Sales is an excellent profession for many businesspeople, especially those who enjoy the adrenaline rush of closing a deal. While it’s possible to make strides in sales without a bachelor’s degree, you may find the lack of a bachelor’s limits your range of opportunities. Monster notes a number of high-paying jobs in sales that all require or prefer a bachelor’s, including sales engineer, advertising sales agent and pharmaceutical sales representative.
For many, pursuing a traditional bachelor’s degree comes at the cost of disrupting their careers and losing income. With Northern Kentucky University’s online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a marketing focus, that’s no longer an issue. You can learn at your own pace and keep progressing in your career.
How does earning a bachelor’s degree help? Pursuing a bachelor’s offers a number of benefits, including a wider range of jobs, higher pay and the addition of skills that will serve you well in your career. Here are just a few things you can do with a bachelor’s degree:
- Move your career forward.
In the current economic climate, higher education is vital if you want to take a leadership role in your current organization or find a new opportunity with another company. The lack of a college degree can hold you back, no matter how many deals you close. This is especially true if you wish to enter a more lucrative sales field like pharmaceutical or medical sales.
When you obtain your bachelor’s, you expand the range of options for yourself, with possible advancement to positions like territorial manager or vice president of sales.
- Earn more.
Sales salaries can be lower for those without a bachelor’s degree. For some sales positions, compensation is based purely on commission, which can often amount to a minimum-wage income — or less. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics makes a compelling case for earning a bachelor’s degree in general: The median salary jumps from $3,735 per month for associate degree holders to $5,191 per month for those with a bachelor’s degree, a 39% increase. The difference can add up over time.
- Add to your skill set.
Sales professionals without a bachelor’s degree may be able to get by with on-the-job training; however, they may find they need a stronger skill set when additional responsibilities are added or when they’re stuck in their job but lack the skills required to advance or find a new job.
The knowledge you’ll gain in NKU’s online BSBA program can help boost your effectiveness as a sales professional. A number of courses, including MKT 310: Selling Skills, MKT 320: Applied Consumer Behavior, and MKT 392: Consumer Insights, provide students with tools and skills they need to be successful sales professionals.
Once you’ve decided that you want to earn a bachelor’s to help further your career, you need to decide which major is best for you. Of the many options available, one stands out for its versatility and growth potential: marketing.
In many companies, sales and marketing are closely aligned. Both have the same ultimate goal of converting leads into customers. Through classes you’ll take to earn your bachelor’s degree, you can gain insights that elevate your sales game from tactical to strategic. This can lead to greater success in closing deals.
Online degree programs like Northern Kentucky University’s marketing-focused BSBA make it possible for working professionals to earn a bachelor’s degree at their own pace and on their own schedule. If you’re ready to step up your sales game, consider earning a career-enhancing degree online.
Learn more about NKU’s Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Marketing online program.
Sources:
The Balance: Going to School to Work in Sales
Best Degree Programs: What Is the Best Degree Path to Becoming a Sales Representative?
Business Insider: Education Requirements for a Sales Career
Monster: 10 High-Paying Jobs for Natural-Born Salespeople
