6 Ways a Career in Sales Can Help You Become a More Present Parent
Balancing work and home life is a challenge for every working parent. You want to ensure that you are providing the best life for your child, as well as providing the best care. Different career fields present different challenges to achieving this balance. A career in sales, however, offers unique opportunities for you to become a more present parent. If you’re considering a career change, here are six ways that a job in sales can help you spend more time with your family.
Control Over Your Work Schedule
One of the biggest benefits of a career in sales is the ability to set your own schedule. Depending on the exact sector of sales that you work in, you may find that it’s easy to line up your work hours with a child’s school schedule. You may be free during the evening hours to care for an older child after school. Conversely, you may find that you are able to be available during the day to care for a younger child, and then concentrate your work hours in the evenings. Many sales jobs come with sales enablement options like this.
Control Over Your Daily Schedule
In addition to being able to set your own working days and hours, a sales job may allow you greater control over your day-to-day tasks. You may be able to choose which client needs or tasks should be accomplished in what order. That freedom allows you to prioritize things based on your knowledge of the situation, which may lead to better client outcomes. Having a high level of self-determination can also add significantly to your overall job satisfaction. It can also help you be a more present parent, as you can adjust your workload to fit around events and days that are important to your child.
Control Over Your Income
Sales is a field in which your income is often tied closely to commissions and bonuses. As a parent, this allows you to have greater control over your income than if you had a more standard salary. You can determine what level of work allows you to deliver the type of lifestyle you want for your child. Commissions and bonuses also make it easier to increase your income when necessary to cover basic expenses as well as luxuries.
Control Over Your Workplace
A career in sales may also come with flexibility in your physical workplace. Other career fields may come with a requirement to only work from an office. Sales careers, on the other hand, often offer the opportunity to work remotely. This may mean working from the field, such as at a client site, or from the comfort of your own home. The ability to control where you work can make it far easier to provide or arrange for the care of your children.
Control Over Your Advancement
Many career fields are performance-driven, but sales especially so. The unique structure of direct client interactions and relationship-building often allows for career advancement on a faster trajectory than other fields may offer. As a parent, that means that you are in control of your career advancement. You could move up as fast as you’d like, in order to reach a position that best allows you to balance your work and life commitments.
Control Over Your Learning
Sales is a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. Because of this, you may find yourself often learning new things or pursuing new certifications in order to keep up. This will not only benefit your career, but it allows you to set an example of lifelong learning for your children. By watching their parent continue to learn new things, your children will have a greater chance of developing a strong work ethic and personal drive.
Overall, a career in sales can offer you the flexibility that you need to be a successful and present parent. Control over your work times, task prioritization, income, advancement, and even learning can let you tailor your job to meet your own professional goals without compromising the quality time you enjoy with your family. If you are looking for a better work-life balance, a career in sales may be just the right fit for you.
