Any salespeople here?

[jackace]

What is the best way to start a career in sales? Are there certain industries to avoid? Which High Tech Companies are good to work for as a sales person and which ones are not so good?

 

[AlgaeEater]

What type of sales? Service related or physical product? Are you going to be handling the logistics of the sale as well as maintaining the client relationship?

Industries to avoid are pretty much insurance/finance and retail POS (Point of sale) communication services (Like phone companies or internet service providers) These are highly saturated and usually commission based, often relying on extremely thick skin, frustrating cold/warm leads and inflation of product. (Especially insurance)

High tech companies have sales from business to business. If you're talking about that particular field, you need to work for any company that you have exclusive knowledge of their product or service line-up. It's a whole different ball-game and buyers can be downright brutal to deal with.

 

[jackace]

I was looking more for general tips, hints and helps to start a career. I'm a recent grad from business school. I do like the high tech industry, but I do not have an IT/engineering degree. I would enjoy the B2B sales much more than working some retail sales job. As far as the product knowledge goes I assumed that would be part of the first week or so of training. I would pick a company that I was familiar with what they sell, but I would not know everything about all their products.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Business to business jobs require a lot of knowledge on what you're selling, but you don't need a degree specifically. You have to keep in mind the company you have an idea for working for and work toward that goal.

If you're going to be in sales for AMD as an example, trying to sell their low end CPUs to HP, then you'll need to make sure you have some form of certification like A+. As a matter of fact, getting an A+ certification along with a degree in sales/marketing will probably guarantee you a spot in most high tech industries, because it tells them you know enough to know what you're talking about. IT degrees are on the same line as product development for R&D, in which they are totally technical in nature and have nothing to do with sales from business to business. Don't worry about not having a degree in a field you want to do sales in.

Engineering (literal, not computer) is really tough because you have to really know what you're talking about. Unless the company you are working for allows you to directly work with the technicians on a day to day basis, without some form of knowledge about basic engineering concepts, you're not likely to get hired. In this situation you might want to try sneaking into a company through another position (Human resources, customer service, dispatcher, etc) and then build enough clout to switch places within the company to a sales position. They won't consider your training period enough to know protocol for engineering services or products, especially if it's business to business.

The brute force method would be to do sales in a retail or unrelated field (non-technical) and work there for a couple of years making a lot of progress. You're experience and references should be enough to push you for an interview with a high tech company who will have enough faith to bring you on board and give you a try out.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I thought the whole point of getting a business degree was so you wouldn't have to work in sales.

 

[Aimster]

my friend makes 100k selling cellphones for Verizon.
He is the best however in the region.

His girl makes 40k doing the same thing. She sucks.

Other friend makes around 120k selling cars. He moved up to manager from sales.

So cellphones or cars.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
I thought the whole point of getting a business degree was so you wouldn't have to work in sales.

Someway or another you're going to be doing sales in some point of your career. It's like basic training or boot camp for business.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: Aimster
my friend makes 100k selling cellphones for Verizon.
He is the best however in the region.

His girl makes 40k doing the same thing. She sucks.

Other friend makes around 120k selling cars. He moved up to manager from sales.

So cellphones or cars.

I've done the same thing with home theaters and other types of home electronics. But it doesn't take a degree to do any of that. Hell, I just interviewed today for a position managing a jewelry store. They called me.

I always thought sales was what you did to make big money when you didn't have a degree. I guess it never occured to me that people would go to school for that.

 

[jackace]

Originally posted by: AlgaeEater

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
I thought the whole point of getting a business degree was so you wouldn't have to work in sales.

Someway or another you're going to be doing sales in some point of your career. It's like basic training or boot camp for business.

This is my thought as well. Business degrees are a dime a dozen these days, but they are all but required if you ever want to advance past middle management. I do not want to be a salesman my entire life, but sales is a large part of business and it usually leads to higher paying and more senior jobs. Most the "good" B2B sales jobs require a Business degree or 3-5 years of experience in a specific industry to even be considered for the job.

It also seems most managers that come from the sales department have more respect from the other managers. (from what I have seen of course) To me it seems they get that respect because they have been "in the trenches" learning the customers needs, as opposed to being in some cubicle crunching numbers for 5-10 years or in HR.

I have also done the cell phone sales myself (not for a major carrier though and only part-time as an outside rep) and it can be good money, but if you are not in a high traffic location or working with business accounts it is very spotty from month to month. Car sales is another industry that is very spotty as well. I personally have never tried, but I talked with a few friends who do it and they say you need to have enough money saved to pay your bills for 6 months when you start. They say it takes about 6 months to really start making any significant money selling cars.

