Become a Skilled Sales Professional

With an ever-growing and competitive market, companies are constantly in need of highly professional and motivated salespeople who can be successful in any type of environment. The discerning Sales Professional understands that it is not so much what you do, but “how” you do it.

Partnerships and relationships are established and maintained only when the Sales Professional provides exceptional customer value. Customers have fundamentally changed their expectations in recent years and desire to build a relationship with a Sales Professional who provides value, not just communicates it.

Academy of Learning’s Sales Professional diploma program is designed to provide you with the fundamental skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for success in an entry-level position. It will appeal to those individuals who are charismatic, energetic, strong communicators, driven by results, and willing to put themselves on the front line. This program will provide you with:

The knowledge and skills necessary to manage relationships and key accounts.
An understanding of the sales profession and the environments in which they will be selling.
The opportunity to explore the consultative selling approach and various selling processes in depth.
Professional skills to develop sale proposals and deliver effective sales presentations.
The ability to assess their potential clients and adjust their style to successfully build rapport with each client.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this program will find opportunities in a variety of companies that produce or provide goods and/or services. Careers that correspond with the skills learned in this program include:

Account Executive
Sales Agent
Broker
Exporter
Merchandiser
Sales Consultant
Salesperson
Sales Representative

Admission Requirements

Grade 12 or equivalent or Mature Student Status. Courses are open to any applicant who possesses a good command of the English language and is able to follow instructions. An admissions interview will be administered to determine if the applicant has the required interest, motivation, and entry-level skills to take this program. Full-time students must attend the required hours per week as per the course schedule and may do so at times convenient to them. Part-time students may set their own schedules to a minimum of two training sessions per week. These times may be scheduled during the day, evenings, or on weekends.

Duties and Responsibilities

Sales Professionals sell goods and services to retail, wholesale, commercial, industrial, professional, and other clients domestically and internationally. The main duties of a Sales Professional include, but are not limited to:

Promoting goods and services to existing clients
Identifying and soliciting potential clients
Providing clients with presentations on the benefits and uses of goods or services
Estimating or quoting prices, credit or contract terms, warranties, and delivery dates
Preparing or overseeing preparation of sales invoices or other contracts
Consulting with clients after sale to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
Reviewing and adapting information regarding innovations, competitors, and market conditions
Representing companies that export and import goods or services to and from foreign countries
Possibly conducting sales transactions through Internet-based electronic commerce
Possibly supervising the activities of other sales representatives

Program Outline

Word Processing

Basic level of proficiency in Microsoft Word
Spreadsheets

Basic level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel
Simulations and Drills

Practical Applications – 1 Unit
Database Management

Basic level of proficiency in Microsoft Access
Graphics/Presentation

Basic level of proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint

Office Skills

Basic level of proficiency in Microsoft Outlook
Business Skills
Customer Service, Grammar Essentials for Business Writing, Business Correspondence Levels 1 and 2, Business Essentials, Business Math, Marketing and Sales, Principles of Selling, Business Presentations, Business in the Digital Age, Business Law & Ethics, Business Negotiations and Contracts, Business Verbal Communication, and Professional Selling
Job Readiness/Employability Skills

ob Search and Résumé Writing, Thought Patterns for a Successful Career, and Employment Success Strategies