At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales of educational resources to secondary schools and build lasting relationships.
- Company: Join a mission-driven company transforming education with top-notch online resources.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, generous holiday, and fun team socials.
- Other info: Be part of a friendly team where your ideas matter and career growth is encouraged.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact in education while growing your career in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Degree educated with some office experience and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 34000 £ per year.
Have you graduated in the last few years and picked up some office experience along the way? A great communicator? Committed and hard-working? Driven by making a positive impact in the world? This might be the role for you!
The company is the leading subscription agency for online resources for secondary schools worldwide, UK colleges and UK & ANZ public libraries – providing a sales, marketing and subscription service for leading academic publishers of quality online resources. They currently represent 9 publishers - some of the largest internationally. Between all 9, they provide over 60 individual resources available as individual subscriptions. Their role is to provide these publishers with as many subscriptions for their resources as possible, so the effectiveness of their marketing and promotion is essential to achieving this goal.
Their primary contacts for subscriptions and promotion tend to be librarians, subject teachers, EPQ/IB coordinators, heads of departments or heads of teaching and learning. Their mission is clear: To help schools around the world access high-quality trusted content to support exceptional teaching, effective learning, and student achievement.
The resources for schools offer them high-quality, trusted content to support exceptional teaching, effective learning, and student achievement. From academic journals and multimedia databases to international newspapers, magazines, and theatre productions, the company provides access to trusted, carefully curated resources to help students achieve academic success and be well prepared for the demands of university research. Many of them are available at universities, so you may well be familiar with some already. Because there is such a large and broad range of resources – many of which are updated and expanded quite regularly – you will never get bored with the products you will be offering schools.
The role involves being part of a team of 4, responsible for driving sales of resources to secondary schools. You will be responsible for writing prospecting emails using their extensive contact database and making phone calls. Some prospecting will be to new customers, introducing them to the full range of resources, as well as upselling and cross-selling to existing customers. You will be supported by the wider team, including the Communications Manager, who will work to raise awareness of the resources among schools, bringing enquiries and sales opportunities for you to follow up on. The enquiries you will receive will generally be requests for free trials of the resources and/or price quotes. You will provide the requested information and follow up in a week or two to secure a subscription.
The company's approach is consultative and advisory; they don't do hard or aggressive selling. They have recently invested in HubSpot, which will keep you organised by allowing you to track tasks against customer accounts, set up sales opportunities, and send out free trials and price quotations. You will be joining a friendly and enthusiastic team, and unlike working for large corporates, you'll have the opportunity to be involved in all parts of the business and contribute ideas on how to grow and develop. They work hard but have fun along the way.
The package includes:
- £30,000-34,000 salary (dependent on experience)
- Annual discretionary bonus subject to company and individual performance
- 25 days holiday and statutory bank holidays (8 at present), plus an additional day for every two years of employment (up to 30 days)
- Early Friday closure
- Quarterly socials and Christmas party
- Thorough training and support to help you succeed from a management team that takes pleasure in seeing people grow
To be successful, you will…
- Be educated to degree level
- Have around a year or two of office-based work experience (not necessarily in sales)
- Be excited about developing your career in sales, publishing, or education-focused roles
- Have experience involving phone contact with customers or prospects
- Be a clear, friendly communicator and confident presenter
- Be comfortable building relationships from scratch and developing new sales opportunities with existing customers
- Understand that persistence is a key part of successful sales - especially when working with busy schools and libraries
- Be organised and self-motivated
- Be technically confident, especially in Excel
Ideal, but not essential…
- Familiarity with online academic or reference resources from your studies
- Previous sales, customer service, or account management experience (including internships, part-time roles, or graduate schemes)
- Experience working with schools, education, publishing, or libraries
- Experience in using customer relationship management systems (CRM)
Above all, we're looking for someone with the right attitude: organised, resilient, comfortable on the phone, and motivated to build relationships over time.
Education Sales Account Executive – grow your career with a mission-driven company equipping st[...] in Oxford employer: Connecting Education
Connecting Education is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, making it an ideal place for a Lead Support Engineer. With a modern office located in Vauxhall, employees benefit from a vibrant work environment and numerous opportunities for professional development, ensuring that your career can thrive while you contribute to meaningful educational solutions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Education Sales Account Executive – grow your career with a mission-driven company equipping st[...] in Oxford
✨Leverage Your Network
In sales and business development, who you know can often be as important as what you know. Get involved with local networking events or industry meetups to connect with key players. Don't be shy—share your passion for the field and let folks know you're on the lookout for opportunities!
✨Show Your Skills Through Real-World Results
When targeting a full-time role like Education Sales Account Executive – grow your career with a mission-driven company equipping st[...] at Connecting Education, presenting tangible results from your previous sales experience can set you apart. Bring along case studies or examples of how you've closed deals or expanded accounts, and don't forget to showcase your problem-solving prowess. It’s all about quantifying your success!
✨Engage with Sales Communities
Dive deep into online sales communities, like Sales Hacker or LinkedIn groups dedicated to sales professionals. Engaging in discussions and sharing insights can boost your visibility and might just put you on the radar of hiring managers looking for fresh talent in business development.
✨Direct Applications Matter
While we all know the online application route, consider sending direct applications to companies you admire, including Connecting Education. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Education Sales Account Executive – grow your career with a mission-driven company equipping st[...]. Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!
We think you need these skills to ace Education Sales Account Executive – grow your career with a mission-driven company equipping st[...] in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Sales Skills:In your CV and cover letter, highlight any previous sales or business development experience you have. Use numbers and examples to showcase your achievements – did you exceed sales targets or bring in new clients? Make those accomplishments shine!
Tailor Your Message for Connecting Education:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for Connecting Education. Show that you know the company’s mission and how your skills align with their goals in the sales landscape. This personalised touch will grab their attention!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging:Sales is all about relationships, so while you want to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Engage the reader and demonstrate your enthusiastic approach to sales and business development!
Proof of Performance:Include any relevant certifications or training you’ve undertaken in sales or negotiation tactics. If you’ve attended workshops or courses, list these to showcase your commitment to professional development. This extra touch can set you apart from the competition!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connecting Education
✨Know Your Sales Methodologies
Brush up on popular sales methodologies like SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales. Being able to discuss these techniques and how you've applied them will show Connecting Education that you understand the role and can hit the ground running in the sales game.
✨Demonstrate Your Deal-Making Skills
Prepare to share stories from your past experiences where you closed deals, overcame objections, or started new client relationships. We want to show Connecting Education that you’re not just about numbers but also about building lasting connections in business development.
✨Prepare for Role-Play Scenarios
In a full-time sales interview, don’t be surprised if they throw in a role-play exercise to test your pitching skills. Practising how you would pitch a product or handle an objection will help us shine in this simulation—think of it like a dress rehearsal for your future sales calls!
✨Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision
Take a moment to reflect on how your career ambitions align with Connecting Education’s objectives. When we articulate how our personal growth ties in with the company’s goals, it shows commitment and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.
