Sector profile 9 of 18
Sales & Business Development
Finding and growing customers and partnerships in every industry.
At a glance
Editorial ratings. AI exposure: higher means more tasks AI can perform.
| Typical roles | Sales executive, account manager, business development manager, key account manager, sales director. |
|---|---|
| How people get in | Any degree or experience; product knowledge and a track record matter more than qualifications. |
| Pay | Base pay around median plus commission; top performers can earn well above median. |
| Market outlook | Steady demand; technology and B2B sales are growing across Southeast Asia. |
| Family-friendly? | Variable: field sales and travel can be demanding; inside sales can be flexible. |
| Friendship & culture | Energetic, competitive and social cultures; strong friendships but also rivalry. |
| Learning at work | Mostly on the job and vendor training. |
| AI impact | Lower exposure for relationship-building; AI helps with prospect research, emails and forecasting. |
| AI-related roles | Sales enablement / revenue operations specialist, AI sales tools consultant. |
| Resume tip | Use numbers: quota attainment ("112% of target"), revenue, new accounts. |