Well, as I've mentioned before I'm on the search for a new job. I would prefer to be in a marketing/advertising agency setting, but as of right now it looks like all my marketing and business comm. degrees are good for is sales. Now, I never expected to go into sales but now it's looking like it will be inevitable. What I'm looking for is recommendations, stories, general knowledge, anything really about being in sales. I would most likely be in a b2b position.
Do you have a lot of experience in sales at all? Sales is almost more about experience than it is about a degree, in my experience at least. Sales is very competitive and quite time consuming. Requires a lot of work on the back-burner and when you leave for the day. I always got the feeling that I never left work. Customers and clients want you to always be there for them, and especially if you have a blackberry---your life becomes an office. It can be quite rewarding, but you have to be on top of your game. I would consider a b2b position with any of the cell phone providers that are out there. It would get you some decent money and experience until the economy gets fixed up a bit.
T-Mobile was a pretty good company to work for, and if you can avoid the retail setting, you might find it to be decent.
I'm in sales and make the company bonus most of the time. It's straight commission, so without that bonus, the paychecks are ok. With the bonus, they are great!! Find a company that not only pays a good percentage, but also one that offers bonuses for the people who excel. If there are no bonuses, find a job that pays a base plus comm. Also, some companies make you provide the leads. This is a drag unless you're huge into networking and know gobs of people. Work on your customer service skills. Not saying you don't have any, but now more than ever. Most companies are way under quota with the economy the way it is. I know we are. Referals and return costomers will fill your pockers! GL
I love my job, but it's extremely unique. I don't have to do any cold calling or outside sales- all I do is answer the phone and reply to E-mails. We're also in a small nitche market. Even right now it's so busy I can barely keep up. I work at a fairly low comission percentage plus a base salary and it is working out pretty well for me. I am probably the hardest working guy in my company, though.
I worked sales for 1 week. Fantastic base pay, great incentives, great company, great product...but when you're staring down a list of 300 numbers to cold-call, god help you worst job ever.
You couldn't pay me enough to go back into sales. I worked retail and sales as a waiter for pretty much up until I got my lab monkey job. Just my personality, but I am so glad to not be dealing with the public directly anymore. Most sales jobs made me want to go postal after about 3-4 months. -Steve
I sell skateboards, snowboards, skis, and watertoys. I wouldn't trade my job for anything! I suppose you are looking to get into more of a high end sales job with a big company, these are ok as well to(more $$) after i manage my shop for a while i want to move into a regional sales rep job for a couple different companys in the "action sports" area... (god i hate that name) but i love sales its 100 times better than sitting in a little cubical..... but thats just what i think
For the first time in over a decade I'm NOT in sales job. With that being said, I'll NEVER go back to a sales job. I always thought of sales as being "feast or famine". And with the way the economy is these days, you'll see more famine. theres my 2
Thanks for the input everyone. I figure I'll keep the option open seeing as I'm not finding anything else right now. Plus, if I get into and don't like it...the oh well, not the end of the world!
i am in sales currently and have been in sales all my life. i didnt take the time to read everyone elses posts but i can tell you this.. you need to know everything about your product. knowledge is power and the more you know the more you will impress and the more confident you will be with less um's and ah's in your speech after you know everything you will need to work on charisma, you will present yourself as a confident knowledgable individual after you have conqured the charisma and the knowledge you need to work on your persuasiveness, this can be obtained simply by putting together good sounding sentences that will wow your client. you also need to have charm, especially when dealing with women, they love it. they are softys and they will crumble if you charm them enough honesty is key, you can make more sales if you do not pressure the client and you tell them that they dont need to purchase it today or within the next week, tell them to think it over if they seem unsure vs trying to push for that un-easy sale. trust me almost every single time they will come back. i am telling you the truth, my father is in sales and has been in sales right out of college you can make a ton of money you just have to work at the things ive told you, if those things come easy for you then congrats you are a born salesman. i am also a highly reguarded salesman myself in my company, i am already being looked at for manager positions and ive only worked for the company a year. lastly im not trying to brag or flaunt my father i am simply giving you some background information on myself so you dont think im just some punk kid telling you whatever free floats across my mind. those are honest tactics. you also need to work at your physical appearance like showering, having good breath and teeth, all the things that make you pleasnt to talk to. if you have anymore questions man feel free to shoot me a PM
no i work for a small business up in Anoka called Pinewski's. I've been working there for 7 years now.... but it seems that people on here didn't really dig their sales jobs so maybe its just my thing but i LOVE my job
This is all good suggestions, kinda like a "sales 101 in a nutshell". I agree with it. My problem is I don't have the patience to deal with the general public in that type of position every day as the source of my income. I also agree that sales jobs will be taking a huge hit for a while due to people cutting back a lot on spending in general considering the state of the economy.
