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Job outlook for business sales associates in the United States
Business sales associate job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected business sales associate job growth rate is 4% from 2018-2028.
About 63,300 new jobs for business sales associates are projected over the next decade.
Business sales associate salaries have increased 9% for business sales associates in the last 5 years.
There are over 905,019 business sales associates currently employed in the United States.
There are 359,630 active business sales associate job openings in the US.
The average business sales associate salary is $59,485.
Are business sales associate jobs in demand?
Business sales associate job and salary trends over time
Business sales associate jobs over time
Business sales associate job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 905,019 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | 928,629 | 0.28% |
| 2019 | 977,192 | 0.29% |
| 2018 | 981,751 | 0.30% |
| 2017 | 1,010,189 | 0.31% |
Average business sales associate salary over time
Business sales associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $59,485 | $28.60 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $57,434 | $27.61 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $56,073 | $26.96 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $54,597 | $26.25 | --0.3% |
| 2022 | $54,760 | $26.33 | +2.5% |
Business sales associate jobs by state
Most common states for business sales associates
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 895 | 67% |
| 2 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 624 | 59% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 617 | 58% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 3,162 | 57% |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 380 | 55% |
| 6 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 3,648 | 53% |
| 7 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 1,018 | 53% |
| 8 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 6,119 | 52% |
| 9 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 1,638 | 52% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 4,529 | 50% |
| 11 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 1,447 | 50% |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 6,275 | 49% |
| 13 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 3,262 | 49% |
| 14 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 653 | 49% |
| 15 | Delaware | 961,939 | 469 | 49% |
| 16 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 424 | 49% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 2,718 | 47% |
| 18 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 2,323 | 46% |
| 19 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 1,439 | 46% |
| 20 | Missouri | 6,113,532 | 2,743 | 45% |
Most common cities for business sales associates
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fairfax | 1 | 4% | $65,219 |
| 2 | Brentwood | 1 | 2% | $65,558 |
| 3 | Broomfield | 1 | 2% | $65,927 |
| 4 | Edina | 1 | 2% | $65,691 |
| 5 | Hagerstown | 1 | 2% | $61,002 |
| 6 | Aurora | 2 | 1% | $65,672 |
| 7 | Boulder | 1 | 1% | $66,061 |
| 8 | Clearwater | 1 | 1% | $41,317 |
| 9 | Fort Collins | 1 | 1% | $66,252 |
| 10 | San Antonio | 2 | 0% | $53,677 |
| 11 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $53,208 |
| 12 | Austin | 1 | 0% | $53,489 |
| 13 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $65,747 |
| 14 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $63,059 |
| 15 | Kansas City | 1 | 0% | $61,216 |
| 16 | New York | 1 | 0% | $65,391 |
Business Sales Associate job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of business sales associate experts
Weber State University
University of Maryland - College Park
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
University of Maryland - College Park
North Dakota State University
University of Akron
University of Akron
Portland State University
Washington College
University of Richmond
Salem State University
Purdue University Northwest
University of Nevada, Reno
University of Central Arkansas
Arizona State University
Alverno College
Lloyd Wilson
Professor and Center DirectorWhat general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Lloyd Wilson: Be a strong communicator. Make yourself so valuable that the company will lose business if you decide to accept a position with another company. Show your value by being able to improve the company’s bottom line. Earn the company’s respect by earning the respect of the crop consultants, growers, extension agents, and specialists. Be willing to ask for pay increases once you have reached the point that you believe your knowledge separates you from the pack, so-to-speak. Be wiling to change jobs is necessary, but never burn bridges. Be willing to accept leadership roles, even if it means you have to relocate.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lloyd Wilson: If the graduate is just starting his/her career with a chemical company then the best advice I can give is to learn all you can about major factors that impact herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide efficacy. Reach beyond the products that the company sale and learn how the crop responds to the array of management inputs. Don’t be hesitant to say I don’t know about something but will get back to you on it. Do get back to them. Learn that when you don’t know something, ask the opinion of the consultants, growers, and researchers you work with.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Lloyd Wilson: Communication. A person who is willing to learn by doing. A person who learns the ins and out of all aspect of production of each crop you work with from varietal selection to planting, fertilizing, irrigating, pest management and harvesting will be highly prized. Growers and consultants respect chemical reps who have a strong understanding of all aspects of production and management. Growers and consultants are certainly interested in knowing how to maximize the cost-effectiveness of their chemical options. But don’t b.s. about what you do and don’t know. Nothing wrong with saying I don’t know and will get back to you. Working for a chemical company means you need to know how to calibrate spray equipment, evaluate efficacy, determine cost-efficacy of the array of management options, and know how to work safely with potentially dangerous chemicals. Drone technology is quickly taking off. Obtain a license to operate drones with attachments that allow liquid, granular, and powder payloads application. Know the ins and outs of labels. Know the flexibility that your company provides you in terms of chemical pricing, assume there is a sales side to the position. At times, you will have to recommend other company’s chemistries. But if that happens too often, find a better company to work for. Learn how to work closely with your crop consultants, growers, university researchers, extension specialists, and local extension agents.
