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Job outlook for account executive/outside sales in the United States
Account executive/outside sales job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected account executive/outside sales job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for account executive/outside sales are projected over the next decade.
Account executive/outside sales salaries have increased 9% for account executive/outside sales in the last 5 years.
There are over 913,706 account executive/outside sales currently employed in the United States.
There are 265,933 active account executive/outside sales job openings in the US.
The average account executive/outside sales salary is $75,033.
Are account executive/outside sales jobs in demand?
Account executive/outside sales job and salary trends over time
Account executive/outside sales jobs over time
Account executive/outside sales job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 913,706 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | 879,984 | 0.26% |
| 2019 | 936,894 | 0.28% |
| 2018 | 932,942 | 0.28% |
| 2017 | 914,110 | 0.28% |
Average account executive/outside sales salary over time
Account executive/outside sales salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $75,033 | $36.07 | +3.6% |
| 2024 | $72,446 | $34.83 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $70,729 | $34.00 | +2.7% |
| 2022 | $68,868 | $33.11 | --0.3% |
| 2021 | $69,073 | $33.21 | +2.5% |
Account executive/outside sales jobs by state
Most common states for account executive/outside sales
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 598 | 86% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,578 | 52% |
| 3 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 510 | 49% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 290 | 46% |
| 5 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 2,476 | 44% |
| 6 | Delaware | 961,939 | 411 | 43% |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 558 | 42% |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 431 | 41% |
| 9 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,251 | 40% |
| 10 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 1,347 | 38% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 3,362 | 37% |
| 12 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 2,235 | 37% |
| 13 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 1,542 | 37% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 718 | 37% |
| 15 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 3,080 | 36% |
| 16 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 274 | 36% |
| 17 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 3,639 | 35% |
| 18 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 2,584 | 35% |
| 19 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,006 | 35% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 593 | 35% |
Most common cities for account executive/outside sales
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen | 1 | 4% | $70,483 |
| 2 | Bangor | 1 | 3% | $75,412 |
| 3 | Birmingham | 2 | 1% | $60,449 |
| 4 | Grand Rapids | 2 | 1% | $63,900 |
| 5 | Santa Ana | 2 | 1% | $74,783 |
| 6 | Albany | 1 | 1% | $63,009 |
| 7 | Allentown | 1 | 1% | $75,492 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor | 1 | 1% | $64,911 |
| 9 | Arlington Heights | 1 | 1% | $68,057 |
| 10 | Arvada | 1 | 1% | $61,181 |
| 11 | Beaumont | 1 | 1% | $55,441 |
| 12 | Fort Worth | 2 | 0% | $55,589 |
| 13 | Anaheim | 1 | 0% | $75,016 |
| 14 | Aurora | 1 | 0% | $61,023 |
| 15 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $55,826 |
| 16 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $74,291 |
Account Executive/Outside Sales job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of account executive/outside sales experts
University of Maryland - College Park
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Washington College
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
The University of West Florida
Christopher Newport University
Penn State Behrend
Indiana University Southeast
Minnesota State University Moorhead
University of Minnesota
Buffalo State College
Missouri State University
The University of Findlay
Fordham University Gabelli School of Business
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Augsburg University
Illinois Wesleyan University
Champlain College
Kent State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Maximizing your salary potential requires research, flexibility, and being your best advocate.
What will help Account Executive/Outside Sales increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: The world is changing rapidly and the Sales field is no exception.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: All things social media are important, and so writing skills still matter.
What will help Account Executive/Outside Sales increase their earning potential?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: With this major, probably the best salaries are from sales jobs, which many people shy away from because they think only of hustling used cars, but sales can be very good work.
