do salespeople really need a college degree to succeed in their field?

17% of salespeople did not attend college

Source
Hubspot

Topic
Sales Trends

Year
2019

While having a degree can certainly provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, many successful salespeople have proven that formal education isn’t a prerequisite for success in sales. In fact, some salespeople argue that real-world experience and soft skills such as communication, empathy, and persistence are more important than a degree.

However, it’s worth noting that the sales landscape is changing, and a college degree may become more important in the future. As technology advances and industries become more complex, sales roles may require a deeper level of knowledge and expertise than in the past.

Additionally, some companies may have specific education requirements for sales roles. However, it’s important to remember that a degree does not necessarily guarantee success in sales, and it’s ultimately up to the individual to develop the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their role.

In conclusion, while a college degree can certainly be beneficial, it’s not necessarily a requirement for success in sales. Real-world experience and soft skills are also valuable assets in this field. As the sales landscape continues to evolve, it’s important for salespeople to adapt and continue learning in order to stay competitive.

If you’re interested in improving your sales skills, consider exploring the resources and training programs offered by SalesLion. Our team of experienced sales professionals can provide valuable insights and guidance to help you succeed in your sales career. Contact us today to book a consultation and start your journey towards sales success.

More 2019 Stats

Younger People Spend More Time Shopping Online than Older People

24% of salespeople reported that they majored in business in college

60% of Online Shoppers Abandon Their Carts Because of Unexpected Extra Costs

Online Stores are Offering an Average of 3 Payment Methods at Checkout Including Digital Wallets

69 Percent of Shopping Carts are Abandoned

38% of People will Leave a Website if they find the Layout Unattractive

Nearly Half (48 percent) of Online Shoppers Simply Head Straight to a Large Ecommerce Marketplace

Average Online Shopping Cart Abandonment Rate is 74%

But Removing the Navigation Menu can Increase Conversions by 100%

Personalizing email subject lines leads to a 22% increase in open rate

More Sales Trends Stats

Sales enablement initiatives increased sales for 76% of companies by 6%-20%

48% of salespeople never even make a single follow up attempt.

61% believe that salespeople are underappreciated

Nearly 13% of all the jobs in the U.S. are full time sales positions

40% of sales reps still use tools like Outlook or Excel to store customer and lead data

56% of sales professionals get leads from existing customer referrals.

47% of Sales Professionals Don’t Cite Selling as Their Main Activity

A study by GetAccept revealed that sales reps experienced a 40% improvement in win rates when using online proposal software.

According to a study by Salesforce, the total close rate for B2B deals increased by 10% in 2021 compared to the year before. This is due to an increase in remote selling and sales teams investing more time on proactive outreach.

64% of sales professionals who cross-sell say email follow-up is the most effective cross-selling strategy.

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