Ryan McKeehan
Weber State University
General Sales, Merchandising And Related Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Ryan McKeehan: I advise seeking experiences over money when you are beginning your career. Often, new graduates will take the job that offers the most compensation. Choosing employment that provides the best opportunities to develop different skill sets will pay dividends in the long run. Leadership and problem-solving depend heavily on the experiences one can draw upon.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ryan McKeehan: At the start of one’s career, there are numerous ways to maximize one’s salary potential. One way is to change jobs every few years. The traditional stigma around job hopping has diminished, and each job change can bring new opportunities for salary upgrades and skill acquisition. By demonstrating a willingness to work hard and continuously upgrade skills, one can develop rare and valuable expertise that will be in high demand, opening doors to better opportunities and higher earnings.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Ryan McKeehan: With the rapid advancement of AI and other technologies, the role of salespeople is evolving. In this changing landscape, superior soft skills will be in high demand. The ability to communicate effectively, provide exceptional customer service, and sell ethically will be more crucial than ever. By honing these skills, one can stay ahead in the job market.
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: Starting a career in sales will be both exciting and challenging. Below are six tips for those entering this amazing field for the first time.
What Business Sales Associate 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 Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. Kathleen Kelly: The world is changing rapidly and the Sales field is no exception.
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Kevin Buckley: The biggest factor in earning potential is performance - salespeople get paid based on their ability to hit and exceed quotas through revenue generation. With a sales career, you have a lot of control over earnings. My advice is to be metrics-driven and have a plan to intentionally grow your sales skills through training, mentors, and personal development. Build a reputation for consistent over-achievement. It's also important to do research and understand typical compensation benchmarks. Some may offer higher base pay, while others offer more earnings leverage through aggressive commission/bonus structures.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kevin Buckley: Adaptability - The sales environment is evolving rapidly with changes in buyer expectations, technologies, and go-to-market strategies. Successful salespeople will need to be highly adaptable, comfortable with change, and able to quickly adjust their approach as needed. Those stuck in outdated methods will struggle. Digital Selling - The ability to effectively sell through digital channels and virtual interactions is now table stakes. Mastering skills like virtual presentations, video marketing, social selling, and leveraging sales technology tools will separate the top performers. Buyers expect a seamless, digitally-enabled experience. Business Acumen - More than ever, salespeople need the ability to position their products/services as strategic solutions that tangibly impact the client's key objectives, financial metrics, and business outcomes. Knowing how to speak the language of business strategy is crucial for consultative selling.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Kevin Buckley: My top advice is to be a continuous learner, both about your company/products and about the sales profession itself. Sales is a skill that requires ongoing development through practice, coaching, and studying new techniques. Don't rest on what you learned in school - seek out mentors, training opportunities, and ways to keep enhancing your sales capabilities. I would also advise resilience and to view every 'no' as a step closer to 'yes.' Sales has its share of rejection. Have a positive attitude, persist through obstacles, and be a student of why buyers say no so that you can improve.
