Do you think of yourself as a ‘people person’, someone who’d enjoy providing information and advice to people looking to buy a product or service? Or, maybe you’d prefer to negotiate with suppliers to get the best deal for your company or employer?

If either option applies, then this career area may be a good choice. Whether you are dealing with customers or suppliers, you need to have good communication skills, a confident and positive outlook, and the ability to deal with complaints while you are busy.

To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Areas.

What areas can I work in?

As buying and selling affects most types of business, a wide variety of careers are available. Jobs and courses are split into three sectors: buying, call centres, and retail and sales. 

To see the routes to getting into each of these sectors, take a look at our Career Pathway.

What kind of companies can I work for?

Of the huge range of companies to work for, possible employers include: 

• retail stores and outlets 
• local authority and public services, including the Civil Service and National Health Service 
• call centres for businesses such as banks, insurance companies, utility firms and supermarkets 
• construction and manufacturing 
• medical sales companies and pharmaceuticals.