How to Become a Sales & Marketing Expert

David Styles

This TopJobGuide is aimed at anybody considering a start in sales or marketing, whether a school leaver or an experienced person seeking a change of career direction. Business owners or managers who have skills in other areas who also need to understand the sales and marketing functions of their organisations to round out their managerial skills will also find insights in this guide.

There are sections in the guide called 'words from the wise' which are little gems picked up from experience, and from real practitioners.

It is hoped this guide will help you understand what salespeople do, what marketing people do, and whether either of those career directions is for you.

If you decide to give it a try, another key aim of this guide is to outline what you need to do, and what you need to know, to give yourself the best chance of landing that all-important first job. From there, the guide also highlights areas of professional development, qualifications and experience you will require to progress into more senior positions.

There are useful resources and information sources noted, and tips of the trade to keep in your pocket for when you need them.

But first, we need to clear up a few misconceptions about what sales and marketing is all about-and just as importantly, what it isn't.

Throughout this guide, you will notice that where the main discussion is about sales, some marketing will creep into the picture and vice versa. The reason is simple-they are so intertwined that it is difficult to treat them as separate, and by treating them together wherever appropriate will reinforce how interdependent these two business disciplines, and their objectives, really are.