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Dr. John Hansen: Regarding the third question, the only real way to maximize your salary in sales is to perform well against the success metrics in place in your role. Sales is, for the most part, an outcome-based profession, meaning that pay increases (or decreases) based on outcomes attained. Whatever the success metrics are in the position one is currently in, they will maximize their income to the extent that they perform well in relation to these success metrics.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. John Hansen: As to the first question, I would suggest any new graduate beginning in sales understand themselves to better understand what type of role they will best fit to. There has been a growing increase in assessment tests in sales to ensure that sales people are being placed in roles they will flourish in. For example, some sales people are more oriented towards finding new customers, while others are more oriented towards managing existing relationships. To the extent that new salespeople can better understand what role they will fit best to, and then secure that role, they are more likely to be successful. Beyond that, there is no substitute for hard work - particularly as one begins their career.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Dr. John Hansen: In terms of the second question, consultative selling has become critically important and will become even more important moving forward in the future. Gone are the days of salespeople simply being able to show up and pitch products while negotiating price. Today, instead, salespeople must be able to craft solutions in response to their customer’s problems. They must truly be consultative in their approach, guiding their customers through the purchasing process. To the extent that they can do this, they will be more successful in their careers.
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.
ChairSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Communication And Media Studies
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
E. Duff Wrobbel Ph.D.: Network, get an internship, do action research etc - anything to add practical experience to the classroom knowledge base.
What Business Sales Associate 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 Business Sales Associates 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.
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Derrek Schartz: Be agile and able to adapt. Sales has changed more of the last 20 years than over the previous 100. It's not your father's sales career. Over the last several decades the role of sales in most organizations has changed dramatically.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Derrek Schartz: To maximize your total income in sales one must always be learning and growing. Improving their knowledge, skills, and abilities particularly in light of the disruptions beginng to occur, such as AI, digitization, and others.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Derrek Schartz: The future of sales will require a change to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of salespeople (KSAs). Knowledge is a very important part of what a salesperson needs to be effective.
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Hank Boyd: Demonstrated proficiency in sales represents a feather in your cap. For many
CEOs, they started their illustrious career in sales. Nowadays, it is a common
launchpad for scores of successful business executives in consumer package goods.
Why is this so? Savvy companies know that it is paramount that new hires
quickly learn who the real target consumers are. Spending time on the front lines will
enhance your later contributions to the firm. For example, after obtaining my MBA from
Berkeley, I had the good fortune to land a sales position at Merck. I served as a Hospital
Representative specializing in broad spectrum antibiotics. My territory consisted of
Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, and the Santa Clara
Valley Medical Center.
After 18 months of working diligently in territory, I was offered a promotion to
work inside at Merck's headquarters in Rahway, New Jersey. Once I truly knew the
needs and concerns of my clients - general surgeons, urologists, gastroenterologists,
urologists, and infectious disease specialists - Merck was confident I could craft
relevant literature pieces and design compelling ad campaigns to reach target
physicians.
Mastery of general sales is a highly coveted asset. Once you conquer a given
product domain, the artform of sales is entirely transferrable. Case in point, it is not
unusual for you to begin in pharmaceuticals and then effortlessly segue into medical
equipment sales after a couple of years.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hank Boyd: With the looming prospects of AI, soft skills will reign supreme in sales. While at
first blush it might seem counterintuitive in that product knowledge used to be cardinal
skill, today's salesforce relies heavily on networking. Numerous academic papers lend
credence to this idea. Great people skills often trump wonkish knowledge about the
product line.
As we wade further into the 21st Century, environmental scanning (or better yet
the innate ability to read prospects) will remain pivotal. Exceptional salespeople
instinctively scan a prospective client's office noticing all the trappings. They are trying to find something they can comment upon, by doing so they can establish common
ground. Once a connection is forged, salespeople move out of the box of being pesky
interlopers into becoming valued associates.