Dr. Michael Harvey
Provost and Dean, John Toll Professor of Business ManagemenWashington College
Business Department
What hard/technical skills are most important for Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills, plus any expertise in a specific technical area, like logistics or GIS.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Miguel Olivas-Luján Ph.D.: As the economy "reopens" (thanks to appeased fears of contagion driven by vaccination, herd immunity, people worn out by the lockdowns, warmer weather, etc.), we should see workforce adjustments across industries and occupations. Already in March, unemployment was returning to 6% (from a high of 14.8% in April 2020, but after a low of 3.5 in February 2020; https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/LNS14000000). Barring unexpected resistance in the virus variants or other influences, the summer and fall months should give us better job market numbers, but this recovery seems to be benefitting some population segments more than others. The unemployed rate for teenagers was at 13%, followed by Blacks (9.6%), Hispanics (7.9%), Asians (6%), adult men (5.8%), and adult women (5.7%; more detail is available at https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm).
Eric Bostwick Ph.D.
Professor of AccountingThe University of West Florida
Department of Accounting and Finance
What certifications/licenses/courses can have the biggest impact for Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Eric Bostwick Ph.D.: Although the use of office productivity software has been important for a number of years, the importance of fluency with these types of programs has been heightened by our increased virtual interactions. In addition, the use of online collaboration tools has grown and will continue to grow. Thus, candidates will stand out when they demonstrate knowledge/skill (e.g., certification) with respect to basic collaborative productivity tools as well as specific technology commonly used in their career fields.
Todd Lee Goen
Instructor & Internship DirectorChristopher Newport University
Department of Communication
What's a good job out of college for Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Todd Lee Goen: Pandemic or no pandemic, the best job out of college is one that sets you on the path to achieve your ultimate career goal(s). Reflect on where you want to be in five or ten years or even twenty-five years. Then consider positions that will set you on the path to achieve that goal. Very few people land their dream job upon graduation - dream jobs are typically those we're not qualified to do without some additional work experience and training. A good job is one that will help you achieve your goal(s) - just don't frame it that way in the interview.
Good jobs pay a livable salary for the location, offer benefits (health insurance and retirement at minimum), and provide professional development opportunities (these can take a variety of forms). Too often, college grads overlook professional development. If an employer isn't willing to invest in you, there's no guarantee you will succeed in the job. Good employers understand they need qualified employees who continually develop their skills and abilities, and good employers will make sure employees have the resources they need to succeed.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Mark Owens Ph.D.: It is hard to know for sure, but it seems like there will be a trend toward doing more job related tasks remotely. The pandemic forced many employers to adjust to life without in-person contact and many of these changes are going to persist in some form.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Uric Dufrene: There will be several trends that will impact graduates. Perhaps the most recognizable is the presence of working remotely. Employees will have more discretion in working remotely or from the office. For recent graduates, this may introduce conveniences and offer more flexibility on where one might choose to live. However, graduates must find ways to maintain some type of presence among co-workers. A new graduate must be cognizant of the old adage, "out of sight, out of mind".
Graduates will need to find creative ways to network. At some point, traditional face to face networking will return. Until then, graduates need to think about ways to network. This means that graduates must be very cognizant of their social network brand. Their online brand will take on a greater level of importance. For many graduates, the impression that colleagues and others in the industry might have will be influenced by their social networking branding.
Wooyang Kim Ph.D.
Associate ProfessorMinnesota State University Moorhead
Paseka School of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Wooyang Kim Ph.D.: During this unprecedented context, the biggest trends in the marketing job market would be three parts - 1) Hyper-competition in the shrunk size of the job markets, 2) Emerging virtual (or remote) work environment at the home office, and 3) Salary and/or compensation reduction in the workplaces.
