking fact revealed by the survey: 22% of those working in the sales sector think that their choice of this profession is vocational. By profession, I mean they were exposed to the business world, sales, negotiation, etc., even before dedicating themselves to sales. We mean that they have a strong attraction towards each other.
The rest of the surveyed population falls into two large groups: 41% say they are dedicated to sales after sales. Try and discover an exciting world and almost 30% say they do it for themselves great deals What the world of sales has to offer development, career and opportunities.
For this reason, although it is not a priority option for most people, it is undoubtedly an option that should be preferred after trying it and seeing the development options and future possibilities. It’s a fascinating profession, one that reinforces the idea that advertising is not born but “made.”
The importance of soft skills
The commercial field is also a professional track where education and previous studies, although important, are certainly not critical. 60 percent do not have a university education and 40% have them, with the majority of respondents having received Fs.Vocational or similar training in all disciplines and branches. On the whole, these professionals are more adaptable and their true value lies in their skills.
In this sense, there is significant consensus on the type of competencies and skills required for this profession. For this reason, 2 in 3 salespeople highlight communication skills and empathy as essential toolsAlthough they are less unanimous, they are followed by goal orientation and planning, which are also essential for any professional who wants to have a successful career in sales.
After seeing what happened communication skills and empathy The most advanced skills and competencies obviously serve to focus on their clients. Almost 70 percent of survey respondents say so Dealing with customers is the best part of the job. Learning, sharing, providing solutions, being an essential partner for customers is something that often drives and motivates people who dedicate themselves to sales every day.
And finally, going back to the initial question, the profession still does not have the prestige of others, and that is what makes it so important. Only 46% of survey respondents think sales is their definitive profession. The remainder (54%) think they will sooner or later move on to other professions, resulting in rotation in these key positions and increased efforts on recruitment and training. Therefore, the challenge for companies is Protect this business talent that is so rare and valuable.
If you want to know more about “Sales House”Adecco Group has published a study that holistically addresses the sales profession from aspects such as the current profile, the past and future of sales, and the myths surrounding the profession.