Sales vs. marketing for freshers: Which career path is right for your first corporate job?
You've just graduated, updated your resume, and started scrolling through job listings on LinkedIn. Again. Two roles keep showing up again and again—sales and marketing. They often appear together, and sometimes it's hard to tell them apart.
But even though they work closely in most companies, these two career paths are actually quite different.
If you're a fresher with a background in business, communication, or even the arts, choosing between sales and marketing might be one of your first big career decisions. So let's break it down—what do these roles really involve, and which one is the right fit for you?
Marketing: Storytellers behind the brand
If you've ever clicked on a compelling ad, followed a brand on Instagram, or opened a newsletter just because the subject line hooked you—there's a marketer behind that moment.
Marketing is all about building awareness, shaping perception, and creating demand. It's not about hard selling—it's about influence. As a fresher, you might start out as a social media executive, content writer, campaign coordinator, or digital marketing assistant. Your job is to grab attention, build engagement, and drive long-term loyalty.
But don't confuse it with just making things look pretty. Marketing is data-driven.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card
UnionBank Credit Card
Apply Now
Undo
It involves A/B testing, SEO strategies, analytics dashboards, and audience segmentation. If you love storytelling, consumer psychology, and crafting messages that make people think or feel—marketing might just be your zone of genius.
Sales: Revenue driver
Now flip the lens. If marketing warms up the lead, sales closes the deal.
Sales is fast-paced, results-driven, and intensely human. Whether you're pitching over video calls, visiting clients in person, or following up on warm leads, your mission is clear: turn interest into revenue.
Freshers often begin as business development associates, inside sales reps, or junior account executives.
This is a high-pressure, high-reward environment. You'll face rejection, chase targets, and learn to think on your feet. But you'll also see the direct impact of your work—sometimes daily—and grow your income through performance bonuses and incentives. If you thrive on hustle, enjoy conversations with people, and love seeing your numbers go up, sales can be exhilarating.
Which one pays better?
In the beginning, sales tends to pay more—especially if you're hitting targets and earning commissions. Top-performing freshers in sales can out-earn their marketing counterparts early on.
But over time, marketing roles—especially in areas like brand strategy, digital marketing, or product growth—can command higher base salaries and leadership opportunities. Your earning potential in both fields grows with experience and specialization.
So the real question is: are you motivated by immediate performance-based rewards, or long-term strategic growth?
Work culture: Structure vs creativity
There's a reason we stereotype sales reps in suits and marketers in sneakers. While that's evolving in today's hybrid workplaces, the underlying truth remains:
S
ales is more structured, target-oriented, and performance-monitored. It's high on accountability, speed, and measurable outcomes.
Marketing, on the other hand, offers more room for creativity, collaboration, and experimentation. Timelines are longer, impact is often indirect, and success is measured through engagement, brand equity, and influence—not just numbers.
If you enjoy pressure and performance, sales will give you a rush. If you're drawn to brainstorming, storytelling, and strategy, marketing will feel more aligned.
Still undecided?
The good news: this isn't a one-way street. Many professionals start in one and transition to the other. Sales experience makes you a more grounded, customer-focused marketer. Marketing knowledge helps you sell smarter, not harder. In fact, some of today's top CMOs and business leaders began their careers in cold outreach roles.
So don't stress about picking the 'perfect' path right now. Focus on learning, building real-world skills, and understanding how businesses operate from the inside out.
At this stage, experience is more valuable than perfection.
Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
C-DOT to generate revenue of Rs 1,000 crore this fiscal: Mos Telecom
State-owned telecom research organisation C-DOT is likely to generate Rs 1,000 crore revenue in the current fiscal, Minister of State for Telecom Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said on Thursday. While speaking on the launch of the core 5G router by C-DOT, the minister said growth in C-DOT revenue reflects on its commercial relevance and technology leadership. "C-DoT's projected revenue of around Rs 1,000 crore this year, alongside a government grant of Rs 400 crore, is a strong testament to its growing commercial relevance and technological leadership. It demonstrates how a public R&D institution can evolve into a self-sustaining engine of innovation -- delivering cutting-edge indigenous solutions while upholding national priorities in telecom security and digital inclusion," Pemmasani said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is expected to get a grant of around Rs 400 crore from the Centre, which will be in addition to the Rs 1,000 crore revenue that the organisation will generate from technology agreements. The organisation's revenue in 2024-25 was Rs 536 crore, excluding around Rs 500 crore grant from the government. Live Events Pemmasani lauded C-DOT's work on 4G technology that made India the 5th country globally to make its 4G network gear. The 5G core router developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) can support a data load of up to 25.6 terabits per second. During interaction with scientists and engineers at C-DOT, the minister advised them to focus on building solutions, not just products. In response to the question of why he joined politics despite his multi-crore business, the minister said he completed his medical education in India by paying a very nominal fee in a government college and always had a motive to serve the country. "I studied medicine here, I only paid Rs 15,000 for my entire medical school. It is kind of a government fee, but I never served the country. I always wanted to do something back to the country. That was the primary motive because taxpayers' money is what made me a doctor, and that gave me (the opportunity) to build something extraordinary. So, that deep gratitude is what brought me here," he added. He is India's richest Member of Parliament with a net worth of over Rs 5,700 crore. Pemmsani assured C-DOT engineers and scientists to provide all support to help them facilitate easy and timely procurement of items required for research.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India's bold, but difficult mission! Why countering China's rare earth magnets' monopoly won't be easy
India's rare earth situation reflects limitations in technical capacity and economic viability rather than lack of intention. (AI image) China dominates the world's rare earth metals and minerals supply - and it's a fact that the world's second largest economy is exploiting to the fullest, increasingly so in view of the tariff war unleashed by US President Donald Trump. In the global context, China dominates rare earth production with 69% share. The United States contributes 12%, whilst Myanmar holds 11% and Australia maintains 5%. Given Myanmar's strong economic and political alignment with China, their combined control extends to 80% of worldwide production. Japan has successfully reduced its Chinese dependence to 60% through long-term agreements with Australia's Lynas Corporation, shifting from its previous near-total reliance on Chinese supplies. India's neighbour has also blocked supply of rare earth magnets to India, a situation that could hit the Indian industry. Acknowledging its extreme dependence on China, India has over the years moved to work out a solution - both through plans for domestic production and tie-ups with other countries. But it's a typical case of a task being easier said than done. India's Rare Earth Roadblocks As India embarks on a plan for domestic production of rare earth magnets, it is looking to enter a sophisticated technological arena currently controlled by a select few international manufacturers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Japanese AI invention allows you to speak 68 languages instantly. The idea? Genius. Enence 2.0 Undo The initiative, supported by government funding and strategic planning, is ambitious yet complex. Take the case of neodymium magnets - despite their small size, they are crucial components powering contemporary technology - from EVs and wind energy systems to mobile devices and defence equipment. Also Read | Reducing acute dependence, countering China's near monopoly: India readies Rs 5,000 crore scheme for rare earth minerals The manufacturing process requires specific combinations of light rare earth elements including neodymium and praseodymium, along with trace amounts of heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium - materials that present significant challenges in both procurement and processing. The development of an end-to-end domestic supply chain for rare earth magnets in India faces significant challenges as listed in an ET report, and finding solutions to these obstacles presents considerable difficulty. Biggest Hurdle: Where are the mineral deposits? India currently produces approximately 2900 tons of rare earths, consisting entirely of light rare earths, with a notable absence of essential heavy rare earths. India's primary rare earth deposits are found in coastal beach sands, with typically low mineral content. A recent finding in a Gujarat tribal village was finally found to be ultra-fine, micron-sized particles, rendering extraction both technically challenging and financially unfeasible. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has redirected its exploration efforts inland, particularly towards Rajasthan, though no substantial deposits of magnet-grade rare earths have been verified yet, the ET report said. GSI has investigated 51 locations in the past four years, with 16 surveys conducted in FY25, increasing from 10 in FY22. All these sites are situated in Rajasthan, indicating a strategic move away from coastal regions. The outcomes have been limited, with only three locations - examined in FY22 and FY23 - identified for neodymium and related rare earths including dysprosium. These sites remain at the G4 exploration phase (preliminary reconnaissance). Ladi Ka Bas in Rajasthan is the sole site progressed to G2 level, though GSI has not explicitly confirmed the presence of magnet metals there. Who will extract the rare earths? IREL (India) Ltd, operating under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is the exclusive producer of rare earth elements in India. This public sector enterprise maintains the country's monopoly in rare earth production. The organisation extracts rare earths as a secondary product whilst mining beach sand, specifically from monazite, which is classified as a radioactive mineral and falls under atomic energy regulations. Also Read | China plays hardball! After choking rare earth magnets supply, China blocks important agriculture-related shipments to India; continues exports to others To establish an effective magnet supply chain, India requires comprehensive integration across various sectors including mining, separation, refining, materials science and magnet production. Currently, the country lacks these capabilities at a substantial scale. Reports indicate that the Department of Atomic Energy and Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) are in the final stages of developing a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for rare earth magnets. The initiative, allocated Rs 1,000 crore, targets domestic production of 1,500 tonnes of rare earth magnets. This amount represents merely 5% of India's projected requirement of 30,000 tonnes. IREL's contribution will comprise approximately 500 tonnes of raw materials. IREL's core business remains focused on ilmenite, which generates substantial revenue through titanium dioxide pigment production for paints, alongside other industrial minerals including rutile, zircon, and sillimanite. Their involvement in rare earth elements, particularly magnet metals, is currently at a nascent stage, despite increased attention. In collaboration with BARC (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre), IREL has begun developing samarium-cobalt magnets for defence sector applications. The strategic significance of this initiative was highlighted when Prime Minister Modi inaugurated a pilot facility. Defence laboratories are currently evaluating sample deliveries. The company's annual report explicitly acknowledges a significant challenge in its Opportunities and Threats section: "Availability of limited processing technologies and knowhow on rare earths other than China." Also Read | US plans 'economic bunker buster' bill: Will Donald Trump impose 500% tariff on countries importing oil from Russia? How it may impact India Nevertheless, this limitation could potentially transform into an advantage. Once IREL masters the required technology, it could establish itself as an alternative supplier to China, positioning India as a viable secondary source in the global supply chain. India is also seeking international sources to address its deficit. IREL, following governmental guidance, is now exploring rare earth resources in Oman, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Additionally, India has established a strategic partnership with the United States to minimise Chinese reliance. India's Rare Earth Production India holds approximately 6% of worldwide rare earth deposits, yet its production remains stagnant. According to Statista, the country's output stayed constant at 2,900 tonnes from 2012 to 2024, representing merely 1% of worldwide production. India primarily sources its rare earth elements from monazite-containing coastal sands, which yield minimal returns. The Orissa Sands Complex, IREL's principal facility, processes 7.5 million tonnes of sand annually, producing 600,000 tonnes of industrial minerals. Rare earth elements comprise only a small portion, with valuable magnet metals being scarce. The site lacks heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium. IREL maintains additional mining operations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with a combined annual rare earth production of 2,900 tonnes, requiring the processing of 10 million tonnes of sand. The majority consists of light rare earth elements including cerium and lanthanum, along with magnet materials such as neodymium and praseodymium. IREL has faced numerous operational constraints preventing expansion of rare earth production during the last ten years, including challenges in securing fresh mining permits, prolonged environmental approvals, limitations due to CRZ guidelines, forestry permissions, and residential settlements. The organisation has located valuable deposits in Odisha's Puri district, though the status of mining authorisations remains uncertain. Local authorities might hesitate to permit mining activities, considering the significance of coastal areas to the region. Price vs Economic Viability Challenge The prices of rare earth metals have significantly declined in recent months, despite a slight recovery, they continue to remain low. This can be understood with the example of Lynas Corporation, the largest producer of neodymium magnets and materials outside China, which reported a substantial decline in profits. Prices of key rare earth metals Their H1 FY25 earnings showed only $5.9 million in profit from $254 million revenue, a sharp decrease from $157 million profits in H1 FY22. India's import statistics reflect this market trend. The country's rare earth magnet imports increased by 88% to 53,700 tonnes in FY25 compared to FY24. However, the value of these imports only grew by 5%, reaching Rs 1,744 crore, suggesting that despite their essential nature, rare earth magnets remain relatively inexpensive. Hence, the economic viability of extracting rare earths presents a significant challenge. The scenario where India allocates Rs 1,000 crore to subsidise 1,500 tonnes of magnet production appears financially unsound, particularly when importing 53,700 tonnes costs just Rs 1,744 crore, the ET report said. This investment would only become viable if domestic production increases substantially and achieves cost-effective manufacturing processes. The financial challenges are highlighted in IREL's FY24 annual report, which states: "The sharp price reduction in rare earth metals and the source of IREL's rare earths vis-à-vis other major producers further complicates matters." What's the way ahead? India's significant increase in magnet imports during FY25 appears to be a strategic accumulation in anticipation of possible Chinese export limitations. This proactive approach explains the relatively calm response from various Indian industrial sectors, as they have likely secured sufficient inventory to manage potential supply constraints, the report said. India's rare earth situation reflects limitations in technical capacity and economic viability rather than lack of intention. The country has long acknowledged its Chinese dependency and sought independence. Achieving a competitive rare earth magnet sector requires persistent exploration, advanced technical collaborations, efficient regulations and substantial governmental backing. The country has reduced rare earth mining royalty to 1% and initiated auctions in 2023. Survey activities continue to increase. This endeavour has only just started and will demand sustained dedication over the coming years. We have a long way to go! Also Read | India bleeds Pakistan dry: Water at 'dead' levels in Pakistan's dams; bigger Indus river plans in the works - top points to know Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why B-School graduates are back in demand, but not for old reasons