First, on average, the unemployment rate has been drastically increased while the job positions were (temporarily) eliminated in 2020 due primarily to the negative effect of the pandemic across industry sectors. Also, the pandemic situation has accelerated the job positions by replacing humans with AI (artificial intelligence) and machines (e.g., automation and/or touchless system), shrinking the total size of the job market. As a result, the given conditions inevitably entail hyper-competitions by creating a new structural environment in the job market for two or three years from now. This situational tendency would accelerate in the manufacturing and service industry sectors. Second, due to safety reasons by following the CDC regulation, many firms have changed the workplace from firms' office to home office, although several labor-intensive sectors had minimized this change (e.g., retailers and restaurants). This replacement of the workplace has increased the virtual or remote oriented work environment. Third, overall costs for maintaining businesses increase while declining profits - tight budget for business sustainability to survive in the current market. This circumstance tends to reduce overall marketing costs as well as the labor force-related costs (salaries, compensations, and benefits).
Nonetheless, the job positions in analyzing consumer behavior and psychology would be sustainable in the marketing-related job market, such as the job areas related to market and marketing analyses, online consumer analyses, and similar fields across the industry sectors.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Geoff Kaufmann: Working remotely and integration of personal and professional lives and in many cases increased productivity of those workers.
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Annemarie Franczyk: Every industry is looking for professionals who can write and communicate visually, so any activity, extra course or private tutor who can help graduates keep up or build these skills will be to their advantage professionally. Additionally, data analysis has application across all disciplines, so a course or two in that area will be of value. And if the graduate can put these two areas of study together and communicate data effectively, he or she will be in demand.
What general advice would you give to an Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Annemarie Franczyk: Never settle and never settle down. Both notions suggest dropping where you are and staying put and being hopelessly stuck. When you're hopelessly stuck, you're not learning, growing and advancing. Always look for the next opportunity to do something interesting. Take chances. If you do, you will have a lifetime of no regrets.
What general advice would you give to an Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Jerri Lynn Kyle: 1.Don't be discouraged! Jobs are out there but you might not get your dream job starting out. It's a journey, so try to make the most of every stop.
2.Start building your professional credibility, both with how you perform your job, and how you interact with your coworkers.
3.Finally, be confident, but at the same time be teachable and coachable. Your degree doesn't make you an expert. Sometimes you realize you don't even know what you don't know, and that's okay. You aren't going to know everything and that's why you need to be coachable.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Christopher Sippel Ed.D.: The focus on remote working will continue to expand rapidly and transform how we define the workplace. In many ways, it will also make the job market more competitive as anyone, anywhere can be a candidate. Lots of international business will be centered on global health reform and there will be increased understanding of the interdependence of nations. This may encourage a stronger focus on the social responsibility of companies and organizations in promoting the well-being of all people. The job market will continue to shift quickly and in unanticipated ways. Job candidates will need to monitor and flex to these changes.
What skills stand out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
Christopher Sippel Ed.D.: Evidence of continued engagement with the world despite the pandemic will be important. As mentioned above, this might be in a virtual, remote way, but most organizations are seeking candidates that show a willingness to continue to move forward despite the pandemic. A commitment to a diverse number of cultures and countries is also very important. Diversifying your experience and demonstrating to potential employers that you are not one-dimensional in your international interest becomes even more important when COVID requires extreme flexibility. Additionally, evidence of intercultural communication skills are paramount. In the time of COVID, industries need recruits that already have these skills and can quickly create positive relationships with diverse international colleagues. Lastly, the resume should demonstrate an individual's engagement with technology and provide evidence of skills in creative problem solving.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Account Executive/Outside Sales to find work opportunities?
Christopher Sippel Ed.D.: A silver lining to the pandemic may be that the location of an individual in many industries no longer dictates which company or organization someone can work for. When travel restrictions begin to ease, successful candidates will be willing to go wherever they are asked to go. In these challenging times, organizations will need people that are open to working where they are needed.