Lastly, if you decide to embark on a career in sales never forget the tried-and-
true axiom of ABC - always be closing. This phrase means having the gumption to ask
for the business. While sales recruits might have congenial and bubbly personalities, if
they cannot look the prospect in the eye and ask for the business, they ought to find
another profession.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Hank Boyd: Nothing provides greater leverage in salary negotiations than having
documented sales experience. My advice would be to garner as much experience as you
can while in college. For example, you could fundraise for a nonprofit cause or a local
political campaign. If you have affiliation with a fraternity or sorority, volunteer to
serve on its recruitment committee. The bottom line is that you must convince any
potential employer that you naturally relate to people from all walks of life.
Eric Gjerdevig
Lecturer in Marketing, Director for the Center for Professional Selling and Sales TechnologyNorth Dakota State University
Marketing
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Eric Gjerdevig: First, remember that what you get out of your first job is so much more than compensation. A great manager mentoring you is priceless: it will pay you back dividends for the rest of your career. That said, in sales our compensation is typically tied to our performance. That means we need to put yourself out there, pay attention to the actions of the most successful salesperson in the company, learn everything you can, and manage your time well.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Eric Gjerdevig: I might be a contrarian with this answer. I think as technology advances very quickly with AI it's our human-to-human skills that will become rarer and more valuable over the coming years. It might sound silly but things such as asking questions, listening, storytelling, and being empathetic can function like superpowers and I think they will even more in the coming years.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Eric Gjerdevig: Learning doesn't stop when you graduate. How jobs are done will continue to evolve more quickly with advancing technology. To excel you need to continue to learn, develop new skills, and be adaptive.
Director Dave Payne M.S.
Associate Professor of Practice / SalesUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: Planning, practice, and skills are the keys to a successful career launch. Practice and coaching feedback will build competence, which builds confidence and sales performance success.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: Skills and competence are king! Sales professionals are paid a commission and bonus based on "sales performance" results...this will continue to drive top sales reps and managers to earn some of the highest incomes in the country. I am very proud to share that U Akron sales graduates have had a nearly 100% job placement rate for over a decade, with some of the highest starting incomes in the state of Ohio. This is directly tied to the gracious support of the 30 Fisher Institute for Professional Selling corporate partners which hire them every semester.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Director Dave Payne M.S.: As Director of the Fisher Institute, sales education professor and sales coach for the UA sales competition team, I look for three basic characteristics in our sales students. I look for "likability", "coachability" and "hunger for success". Here at U Akron, we are on the cutting edge of pioneering sales research and next level sales education utilizing AI, infrared technology, and biometrics/ physiological responses to sales stress. Skills are king... creating a new system for sales practice, AI feedback and repetition will be the game changer. Advancing skills to make a 21-year-old sales graduate to exhibit the skills and talent to appear ten years more experienced will be very attractive to hiring companies. This is happening at Akron next semester.
Frederik Beuk
Associate Professor of MarketingUniversity of Akron
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Business Sales Associate?
Frederik Beuk: The key consideration is whether you really want to maximize your initial salary. For instance, envision two job opportunities: one offering a salary of $50,000 per year, where you'd be the most junior team member, and the other providing $75,000 per year, with the caveat that you would be the sole sales representative for the firm. The optimal choice is to prioritize learning opportunities. In this context, being the lone salesperson for a company that compensates its highest-earning sales professional $75,000 might not be your superior option. Instead, seek a position that offers the greatest potential for learning. Subsequently, demonstrate your negotiating prowess, a critical sales skill, by securing a slightly higher salary. However, it's essential not to fixate on maximizing your starting salary. Your career requires a long-term strategy, and you have several decades ahead of you to maximize income.
What Business Sales Associate skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Frederik Beuk: Digital Literacy and AI are obviously on everybody's mind. The benefit for early career professionals is that these are skills they can use to differentiate themselves from more established professionals. Embrace these tools. At the same time, being an authentic storyteller that helps buyers envision the potential of your solutions can be an extremely powerful skill.
What will help Business Sales Associates increase their earning potential?
Frederik Beuk: Digital Literacy and AI are obviously on everybody's mind. The benefit for early career professionals is that these are skills they can use to differentiate themselves from more established professionals. Embrace these tools. At the same time, being an authentic storyteller that helps buyers envision the potential of your solutions can be an extremely powerful skill.
