If you like dealing with the public and are persuasive, consider a retail & sales degree program. The retail market is extremely large and diverse and sales is an in-demand skill across a wide range of industries. Because of this, a retail & sales degree program could be your ticket to a wide variety of career possibilities.

In retail & sales, you can gain experience even while you further your education, especially if you use an online degree program to help you juggle work and school.

Career Possibilities

One of the best things about retail is there are employers to match just about any interest. Some prominent examples:

• Fashion
• Sporting goods
• Auto parts and accessories
• Music and entertainment
• Books
• Home improvements

All offer sales positions, as well as the opportunity to advance into management. Another career path could be to specialize in sales, where you could stay in retail or move into rewarding professions such as advertising, insurance, or real estate.

Educational Requirements

One advantage of a retail & sales career is that you can get started with relatively little formal education, though in a tight job market, having at least an associate's degree could give you an edge even for entry-level jobs. For higher-level sales and management positions you are likely to need a bachelor's degree. Therefore, a viable career plan could be to start earning a paycheck and gaining experience in an entry-level position, while working toward an online degree to expand your career horizons.

Advantages of Online Education

Online education offers several advantages, especially for people who want to start working while they continue their education. Online education allows for the flexible scheduling necessary to juggle work with course requirements. Similarly, you can work on your online degree while still meeting child care or other family obligations. Finally, online degrees allow you to avoid the cost and inconvenience of traveling to school.