Anyone work in sales??

JDholic

JDholic

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A bit of background first.

I work for a large worldwide alarm company here in Norn Iron.
I've been an engineer for this firm for the last 5 years and have worked in this section for 10 years.

A sales job has recently become available. What I'm basically asking is it worth moving from a relatively secure position, to a sales job??

Over the last while I've become exasperated with the current sales team and have always felt that I could do a better job. The salary Isn't much more than I'm on now, but, the earning potential is a lot better.

Anyone any advice??
 
Only you know if you are or could be a good sales person or not. I have been in sales of some kind or another for 15 years and personally I would not change that.
What I would say is I always look at living on my basic and commission is a bonus if I get it. The other thing is always treat the customer in the sameway that you would expect to be treated, I would rather not sell to a customer than sell them something that I know or believe to be wrong for them, I am looking for repeat business and not a one off hit.
 
How do you get on with people?
Are you outgoing (without appearing a total knob) and confident (without coming over as arrogant)?
If you have personality, and can sell yourself, you should be OK.
Product knowledge is one of the main assets of a salesperson, do you have good product knowledge (although this can be learnt).
But personality is the key...you only get one chance to make a first impression. Blow it, and you'll likely blow the sale.
I have been selling for 22 years. Sell yourself first. Then the product.
Sometimes it's the best job in the world, sometimes I would rather be sweeping the streets.
But when it's all going well and you are selling then there's no job like it.
Rob

And as said above, you are looking for repeat business. You want to gain the customers trust.
Never, ever lie to a customer. You WILL be found out. And that person (and other people they know) will never buy from you again.
 
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Flash In The Pan said:
Maybe not the best time to be trying to earn a living from sales....
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Yup, possibly not the best time to move into sales but if it went **** up you've always got the safety net of moving back into the technical side.

After all if you can sell just now then you'll be on a winner when the market recovers :thumbs:
 
Davec223 said:
Only you know if you are or could be a good sales person or not. I have been in sales of some kind or another for 15 years and personally I would not change that.
What I would say is I always look at living on my basic and commission is a bonus if I get it. The other thing is always treat the customer in the sameway that you would expect to be treated, I would rather not sell to a customer than sell them something that I know or believe to be wrong for them, I am looking for repeat business and not a one off hit.
Click to expand...

Flash In The Pan said:
Maybe not the best time to be trying to earn a living from sales....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the quick reply. I've been struggling over this decision all week. I have until tomorrow morning to decide.
I do think I could be good at it, my current job has a fair amount of sales opportunities, whether they are renewing a lapsed contract or selling a new system.

It maybe depends on the environment, Davec do you find the hours long?? Is there a degree of pressure to meet targets??
 
Smiffy said:
How do you get on with people?
Are you outgoing (without appearing a total knob) and confident (without coming over as arrogant)?
If you have personality, and can sell yourself, you should be OK.
Product knowledge is one of the main assets of a salesperson, do you have good product knowledge (although this can be learnt).
But personality is the key...you only get one chance to make a first impression. Blow it, and you'll likely blow the sale.
I have been selling for 22 years. Sell yourself first. Then the product.
Sometimes it's the best job in the world, sometimes I would rather be sweeping the streets.
But when it's all going well and you are selling then there's no job like it.
Rob

And as said above, you are looking for repeat business. You want to gain the customers trust.
Never, ever lie to a customer. You WILL be found out. And that person (and other people they know) will never buy from you again.
Click to expand...

The one to one basis wouldn't be anything I would worry about, (the gf finds me very charming) I'm just worried about stress of the job, the long hours. (if any) I'll be moving from a very technical job into a completely alien environment. I've never worked in an office in my entire life!!

I think I would probably go stir crazy.
 
Long hours for me are part of the nature of the beast, it does depend if you are out on the road or not, I personally am out on the road and cover approx 200 miles a day aswell as my calls and paperwork when I get home, on average I suppose I do 10-12 hours a day, does this bother me, no I enjoy the driving and find it relaxing.
Targets are there to be meet but in the current climate ( I supply the building trade) I missed my target, were my firm upset, no, that is the climate at the moment and I was not laid off in the recent round of redundancies at work so I must be doing something right.

Smiffy offered excellent advice as well, if people like you they will deal with you, if they do not like you they will not, does not matter on how good the product or price is.
 
Thanks Dave. I think my mind is probably made up, I have a 2 year old daughter and the hours I do at the minute mean I don't really see her as much as I would like. To put even more hours in would mean I would miss her a lot more.

