Sales and Customer Service Sector

Although these are two different areas they are closely connected. Sales professionals are all-round business people who use their problem-solving skills to understand, anticipate and meet customers’ needs. There are two types of sales Business to business (B2B) and business to customer (B2C). Companies sell products or services to their customers by raising their expectations of what those products / services can do for them. The job of the customer-service sector is to ensure that those expectations are fulfilled.

The types of jobs available in this sector include:

Customer service manager- working at various levels within a company to ensure that it satisfies and excels its customers’ needs.
Customer service representative - the link between the customer and the business or organisation, ensuring customers are satisfied with the product or service, thereby maintaining profitable customer relationships.
Media sales representative- persuading clients to buy advertising time/space in a particular medium.
Sales executive - sell their company’s goods and services to new and existing customers. In addition to identifying new markets and business opportunities.

Check out the professional bodies’ own entries in the Profession Finder

There are a number of professional bodies covering these sectors. Here you will find information on:

Jobs and salaries
Routes and Qualifications
Funding

Jobs and Salaries

Jobs is sales and customer service are often very varied, forcing people in the profession to have a wide range of skills.

What is Commercial Management?

Routes and Qualifications

There is no need to have a specific qualification, however, if you're new to stores and warehouse management or lack formal training built around the changing role of modern store operation and management the CIPS (Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply) offers courses and training in areas such as Storekeeping.

The ICM (Institute of Commercial Management) also offer courses for students wanting to pursue a career in business and management. Find out more about ICM qualifications.

Funding

What’s it like working in this sector?

Full-time staff usually work 37 to 40 hours a week. Shift work is common, and there is plenty of scope for part-time and flexible working.
Most people in sales and customer service work indoors in offices or shops. Some roles may involve traveling to meet clients.

How big is this sector?

There are over 3 million people employed in this sector.
Increasingly these jobs are based in contact centres, who currently employ over 800,000 staff in this sector.

Where can I work?

Opportunities are available in towns and cities throughout the UK with the majority concentrated in London and the major cities i.e. Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol.

What do employers look for?

People who work in sales and customer services need to be friendly and helpful, with the confidence to handle complaints in a fair but firm manner.
Interpersonal skills are vital as it’s often necessary to strike a rapport with clients.
Good teamwork skills are also vital.
A comprehensive knowledge of your area of sales/ customer service is often essential.
Many jobs don’t require specific qualifications; however for higher level jobs relevant qualifications in management are often useful.
Flexibility is often valued.