Becky Sanchez
Executive Director of Career & Academic ServicesPortland State University
The School of Business
What skills stand out on Business Sales Associate resumes?
Becky Sanchez: Skills that are directly tied to the particular job the company is hiring for. Having a certain set of skills matters less than having the exact skills the employer needs. See below for common critical skills in business.
Dr. Michael Harvey
Provost and Dean, John Toll Professor of Business ManagemenWashington College
Business Department
What skills stand out on Business Sales Associate resumes?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Above all, good Business Developers must have excellent communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills. Their work centers on meeting prospective customers and building relationships with them. Their communication skills, in particular, must include good listening skills so that they can truly understand customer needs.
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Across the business, the soft skills most in demand are the "3 C's": collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Employers are especially interested in evidence of projects, experiential learning, and internships, not simply majors and minors.
What skills will help Business Sales Associates earn the most?
Dr. Michael Harvey: Quantitative skills and computer coding skills are in the highest demand and shortest supply-and people who can combine them with strong, soft skills end up going the furthest.
What skills will help Business Sales Associates earn the most?
Keith Webb: While it depends on the industry, I believe students who develop and enhance their skill set in data analytics will ultimately reap significant incomes and longevity.
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.
Associate Professor of AccountingSalem State University
Accounting & Finance Department, Bertolon School of Business
What skills stand out on Business Sales Associate resumes?
Zlatinka Blaber Ph.D.: In my opinion, the skills that recent university graduates need to succeed professionally in a time of the pandemic, i.e., mostly remote office work, are 1) communication skills, 2) research skills, 3) data analytics skills, and 4) adaptability. A newly hired graduate in an accounting firm or in the accounting department of a non-accounting firm needs to write concisely, to the point, and error-free. Bad writing projects a weak professional (and company) image to clients, suppliers, and others. Communication skills do not extend only to writing emails and reports; asking questions when clarification is needed also is very important for a smooth work process. No one is born knowing everything, but one can research topics of interest and learn new things. Nowadays, there are plenty of library books, magazines, databases, search engines, online forums, massive open online courses (MOOCs), such as Udemy, EdX, and Coursera, and other resources available at our fingertips. Knowledge has never been available so widely and so cheaply, often for free. I call this the democratization of knowledge. Curiosity is an important characteristic of acquiring new knowledge and skills. New knowledge and skills lead to upskilling, especially if acquired regularly. The future belongs to those willing to get out of their comfort zone, upskill, and adopt a lifetime learning worldview. This is a matter of values and priorities. We see lifetime learning in action in business, too - Netflix and SpaceX, for example, have adopted innovative business models that no one had thought of before, and they have not stopped innovating. These companies did not rest on their laurels. Likewise, graduates need to be proactive, do research, and find the answers the company is looking for. "Data" is all around us and is valuable. Learning the basics of Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Tableau, or Microsoft Power BI and getting certified in them can be very useful, too. For more advanced software features, the makers of these programs have online classes, support, and user manuals. Learning data analytics skills may take some time, but it will save a lot of time and effort in the long run. Finally, adaptability.
My native country, Bulgaria, for example, has seen an influx of workers from Latin America, North America, the rest of Europe, and other places since the mid-2000s. Big Western pharmaceutical and software companies, among others, have offshored their offices there because the cost of labor and the income taxes are lower than those in Western countries. A low cost of labor corresponds to a low cost of living, too. Today, recent graduates should stay open-minded as to the location of their employer. We live in a global village that constantly changes. Sometimes, one's ideal job is far away from home. Accepting a job opportunity abroad requires flexibility and the long term in mind. It may come with nice surprises - a generous foreign earned income tax credit (for U.S. citizens working abroad), college debt forgiveness or postponement (for jobs with the Peace Corps and the Fulbright Commission, for example), new places to see, new languages to learn, and new friends to make. When one door shuts, another one opens.
Pat Obi Ph.D.
White Lodging Professor of Finance, Director, Executive MBA ProgramPurdue University Northwest
Finance Department
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Communication, negotiation, writing, and professional conduct, especially on virtual platforms.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Sales Associates?
