As a top notch sales pro, it’s only natural to set your sights on working with the biggest global organisations.
But this doesn’t mean you should ignore the potentially massive rewards of roles within smaller outfits.
If you play it right, you could take the lead in turning a modestly-sized business into a major player in the international market.
To do this you may have to work your sales magic on your boss – not everyone will share your vision or have the foresight to see how it can be done, so your first mission may be to persuade management what is possible.
So how do you supercharge your career and your employer’s turnover at the same time?
One way to do it is by tapping in to the public purse and getting a slice of the £240 billion spent by local and central government every year.
Yes, you read that right: that’s how much councils fork out annually on everything from jotters to janitorial supplies.
So whether your company sells street lights or staple guns, you could be in with a chance of finding a customer with deep pockets who really needs what you’re offering.
Getting your foot in this particular door is the biggest challenge because local authorities don’t buy from just anyone.
In fact, there’s a complex process involved in becoming a recognised supplier – so if you can successfully guide your company through this, it won’t be just their stock that rises, but yours too.
The good news is you don’t need to do it all on your own: the Supplier Development Programme, a joint initiative by local authorities and the Scottish Government, helps businesses become ready for public procurement.
It offers a continuous calendar of events and seminars that cover everything from tendering to expanding your marketplace.
You can even get advice on moving your company online, if you don’t yet have a web presence.
From Meet the Buyer events to networking sessions, the programme offers just about anything you need to find new customers.
And the really good news is there is help, too, for breaking into the international market.
So, whether you’re starting off as a Sales Adviser or you’ve already gunning for a role as Sales Director, if you want to earn your sales stripes think big – especially if the company you start out with is small.
For Sales roles that will grow on you visit s1jobs