Sales jobs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from telemarketing and door-to-door roles right through to executive management and consultancy roles. No matter which sales position you go for, though, there are a number of key characteristics that combine to make a good salesperson.

While some may see salespeople as selfish beings driven by targets and bonuses, the truth is that the ones who are most successful in their work are those who have a fundamental desire to help people. Being a good salesperson is not about ruthlessly forcing people to buy things they don't need; it actually comes down to understanding a potential client's needs and providing them with a helpful solution.

Inextricably linked to a desire to help people is the ability to listen. A poor listener is a poor salesperson, and so the ability to listen, absorb and respond to a potential customer's needs is absolutely crucial. While the ability to speak clearly and spontaneously is clearly a key part of any sales job, attentive listening skills are arguably just as important.

While successful sales are the ultimate aim, rejection is also part and parcel of the sales trade and salespeople need to be able to bounce back from setbacks and difficult situations. Self-confidence is undoubtedly one of the most important attributes for a good salesperson, as well as strong determination and a belief in one's ability to succeed.

It perhaps goes without saying that salespeople need to have good numeracy skills, but the importance of literacy skills is not so obvious. Written communication is a fundamental part of most customer-facing jobs, none more so than sales roles. Offers, contracts and promotional material all have to be created and transmitted to clients and colleagues, so good spelling and grammar is a must.

Finally, a good salesperson should have an inquisitive mind and be keen to learn as much as possible about their profession. Whether by picking up tips from a more experienced colleague or through on-the-job training, a sales role is a constant learning experience and salespeople should always be open to gaining fresh knowledge and skills.