Boardrooms today are not just hiring for experience or pedigree. They are hiring for context, for systems thinking, and for a kind of intelligence that adapts faster than business models change. In this shifting terrain, business school graduates have re-emerged as valuable hires, not for the reasons they once were, but because of the strategic and technical fluency they now bring. This hiring resurgence is not a return to old patterns. It is a response to a new corporate reality. Artificial intelligence, real-time analytics, and automated operations have altered how businesses function. Employers now need professionals who can understand complexity, work with machines, and still bring human judgment to the table. That blend is exactly what top-tier business graduates are beginning to offer. More than a degree: The rise of the hybrid MBA Companies are no longer hiring MBAs for their ability to draft polished pitch decks or run standard financial models. Those are baseline expectations. What stands out now is the graduate who can operate across domains. A candidate who understands strategy and technology, who can interpret a model's output and ask why it might be flawed, is far more valuable than a specialist with narrow expertise. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Earn Upto 5k Daily By This Method of Intraday Trading TradeWise Learn More Undo In 2025, the MBA is no longer a generic business credential. It is a signal that the candidate can work across shifting disciplines, from data science to behavioural economics, and from AI ethics to stakeholder capitalism. This multi-modality is why employers are returning to B-school campuses with sharpened interest. Supporting this trend is fresh data from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). According to its Corporate Recruiters Survey 2025, over 1,100 recruiters globally indicated a strong preference for candidates with not just business acumen but AI tool fluency and decision-making agility. The survey highlights that employers are now prioritising hybrid talent — those who combine technical capability with emotional intelligence, adaptability, and strategic insight. Curriculums that mirror the market The change is also structural within institutions. Leading B-schools have redesigned their programmes to better mirror the volatility of real markets. Traditional subjects are being overhauled. Classroom learning now includes live simulations, AI integration labs, collaborative sprints, and decision-making under uncertainty. Graduates are stepping into roles already equipped with hands-on exposure to tools like generative AI, prompt engineering platforms, and scenario planning dashboards. Recruiters recognise this shift. For them, a recent graduate from such a programme is not a risk. It is a ready-to-deploy asset. The strategic interpreter: A new role for the MBA AI may be fast, but it is still blind without context. This is where business graduates are stepping in. Employers are looking for professionals who can act as interpreters — who understand how machine outputs map to organisational goals, who can question biases in data, and who can apply ethical reasoning in ambiguous settings. In today's AI-augmented workflows, human oversight is not a formality. It is a necessity. Business school graduates, with their training in critical thinking and cross-functional exposure, are well positioned to play this role. Their value lies not in performing tasks, but in ensuring the quality and direction of decisions. Hiring for potential, not just proficiency Perhaps the most significant shift is philosophical. Employers have moved beyond hiring for existing skills. They are now hiring for adaptability. The MBA graduate who has solved complex problems in cross-cultural teams, who has worked through simulated business crises, and who has demonstrated learning agility is far more likely to be hired and retained. B-school curricula have always focused on breadth. What has changed is that this breadth now includes digital depth, behavioural insight, and resilience. As organisations become flatter, faster, and more data-centric, they are placing greater value on individuals who can grow into multiple roles, rather than slotting into a fixed one. A rewritten compact between schools and industry The increase in MBA hiring is not accidental. It reflects a rebalancing of expectations between institutions and employers. Business schools are no longer preparing graduates for fixed titles or legacy roles. They are producing professionals who can lead transformation, not just manage it. Employers have taken note. Hiring managers now look for narrative thinkers who can align people with algorithms, strategy with execution, and ethics with efficiency. That is not something every graduate brings. But where B-schools have embraced this mandate, their alumni are being picked up early and placed in critical roles. A shift in value, not just volume The MBA has not returned to relevance because of nostalgia. It has returned because the nature of work has changed, and the smartest B-schools have changed with it. Today's business graduate is not entering a job. They are entering a dynamic system where their ability to navigate uncertainty, leverage technology, and think long-term makes them indispensable. Recruiters are not hiring more MBAs because they always have. They are hiring them because, for the first time in years, they have become the strategic edge companies are seeking. Is your child ready for the careers of tomorrow? Enroll now and take advantage of our early bird offer! Spaces are limited.