What experience really stands out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Yes, there will. Many businesses are changing their headquarters, operational infrastructure and buying communications protocols. Effective vertical prospecting, networking and selling skills will still be as important as ever as sales engagements will continue to become more complex. According to McKinsey sales engagements of course have moved mostly to digital and remote which is a trend that started before the pandemic. A McKinsey survey of B2B companies finds that, "Almost 90 percent of sales have moved to a videoconferencing(VC)/phone/web sales model, and while some skepticism remains, more than half believe this is equally or more effective than sales models used before COVID-19." (The B2B digital inflection point: How sales have changed during COVID-19) April 30, 2020 McKinsey Article)
What type of skills will young Account Executive/Outside Sales need?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Young graduates need to be very familiar with the various digital communications platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others. Also, as important is to understand the nuances of communicating content in a way that is clearly understood on the client side. These graduates must learn to not be afraid to treat these meetings like a regular face-to-face meeting as they engage and build relationships with existing and prospective customers. Effective phone communication skills are also critical.
What type of skills will young Account Executive/Outside Sales need?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Young graduates need to be very familiar with the various digital communications platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and others. Also, as important is to understand the nuances of communicating content in a way that is clearly understood on the client side. These graduates must learn to not be afraid to treat these meetings like a regular face-to-face meeting as they engage and build relationships with existing and prospective customers. Effective phone communication skills are also critical.
What experience really stands out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
Anthony DeFrancesco: Knowledge and experience with sales technology tools and effectively navigating Omnichannel hybrid sales environments. Social selling and analytical skills are also highly important. Product and industry knowledge for the targeted verticals also stands out. Experience with specific industry vertical prospecting tools can be a major differentiator. Finally, important to complement the aforementioned ATS keywords are leadership and team collaboration.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Laura Sansoni: I think the changes we will see in the job market will have to do with how employers recruit and how we will work. Many employers had to transition quickly to virtual recruiting without changing their usual recruiting schedule. In the last few years, I have seen a shift to virtual interviewing and recruiting; the pandemic simply sped up the process across industries, occupations, and geographic locations. Virtual recruiting has allowed employers to expand their reach and connect with institutions and students they would not have had the opportunity to otherwise. Some employers also reimagined their internships from in-person to virtual experiences in direct response to travel and social distancing guidelines. Being able to still offer internship programs in a virtual setting offers more possibilities for students to gain work experience and new skills.
Moving forward, employers will likely focus again on in-person recruiting and working, but I believe virtual recruiting and remote work will become a much larger offering in the future. Here at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) we have transitioned to offering more courses and programs online and we plan to continue to offer career services programming virtually to accommodate the growing number of online students. I think that working remotely or the ability to work remotely on an ad hoc basis will remain prominent but will look different based on the needs of the company and position.
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Laura Sansoni: I think taking a year between high school and college or between a bachelor's and master's degree can be incredibly beneficial if the individual approaches this time with intentional purpose. If they want to gain work experience and/or save up money for school, seeking a position with ties to a career that interests them is going to help them narrow down their academic path once they begin their higher education.
If they want to use this time to travel, they should consider documenting their experiences to reflect on their personal growth and any new skills they gain such as learning a new language. If they simply wish to take a break from their studies, take the year to explore their personal interests and hobbies by trying new things and meeting with people doing work that interests them. Lifelong, fulfilling careers stem from your passions and interests. Discovering both early will help guide them in educational pursuits as well as fulfilling work throughout their life.
What general advice would you give to an Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Laura Sansoni: Whenever I work with a new graduate, I see them experiencing many emotions ranging from excitement from completing their education to anxiety about starting their careers.
For the graduates that have a job, I highly encourage them to take advantage of any opportunity presented to them. Participate in workplace events, take advantage of professional development opportunities like attending conferences or trainings, and volunteer to work on projects when asked to. Taking advantage of these opportunities in your workplace will increase your skills and experiences while deepening your connections to your colleagues and growing your personal network.
For graduates that are still looking for jobs, I remind them that the worst things that can happen in the job search are an employer saying "no", "we went with another candidate", or not responding to your application at all. While that can be scary and defeating at times, think about the positives of the situation. You didn't get the interview or the job, but you didn't lose anything either. Instead, you gained more experience in the job search process that you can improve upon for the next time. I also remind new grads to let the employers decide if they are the right fit for the job instead of counting yourself out too early. If you meet 75 percent of the qualifications in the job description, apply for the job and let the recruiter decide whether to set up an interview. Don't be so afraid of the next "no" that it prevents you from finding the next possible "yes".
