Sales is one of the few career paths where your personal qualities—like empathy, communication, and authenticity—can be just as important as your technical skills. It offers both flexibility and financial potential, but what truly distinguishes high performers is their ability to connect with people on a human level. If you’re exploring how to get into sales, this article will walk you through the foundational steps, key soft skills, and people-first strategies that can help you not only enter the field but also make a lasting impact.
Understanding the Sales Sector
Sales roles vary by industry, product, and customer base. They may include:
- Inside Sales: Remote or in-office roles, primarily phone and email-based.
- Outside Sales: In-person, often territory-based, with more autonomy and travel.
- B2B Sales: Selling to businesses, with a longer sales cycle and relationship-building.
- B2C Sales: Selling directly to consumers, often focused on volume and speed.
- Account Management: Maintaining and growing existing client relationships.
Understanding these pathways helps you target the best entry-level sales jobs that align with your personality, career goals, and communication strengths.
How to Get Into Sales With No Experience
Breaking into sales can feel daunting, especially if your résumé lacks direct sales experience. However, many companies prioritize potential over pedigree, especially for entry-level roles. Here are foundational steps to get started:
1. Leverage Transferable Skills
Think beyond job titles. If you’ve ever worked in customer service, education, hospitality, or retail, you’ve likely already developed:
- Verbal communication
- Conflict resolution
- Persuasion and influence
- Time management
Highlight these skills in interviews and applications. Sales managers value candidates who demonstrate resilience, resourcefulness, and relationship-building.
2. Learn the Language of Sales
Familiarize yourself with common sales terms like “sales funnel,” “closing ratio,” “pipeline,” and “CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems.” Even a basic grasp can help you stand out as someone invested in learning.
Free and low-cost resources include:
- HubSpot Academy (free sales certifications)
- Coursera and LinkedIn Learning
- Podcasts like The Sales Evangelist or Sales Gravy
3. Start With Entry-Level Roles or Internships
Many salespeople begin in roles such as:
- Sales development representative (SDR)
- Business development representative (BDR)
- Telemarketer or customer acquisition associate
These positions emphasize outreach and lead generation—skills for future success.
The Power of Human Connection in Sales
Once you’ve entered the field, your ability to forge genuine connections becomes your differentiator. In a competitive environment full of automation, chatbots, and templated email sequences, people want authenticity. Human connection fosters trust, which in turn leads to higher conversion rates and customer loyalty.
1. Lead With Empathy
Empathy in sales is genuinely understanding your prospect’s challenges and aspirations. Instead of jumping into a pitch, ask open-ended questions like:
- “What prompted you to look into a solution like this?”
- “What’s been your biggest challenge in this area?”
By actively listening, you’re building rapport and showing that you’re interested in solving their problem—not just closing a deal.
2. Practice Active Listening
Effective listening goes beyond hearing. It involves showing the speaker that you understand and care about their message. Practice techniques such as:
- Paraphrasing key points to confirm understanding
- Nodding or verbal affirmations (“I see,” “That makes sense”)
- Avoiding interruptions or finishing sentences for the customer
When clients feel heard, they are more likely to open up, trust your guidance, and take action.
3. Share Stories, Not Just Features
Facts tell, but stories sell. Personalize your pitch with narratives demonstrating how your product or service improved someone’s life or business. Make the customer the story’s hero, and you the guide who helped them succeed.
Example:
“Another client in your industry was struggling with the same issue. After trying our solution, they saw a 30% reduction in churn within two months.”
Personal Branding in the Sales World
Your ability to connect begins before the first conversation. In today’s digital-first world, your LinkedIn profile, email signature, and outreach tone contribute to your professional brand.
