Armageddon

Enterprise Account Executive

whats the best college major for a sales career?

As I've read more and more sales books its become apparent to me that psychology might be the best college major for sales. Do others agree with that take?

My major did little to prep me for a career in sales, but thinking my advice to others who ask will be something along the lines of Psych major with a Communications minor if you really wanna be aggressive about it.

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braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

Nah.
Either business administration or something related to the industry you sell to (computer science, biology, etc)

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

Agree with @braintank here. Speaking from personal experience, Having industry specific knowledge and business admin knowledge will be your best bet.

Absolutely worthwhile especially if you’re going into a more verticalized market (fintech, InfoSec, etc)

unclespacejam

Politicker

ur dad’s brother

But I would say sales is one of those career skills that is hard to get a formal education in without having a practical application, you have to do the damn thing a lot, for a long time.

Alternatively, Law school could be a good angle but like then you’d just go be a lawyer lmfao

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

thats makes sense. If only I had thought ahead to, what comes next.. when I went to college haha

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

As a communications major I agree

Revenue_Rambo

Politicker

Director, Revenue Enablement

My buddy has a major in comms and minor in geology. Tells people he went to school to learn how to talk to rocks. He’s in sales now, so maybe he cracked the code.

RyanHowardWHUPF

Contributor

Account Executive

PREACH

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

I would go get a technical degree of some kind, this can then be a great base for you to shorten up any technical learning curve and help you be more proficient at sales. Sales can be learned as you go in the field, or you can go get an MBA later which for me personally was helpful to pair with the technical degree.

So if you want to stay is SAAS or tech maybe computer science, electrical engineering, something like that.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

This ☝️

Founding BDR

I agree that the major doesn’t really matter too much. Psychology isn’t a bad idea and it might be a bit more interesting. Same with any business related major. IMO, pick something that is the closest to the sales industry you want to break into. Ie, AI = Comp sci, Food & Beverage = Hospitality & Tourism

HVACexpert

Politicker

sales engineer

Problem is who will hire a psych degree over a business or technical degree? When finding a job initially out of college the degree can make a difference.

Founding BDR

I get your logic but in my first hand experiences, it didn’t matter. I went to school for law but then transitioned to social sciences after I didn’t want to do the extra years for law or the extra year for my business major. In theory, you can point towards skills in any major that would sound good when interviewing for a sales role.

Avon

Politicker

Senior Account Executive

My opinion 1) Degree related to field you are selling in. This mainly only works if you know you want to get into sales, I suspect its usually a backup for these people though2) Business Administration 3) Anything else to show you can graduate college.

0PercentCloseRate

Politicker

Oh boy

At the end of the day, the degree doesn't really matter. The recruiter just wants to check a box. Just study something you want to learn more about.
I have a philosophy degree. Consequently, I'm good at writing and abstract thinking. PoliSci and other liberal arts are pretty good if B school isn't an option.
Psychology degrees are a joke IMO.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

Business is probably your best bet. But if yu want to go with arts, I'd say psych or philosophy.

The latter helps you think critically, understand complex topics, and communicate/persuade effectively. Might not help you GET the job but will help you when you have it.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

My biggest college regret is NOT getting a technical degree of some sort. I double majored in finance and marketing and I thought I was setting myself up for great things. Turns out its the guy who can talk tech who end up with the biggest paychecks and most opportunities.

There is nothing you can't read in a book in a week which a Psych or a business major can teach you. And don't get me started on Communications classes.... Talk about a waste of money of time.

Any monkey can sell is they are persistent and semi-smart. Set yourself apart.

SPT

Valued Contributor

Director, Channel Sales & Partner Alliances

Yup! This ☝️

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

yeah theres a lot of truth to this, good looks

Tres

Politicker

Account Executive

I don't think the major matters too much. You can learn different sales skills from almost any major and still be successful in your future career

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

My marketing degree has sales courses be a part of it

alonzoharris

Politicker

Partner Manager

bachelor's of hard knocks

BigShrimpin

Catalyst

Account executive

whatever the cheapest university degree is to get you past the ATS filter

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

My majors have absolutely nothing to do with my career path, or what I do.
But here's the thing: my job, this industry, did not exist when I went to school. Sure, sales did. But tech sales? Software? Nope. On a governmental scale, sure. But start ups? FAANG? Nope, nope and nope.
So if you go to college, truly study what appeals. If you want to get into sales or tech sales, business or tech studies make sense.
But don't think you can't succeed in sales or tech sales with an unrelated degree. You absolutely can.
I use my own example when I talk to HS students: honestly, it may be that you don't have insight into where you want to go next, and your job or career may not exist yet. Just remain curious, open to change and opportunities, and who knows.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

There's not one imo

J.J.McLure

Politicker

Owner at *redacted*

I got into sales because I didn’t go to college 🤷🏻‍♂️

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

none, save the money and start selling

medhardwaredr

Opinionated

Director of Sales NA

No for psychology?
1) business admin or similar
2) mass communications/marketing
3) engineering (best degree for multiple career paths, they can do anything

Believe me once you’re in sales you will have plenty of time with psychologists. Good luck, get good grades, don’t do drugs.

saaskicker

Celebrated Contributor

Enterprise AE

"those that can't do teach" - i actually spoke at my university to an undergrad class last year that was labeled "sales 101". tldr: the professor had never sold anything, he worked in marketing at an ad agency that was hyper local to the school. the best way to learn how to make a cold call, write a cold email, negotiate etc is to listen live or do it yourself and learn from the process.

HealthyPipe

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

There isn't a black and white answer to this.
I for example, majored in History, which made me a better writer (something that you'll want to make sure you're good at in sales). In tandem, I also took entrepreneurial classes to develop business acumen, and worked part time in retail sales throughout college (Verizon, T-Mobile) to obviously pay the bills but to learn the nuances of relationship building, and the art of selling.

SaaSuke_and_Naruto

Opinionated

AE (Account Executive)

At my university we have a Professional Sales Major which I did. The professors are actually pretty legit and all entrepreneurs or top sellers. Also minored in Econ since Finance and Fintech interest me a ton.

Ambassador and Member

Hi, business, management, economics or finance will work fine. Wish you the best.

RyanHowardWHUPF

Contributor

Account Executive

I think it depends on what you end up selling but I know majoring in mass communication ie. broadcast/journalism and digital communication taught me how to speak and present information in a way that controls the narrative. Oddly enough sales is a lot less slimy than my classmates careers who went on to work at the major news networks. At least when you're selling you're honest about what the purpose of your communicating is

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Armageddon

whats the best college major for a sales career?

32 comments

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