Brian Abraham Ph.D.
Instructor, Full-time faculty member at Nichols CollegeAugsburg University
Business Administration Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Brian Abraham Ph.D.: The current generation of graduates entering the workforce seeks flexible hours and more socially responsible employers. While the pandemic has instilled the desire for remote work, it certainly has hastened the process. Moreover, traditionally in-person arrangements - such as teaching - have been recast in a remote workforce environment.
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Brian Abraham Ph.D.: If a graduate needs to take a gap year, I recommend they:
Learn a new language, ideally through immersion.
Perform at least 250 hours of pedigree-level volunteering. This is volunteering at a high brand name organization.
Learn how to code in a current software language.
Learn a professional skill set such as Quickbooks or Salesforce.
What general advice would you give to an Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Brian Abraham Ph.D.: While it is exciting to be starting your first job as a recent graduate, don't be too hasty. Be sure you are entering a positive atmosphere with strong leadership. Take time to ask about the company culture and turnover rates. You can find low and high turnover rate ratios on the Internet for your industry. A high turnover rate company likely has a poor working atmosphere.
What general advice would you give to an Account Executive/Outside Sales?
Fred Hoyt Ph.D.: Some of the advice is contained above. Some is to reflect on the collapse of the world in March, and what they've had to grapple with since. As I told my students in September, in many ways, even business classes are "history" classes. Much of what you've "learned" that will help you will be, ironically, the shift to online communication via various platforms. I suspect that many of the distance communication platforms were as new to your business peers as to you, and in fact, by adapting to distance learning, you may be at least as well prepared for the new work environment as your fellow employees. Be prepared, too, to adapt, to change, and to learn on your own. You're the tech-savvy generation, at least that's what you tell us (and that's what your coworkers expect). Live up to it by learning how to learn without classes. To some extent, the chaos in higher education in the past year has paralleled the chaos in business, and you've had to adapt. Just like the businesses that have survived.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Fred Hoyt Ph.D.: The biggest trends I believe in the job market will be the search for employees who have mastered (or at least adapted to) the demands of online everything: sales, fulfillment, working at a distance with minimum supervision in groups with minimal supervision, positive mental attitude, and an ability to self-motivate.
What Account Executive/Outside Sales skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Fred Hoyt Ph.D.: If a student (or graduate) needs to take a gap year, I'd recommend training in computer skills and other analytical techniques that were not covered in their curriculum. There are incredible applied courses available on Coursera and Udemy and Lynda, many of them taught by the same professors at schools that charge $50,000 tuition. Many are also offered by the companies that provide the software students will be using, and lead to certifications that indicate one is "proficient" in a program.
Many career centers, including the one at my school, tell students to put "proficient" on a resume. "Certified by Salesforce" is a more powerful statement. I'd also recommend in a cover letter, students point out they realized they needed additional skills, and these are the steps they took to ensure they would be able to hit the ground running. I'd also recommend taking something really different - perhaps a foreign language, perhaps the art course they always wanted to take but could not fit into the curriculum. That would indicate curiosity and motivation.
Dr. Cyrus Patten
Assistant Dean, Assistant Professor of EntrepreneurshipChamplain College
Robert P. Stiller School of Business
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Dr. Cyrus Patten: I anticipate we'll see continued adoption of remote work, even after the pandemic subsides. Office space is expensive and represents a significant fixed cost that companies will look to eliminate now that it's clear many jobs can be done remotely. The fears that remote working arrangements can't yield productivity have been widely disproven during the pandemic. Many companies are realizing not only that the job gets done but also that workers are putting in more time than ever before. As the boundaries between work and home have become blurred, so too has the notion of a "workday".