Cheers for all the advice folks!!! :thumbs:
 
The job is full of highs and lows...
I sell cars for a living, manager of a small used car dealership which is part of a larger multi franchise group.
I work long hours, and when I worked for the franchised side of things I had to work Sundays too, but luckily don't have to at the moment.
My boss has been off for the best part of 3 weeks so I haven't had a day off for a month, working six days a week.
I have a target to hit each month, if I don't reach it then I'm hit in my pocket...and that hurts.
I get a decent (ish) basic but rely on commission to make up the bulk of my salary. I certainly couldn't pay all my bills with my basic salary so the pressure is on at the start of each month.
When you are selling well, you can't seem to do anything wrong. You are on a high and it gives you confidence. They say the best time to sell a car is after you have just sold one!
But if you go two or three days without a sale (sometimes as much as a week can go by without putting pen to paper) you begin to have self doubt.
What am I doing wrong?
What can I do to break the cycle?
And this in itself can lead to even less sales because people can sense the "desperation" in your voice or your manner as you try to close a deal.
OK desperation might be the wrong word to use, but it feels like it sometimes!!
It's not easy.....and you really do have to deal with some awkward, and downright nasty, potential customers.
But when you really hit it off with someone, and build a rapport that leads to a sale.....there is no better feeling in the world.
Well maybe there is, but that's for another thread
;)
 
JDholic said:
smiffy I know what you mean. See above post about baby girl!!:lol::lol:
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We can move on to that topic if you want....

I'm known as "Dr Smiffy" on my motorbike forum.
Answering questions of a sexual nature
;););):lol::lol::lol:
 
JDholic said:
Thanks Dave. I think my mind is probably made up, I have a 2 year old daughter and the hours I do at the minute mean I don't really see her as much as I would like. To put even more hours in would mean I would miss her a lot more.

Cheers for all the advice folks!!! :thumbs:
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The bonus of my job is that I am on the road at between 5- 5.30 am so I actually get to see my 2 girls more than when I worked in retail, for me that is a big bonus and I also get weekends off, again when I was in retail I worked every Saturday and some Sundays.
 
Davec223 said:
The bonus of my job is that I am on the road at between 5- 5.30 am so I actually get to see my 2 girls more than when I worked in retail, for me that is a big bonus and I also get weekends off, again when I was in retail I worked every Saturday and some Sundays.
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In our line of business, the work actually seems to come to us. The "brand name" is extremely strong, So most of my work would be restricted to an office with maybe a few site visits a week. :'( At present my job is completely on the road, which I think I would miss. The freedom of being your own boss is hard to beat.
 
JDholic said:
In our line of business, the work actually seems to come to us. The "brand name" is extremely strong, So most of my work would be restricted to an office with maybe a few site visits a week. :'( At present my job is completely on the road, which I think I would miss. The freedom of being your own boss is hard to beat.
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So very well put, I must confess that I would find it very difficult to be based in on location for the working week.
 
No Dave I didn't, I really couldn't see myself in an office. My company car is my office!!!

I'm sort of disappointed in a way, I'm sure I could have been good at it, but the financial insecurity (in a way) and relying on bonus and commission to make up the wage were major downsides.

(the mrs talked me out of it)
 
Not connected with the sales enquiry but I was always at work/on call for the bulk of my career before I retired , but the kids had grown up and had their own interests when I had more spare time , so on retrospect yes we needed the dosh but it came at a cost.
 
I've been in sales most of my working life. Although I guess it depends on what you sell, I know find myself doing "business deals", not sales.

Targets are there to be hit, and the fact is, as a salesman/manager you are an overhead unless you can pay your way. If you don't close deals you'll be a cost, not an asset, simple rules of business.

However, if you find that, in general, you get on with people easily, you have the ability to listen (sales is NOT about talk, it's about gathering information) and you're a pretty confident guy, sales could be a career for you. Remember - you have 2 eyes, 2 ears and one mouth - use them in that proportion !

Personally I think everybody who thinks they can do a better job than their sales team try it for themselves. You'll either find new respect for you colleagues or start a new career...

I work in the IT & Telecoms space, and I find that most of my "business" is about helping a company solve a problem, reduce costs, or develop services. We are very rarely the only company working with the client, and where I used to sell 1-2-1, I'm now working woth other businesses to deliver a solution.

This is great for me, my personal network has expanded, and as a company, we can now look at taking on projects we would never have done before because we can partner with people to deliver.

I'm 46, and reckon I've got 10 years before I hang up my sales hat, it's a young mans game these days, but I'm looking to make a transition to senior management and eventually work part time (hopefully!)

Steve
 
As a Field Engineer myself, since i was 17, now 30, being stuck in one place would drive me mad :)

If i get stuck at a call for a day it does my head in.

(you would also miss alot of your photo opportunities :) )

I think you have made the right choice
 
JDholic said:
I'm sort of disappointed in a way, I'm sure I could have been good at it, but the financial insecurity (in a way) and relying on bonus and commission to make up the wage were major downsides.
Click to expand...

You probably made the right choice. If you were really suited for a sales role you should have seen the target/bonus structure as an opportunity not a risk.
 
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