Sales executive : Entry requirements

Although this area of work is open to all graduates, the following subjects may improve your chances:

• business, management or marketing;
• media studies (for advertising and media sales);
• modern European or Asian languages (especially in organisations who work in overseas markets);
• computing, engineering or technology (for technical sales).

Larger employers who operate graduate training schemes usually look for a 2:1 or above, as well as evidence of involvement with university activities or some relevant work experience.

Increasingly, academic qualifications are less important than personality, attitude and abilities, especially commercial awareness and strong communication skills.

A pre-entry postgraduate qualification is not needed.

A number of larger companies recruit for sales positions as part of their graduate training portfolio. The training is sometimes combined with marketing as organisations seek graduates who will work towards becoming commercial leaders of the future. 

Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:

• the ability and desire to sell;
• excellent communication skills;
• a positive, confident and determined approach;
• resilience and the ability to cope with rejection;
• a high degree of self-motivation and ambition;
• the skills to work both independently and as part of a team;
• the ability to flourish in a competitive environment;
• a good level of numeracy.

Fluency in a foreign language can also be helpful.

For most sales positions, a full driving licence is essential.

It is useful to be able to point to some work experience in a customer-facing environment, such as retail or hospitality.

For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.