The tech and consumer goods sectors have done quite well during the pandemic. Consumption has only increased, and large online retailers were well-positioned to meet the need. Businesses in these sectors will continue to thrive even after the pandemic, with extra cash on hand to invest in new ventures or expansions.
What skills stand out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
Dr. Cyrus Patten: The skills that stand out the most are not always what you'd expect. In a recent update to the IBM Institute for Business Value Study, it's clear that executives crave applicants with critical human skills. These are skills like agility, adaptability, and teamwork. For the first time, these skills have surpassed the "hard" skills like computer skills and other core technical skills.
Personally, I always look for applicants who have demonstrated a concern for their community, ethics, or social justice. I can train a skill. I can teach competence, but I can't train someone to be an involved citizen or an ethical business leader.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Account Executive/Outside Sales to find work opportunities?
Dr. Cyrus Patten: For starters, the pandemic has shown that you can work from almost anywhere. So I expect recent grads to flock to areas that offer a high quality of life (like Burlington, Vermont) and a well-equipped communications infrastructure. They'll move to cities with gigabit connections, a strong outdoor lifestyle, and lots of bars and restaurants. If I were graduating with a business degree right now, I'd be looking to move to one of the entrepreneurial and technology hubs like Austin, Miami, San Diego, Boston, or Boulder.
John Rose
Associate Lecturer, Internship Coordinator and MSA CoordinatorKent State University
Department of Accounting
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
John Rose: For accounting students, the job market is good. There was a dip at the beginning of the pandemic, but CPA firms are still hiring. The number of interns for the winter season is comparable to the previous year.
What skills stand out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
John Rose: Many of our students obtain their entry-level accounting after completing an internship with the organization. Students that do not receive an offer from the organization they interned with typically receive an offer with another organization. An internship on a student resume increases their chances of obtaining an entry-level poisition.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Account Executive/Outside Sales to find work opportunities?
John Rose: Many accounting graduates start in public accounting. It is easier for entry-level accountants to first start with the office of a CPA firm that recruited them and then, after a year or two, to request a transfer to an office in a city they desire.
Jonathan Byers
Assistant DirectorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Career and Professional Development
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Account Executive/Outside Sales job market given the pandemic?
Jonathan Byers: -The increase of remote or home-based job opportunities and internships on job search websites and platforms.
-The increase in virtual recruitment (interviewing, networking events, career fairs, etc.).
-The possibility of jobs that may begin as remote/virtual experiences and then transition to in-person experiences over time or become a hybrid of remote and in-person activity.
What skills stand out on Account Executive/Outside Sales resumes?
Jonathan Byers:
- Professional skills related to career development competencies such as strong oral & written communication, teamwork & collaboration, leadership, problem-solving ability & creativity, and professional integrity, but we recommend that applicants do not just list these skills. They should provide evidence of how they have used them in their work experience, volunteer experience, academic experience, etc.
-The ability to use technology effectively to solve problems or improve collaboration; this could relate to social media management, computer hardware or software skills, proficiency with general programs like Microsoft Office Suite (also being able to demonstrate the use of these skills in various experiences).
-With diversity, equity, and inclusion becoming more important in 2020, the ability to appreciate different points of view, accept and appreciate different cultural backgrounds & types of identities, and increased awareness of one's own cultural biases and assumptions can also be important to market on a resume.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Account Executive/Outside Sales to find work opportunities?
Jonathan Byers: Like most Liberal Arts graduates, people with History degrees will most likely develop a number of the professional skills mentioned above that can be applicable in many different industry areas. In today's job market, college graduates are not bound to one type of job opportunity. History majors from Virginia Tech have found employment in Higher Education, Law, Politics, Public Policy, Business, Marketing, Information Technology, Information Management, International Affairs, Local & State Government, and the Federal Government. They have found opportunities in many different locations across the United Students. A person who finds a job depends on how much they are willing to network with other professionals and be strategic and intentional with their job search strategies.