1. Build a Thoughtful LinkedIn Presence
Use LinkedIn as a tool to showcase your knowledge and character:
- Write posts or articles about what you’re learning in sales
- Engage with industry leaders by commenting meaningfully
- Use a clear, friendly profile picture and a headline that includes your role and core value (“Helping small businesses scale with data-driven solutions”)
2. Make Authentic Cold Outreach
If you’re prospecting, your emails or calls should feel personal—not robotic. Instead of using mass templates, try the following:
- Referring to a specific detail from their company or recent post
- Showing that you understand their industry pain points
- Asking questions instead of launching into a pitch
Example:
“I noticed your company recently launched a new product line—congratulations! Many of our clients in your space are looking for ways to improve outreach ROI during launches. Is that something you’re focused on right now?”
Emotional Intelligence as a Sales Superpower
Human connection hinges on emotional intelligence (EQ), which includes self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. While IQ may get your foot in the door, EQ determines how well you can keep that door open.
1. Self-Awareness and Regulation
Know your stress triggers and blind spots. Being in sales involves rejection, and you must be able to bounce back without becoming defensive or pushy.
Try keeping a journal of your calls or meetings. Note what went well and what you could improve on, not to criticize yourself but to track your growth.
2. Empathy-Driven Objection Handling
Instead of rebutting objections, validate them:
- “I understand this seems like a big investment—some customers felt the same way.”
Then pivot into value:
- “They found that after two months, the ROI more than doubled the cost.”
This shows understanding and reinforces your credibility.
Building Long-Term Client Relationships
While some roles are transactional, the most successful sales professionals focus on lifetime value, not one-time transactions.
1. Follow-Up With Purpose
A single sale doesn’t end the relationship. Follow up regularly with helpful content, check-ins, and insights. Rather than “Just checking in,” try:
- “Saw this article about industry trends—thought you’d find it useful.”
- “Wondering how things are going after our last conversation. Any goals I can help with?”
2. Ask for Feedback and Referrals
Once trust is established, your clients can become your best salespeople. Ask:
- “How did the solution work out for you?”
- “Is there anyone else in your network who might benefit from what we offer?”
When you prioritize service over selling, referrals become a natural byproduct.
Continual Growth Through Coaching and Community
Sales is an art; like any discipline, it requires ongoing refinement. Surrounding yourself with others who are also focused on growth can accelerate your trajectory.
1. Find a Sales Mentor
A good mentor can help you:
- Deal with early challenges
- Sharpen your communication
- Learn from their past mistakes
Don’t wait for someone to offer—ask directly. Most experienced salespeople are happy to help someone motivated and respectful of their time.
2. Join a Sales Community
Online forums and Slack groups like RevGenius, Sales Hacker, or Pavilion offer:
- Peer-to-peer learning
- Career opportunities in sales
- Practice scenarios
Engaging in these communities keeps you inspired and aware of new techniques.
Using Rejection as a Catalyst for Growth
Every no brings you closer to a yes, if you use it wisely. Instead of internalizing rejection as personal failure, see it as a learning opportunity.
1. Debrief After Every Loss
Ask yourself:
- Did I ask the right discovery questions?
- Was I addressing the true objection?
- Was this prospect ever a good fit?
This reflection turns setbacks into actionable feedback.
2. Stay Optimistic and Focused
Sales can be a rollercoaster. To avoid burnout:
- Set micro-goals (e.g., “Have 3 quality conversations today”)
- Celebrate small wins (a callback, a compliment, a learning moment)
- Keep a “wins” folder with positive messages from clients or colleagues
These reminders help maintain motivation when the results lag behind your effort.
Main Takeaway
Sales isn’t just about moving products; it’s about helping people make decisions that improve their lives or businesses. Getting into it is just the beginning. Embracing your humanity is the true secret to getting the most out of this career. In a field often driven by metrics, your ability to build trust, show empathy, and connect authentically is your most powerful asset.
Connect With Authenticity
By joining our team at Fortunate Marketing Solutions, you position yourself in an environment where human connection is both encouraged and celebrated. We don’t just train great salespeople; we help you become a trusted advisor, a confident communicator, and someone who makes a real impact through every face-to-face interaction.
Bring your whole self to a role where your humanity is your greatest strength.