With the overall market expected to reach $623 billion by 2023, there’s no doubt that the outlook is bright when it comes to the Software as a Service (SaaS) industry. For those looking for careers in the industry, there is a multitude of rewarding options to consider, each requiring their own unique skill set. Whether you’re looking to jump back into the workforce at a later age, or you simply wish to try something new, here are just three careers in the SaaS industry worth considering.
Finding purpose in sales
Perhaps one of the most rewarding careers in the SaaS industry is in the sales sector, whether you be selling SaaS products to consumers or to businesses, where SaaS leads, with the average employee using eight or more SaaS apps. As a salesperson, you’ll need to have both an understanding of what your customer wants in an SaaS product, as well as a broad knowledge of the product itself. This will allow you to better aid the consumer in finding the best product for them. Because of this, a sales career also requires strong communication skills, as well a bright and enthusiastic personality (as with any sales job). This is a career path that offers plenty of room to grow, although you’ll typically start as a Sales Development Representative (SDR), which means you’ll contact potential consumers who you believe could benefit from the product you’re selling.
SaaS support professional
An SaaS support professional is key in the consumer’s experience, particularly when it comes to important aspects such as resolving issues, taking requests, and ensuring that at the end of the day, the client is satisfied with the service. In addition to being tech savvy with SaaS products, those that choose this career path will undoubtedly need to have a major strength in customer service and communication/people skills, as it’s a large part of the job. Additionally, support professionals will also need to have other soft skills, such as the ability to multitask, as well as handle other key factors of the job, like contacting customers via phone/email.
Data scientist
While support professionals and salespeople are each positions that involve working directly with the consumer, a data scientist is another in-demand option for a rewarding career path, and is better suited for those who prefer a less customer-facing role. A data scientist in the SaaS industry helps by analyzing and applying data and algorithms in order to address any problems a consumer may have. Because of this, this particular career path will require skill sets in key areas like computer science, analytics and statistics. This means that the educational qualifications are likely to be along the same lines, such as a degree in statistics/computer science.
Whether you’re considering a career that involves working with the consumer or one that involves working more directly with the software, there are a number of career opportunities available in the growing SaaS industry. From support professionals and sales advisors to data scientists, each path requires unique skill sets, and has the potential to lead to a long and rewarding career.