 

[compuwiz1]

Most top sales people of anything don't have a degree. If we wanted a degree, we would have become engineers, mcdonald's managers, or IBM corporate clones.

 

[Mo0o]

Depending on what industry you go into, you might be making a career out of slingin bullsh1t to people.

of courses theres always: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...a/en/d/df/D-M_logo.gif

 

[AlgaeEater]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Most top sales people of anything don't have a degree. If we wanted a degree, we would have become engineers, mcdonald's managers, or IBM corporate clones.

Of course, but that's staying in sales. We're talking sales --> other positions.

 

[doze]

When interviewing for a sales job make sure you tell the sales manager that you want to make lots of money.

 

[jackace]

Most the industries I'm thinking about applying to will not consider you for a sales job without a degree. It's kind of a status symbol I guess. The ones that do not require a degree for a sales job will require 3-5 years of specific industry experience. They also will not promote you past sales rep without a degree.

I do not personally agree with that system, but with how things are going in this day and age a college degree is more like a high school diploma was for our parents. It's basically a requirement to get past any kind of entry level job.

 

[JS80]

If you're still in legitimate career sales after 5-10 years you should be making $100-300k depending on what you're selling.

 

[smack Down]

Originally posted by: Aimster
my friend makes 100k selling cellphones for Verizon.
He is the best however in the region.

His girl makes 40k doing the same thing. She sucks.

Other friend makes around 120k selling cars. He moved up to manager from sales.

So cellphones or cars.

Of course Aimster is know to be full of it and sales people are habitual liars.

 

[jackace]

I wasn't really looking to get into sales for the money. Yes, I know good sales professionals make good money, but I was hoping for some advice and tips for using sales as way to enter corporate positions. Things to avoid, industries that are hard to gain ground in, Things to make sure and accomplish early, etc.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: JS80
If you're still in legitimate career sales after 5-10 years you should be making $100-300k depending on what you're selling.

Or much more. Let's see the rolodex.

Jackace,

IT sales is a TON of money with the ability to make a million or more per year. But you have to be good. You have to be a good negotiator and even more so have the personality.

As far as IT sales, avoid only product sales (however this can still be very lucritive if you have big accounts). Sell solutions complete with services. Not specific engagements, but long term services. Your gravy is in the consulting/people time and getting the contract/commitment from your customer.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: jackace
I wasn't really looking to get into sales for the money. Yes, I know good sales professionals make good money, but I was hoping for some advice and tips for using sales as way to enter corporate positions. Things to avoid, industries that are hard to gain ground in, Things to make sure and accomplish early, etc.

Start building relationships and maintaining them.

 

[LS20]

Originally posted by: JS80
If you're still in legitimate career sales after 5-10 years you should be making $100-300k depending on what you're selling.

not that much
but true, corporate / engineering / technical sales are high $$$

(but its still sales)

 

[spidey07]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: LS20
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JS80
If you're still in legitimate career sales after 5-10 years you should be making $100-300k depending on what you're selling.</end quote></div>

not that much
but true, corporate / engineering / technical sales are high $$$

(but its still sales)</end quote></div>

LOL! Sales is the most lucritive career there is. 100-300K after 5-10 years is the norm if not the low end.

I've dated a few pharm reps and seen their checks. 200K is the LOW end. One of them had a few commission checks laying around - 30K, 85K, 15K. I asked why she hadn't cashed them. "oh, those are just laying around...I'll get around to depositing them."

 

[LS20]

Great sample size. 1 industry, out of thousands. and a few salespeople, out of millions. LOL!

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: LS20
Great sample size. 1 industry, out of thousands. and a few salespeople, out of millions. LOL!

The IT and telco reps were the same way. I guess it's all in who you know...the secret to sales.

 

[jackace]

Originally posted by: spidey07
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: LS20
Great sample size. 1 industry, out of thousands. and a few salespeople, out of millions. LOL!</end quote></div>

The IT and telco reps were the same way. I guess it's all in who you know...the secret to sales.

Its all in the size of your market, number of clients, and amount of competition. I can see a pharm rep making 300k in NY, LA or another large metro area, or if you are in a market with little competition.

 

[Aimster]

Originally posted by: smack Down
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Aimster
my friend makes 100k selling cellphones for Verizon.
He is the best however in the region.

His girl makes 40k doing the same thing. She sucks.

Other friend makes around 120k selling cars. He moved up to manager from sales.

So cellphones or cars.</end quote></div>

Of course Aimster is know to be full of it and sales people are habitual liars.

There is nothing unbelievable about what I posted.

Maybe you should go get a job