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Data analysis and presentation skills - spreadsheet, statistical software, presentation software.
What skills will help Business Sales Associates earn the most?
Pat Obi Ph.D.: Data analytics, accounting, risk management, and business analytical skills, especially as they relate to financial data.
Jim McClenahan
Director of Career and Corporate OutreachUniversity of Nevada, Reno
College of Business
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Jim McClenahan: As I said, soft skills are desired more than ever. Angela Duckworth describes Grit as "Perseverance, effort, and skill." We can teach the skill; the other two have to come with the new hire. Empathy is important as someone grows in their career-you can't be an effective leader and not have empathy in your skillset.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Sales Associates?
Jim McClenahan: Sometimes this is job-dependent. Generically, Excel is the go-to tool for entry-level data analytics. Knowing one coding language, typically Python is a great start if your career ranges into the technical side. Business development and sales are the most demanded skills and experiences with the jobs we see. Not traditionally classified as hard skills, but not really soft, they underly so many things students see in first careers.
Anthony McMullen
Associate Professor of Business Law and Director of Forensics, vUniversity of Central Arkansas
Accounting Department
What skills stand out on Business Sales Associate resumes?
Anthony McMullen: This will depend on the specific field. Business is an incredibly broad area. Anyone with a business type of degree will at least obtain basic knowledge in accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. These skills should be highlighted. But when thinking about a resume, workers should think about (and participate in) experiences that allow them to use these skills. And once they have these experiences, they should be able to articulate how they used these skills on a resume. Don't just say, "I did ______." Say, "I used _________ in order to accomplish __________."
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Anthony McMullen: Admittedly, I'm not a fan of the phrase "soft skills" v. "hard skills," as some might take such phrases to imply that soft skills are not as important or are easier to obtain. That being said, to answer the question, communication and critical-thinking skills are essential to a successful career. Communication skills (both oral and written) are necessary to convey messages. It does not matter how much technical expertise someone has if that person is unable to convey that expertise to others. Critical-thinking skills are important because skilled workers need to know how to think through problems. The answer will not always be readily apparent. And even when it is, workers need to ensure that they can analyze it to ensure that it is trustworthy. Maybe the information found is outdated, doesn't apply to the situation, or is just flat out wrong, and a skilled worker needs to be able to make that determination.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, adaptability is also necessary to be successful. So many jobs have changed (and will continue to change). Many people left their respective industries during the pandemic because they couldn't (or did not want to) adapt to change. Those who can, or at least try, will find more opportunities in the workplace.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Business Sales Associates?
Anthony McMullen: Generally, the most valuable hard skills are going to depend on your field. So, it is hard to identify a specific "hard skill" that is most important. The current "buzz words" in business education is data analytics, or the ability to use tools to analyze and present data. Our society is increasingly data-driven. How do people wade through all of this information and provide something useful? Those who can do this well will have the upper hand.
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.
Professor of Supply Chain ManagementArizona State University
W. P. Carey Supply Chain Management
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: In general, people skills: leadership, effective communication and negotiation skills, the ability to work effectively with people in different cultures and in a team environment.
What skills will help Business Sales Associates earn the most?
Adegoke Oke Ph.D.: Imagine the perfect candidate that possesses the combination of all the skills mentioned above. But in truth, some combination of good people skills and appreciation of the digital environment and its impacts will help.
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Business and Management, MBA Faculty Director, Associate - School Sisters of St. FrancisAlverno College
Business and Management Department
What soft skills should all Business Sales Associates possess?
Stephani Richards-Wilson Ph.D.: Today's business environment is complex and continues to evolve. Creativity, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage or lead in turbulent times are essential twenty-first-century skills. Critical and strategic thinking, organizing, and planning are also salient skills. Business specialists with these skills make important contributions to their organizations. They often lead when no one else can or wants to. Communicating and being visible throughout one's division, department, or organization are important to the well-being and prosperity of the organization and the individuals who work there. Business specialists can develop and practice these leadership skills on-site or remotely. Internal and external relationship-building leads to trustworthy and mutually beneficial relationships and/or partnerships.