Even though I have a degree in Ag and Environmental, and have been applying to anything related to construction and contracting, I have run across another job opportunty.

Friend of the family owns a small (100 employee) company that sells/installs/maintains commercial tv and internet. Sort of the tv and internet that restaurants, hotels and schools etc would use. The job posting is for an entry level internet sales position. Even though I have no prior sales experience, I got an interview next Tuesday for the position. Its an entry level position, with potential to grow within this rapidly growing company.

I was preparing for a position where outside and hands on work was an every day occurance. My prior work experience is owning my own auto detail biz and working outside for a contractor. Needless to say, this will be a large change of pace from what I'm used to...but its a job (and my first real interview that I've been offered in 4 months of searching).

Which brings me to my question. Do you people in sales enjoy your work? Do you sit at a cubicle all day, or do you go out into the world?

[Edited on January 25, 2013 at 4:45 PM. Reason : .]

1/25/2013 4:40:18 PM

I realize that this thread is about etc.

1/25/2013 4:54:19 PM

Personally I wouldn't have spent the money on college if I was interested in settling for an entry level internet sales position.

1/25/2013 4:58:36 PM

^I think it's more of a desperation ploy for us humanities majors. I'm seriously considering a job in software sales just to get a foot in the door with HR at a tech company in RTP. It's not ideal but for someone just out of undergrad it's better than being unemployed (he said unknowingly).

Basically right now I'm looking to get my foot in the door somewhere. I'd prefer it to not be in sales though--data entry is an equally (potentially miserable) option. Hopefully I'll find something else.

EDIT: And reading that Downtown Raleigh thread about all you people in development and planning makes me wish I'd gone the design route instead. Something that I didn't know I was interested in until I already had a degree.

[Edited on January 25, 2013 at 5:21 PM. Reason : f]

1/25/2013 5:20:41 PM

Could always take a job now, and keep looking for something more engaging to your interests, while you have a paycheck coming in on the regular.

^I didn't have a firm grasp on what I wanted to do for a living until after undergrad. Used grad school to both get me into the field I was interested in after having more real world experiences and increase my earning potential.

1/25/2013 6:44:16 PM

I was an inside sales engineer for 3 years. Worst decision I ever made, career-wise. I had been a project engineer for a industrial HEPA/ULPA filtration system manufacturer, and in looking back, I should have never left.

Time you spend in sales is time you're going to stagnate everywhere else, particularly in the area in which you got a degree. You can't afford to lose any foothold you have, and you can't afford to get rusty.

Use it only as a stopgap measure if you must. But don't sit there and do nothing once the allure of a steady check grabs you. And it will.

1/25/2013 7:53:06 PM

ibt outside sales

1/25/2013 9:08:43 PM

I'm a real estate agent.

It's been too cold.

1/25/2013 10:32:19 PM

The only thing I like about sales is the fact it inspired me to go back to school so I could start enjoying life again. It pays the bills though, so i'm thankful for that.

1/25/2013 10:52:05 PM

Quote :

"Time you spend in sales is time you're going to stagnate everywhere else"

This depends on the type of sales you're in. I'm in outside sales for an HVAC company and I use my degree everyday and have to learn a lot of building codes for ASHRAE and working with engineers helping them with design selections is most of my job. It will definitely be valuable experience when I get my PE and want to branch out on my own.

Point being, unless you're really interested in what you're selling, or have a REALLY outgoing personality, it's probably going to feel like a grind.

[Edited on January 26, 2013 at 1:58 PM. Reason : .]

1/26/2013 1:49:39 PM

I sold software and copiers b2b for about 8months. Mainly cold calls all day, both going door to door or on the phone/email. It was pretty miserable. Especially since the market was in the doldrums and most businesses didn't have the need or the budget for document management systems.

Luckily, I had a revelation to start selling for myself, rather than someone else. Then went in to business for myself doing what I am passionate about. Now I am much happier and making more money.

The upside was that I got a crash course in outside sales. Now my phone and closing skills are better off because of it. Banging 30 phone calls a day and then going door to door to find opportunities will put a thick skin on you quickly. It's useful now because I rarely leave business opportunities on the table and don't hesitate to close a deal.


[Edited on January 26, 2013 at 2:53 PM. Reason : deal]

1/26/2013 2:44:04 PM

^What did you end up going into your own business for?

1/26/2013 11:23:21 PM

Independent personal training. In other words, I didn't work in a typical commercial gym... Did my own sales, marketing, and biz dev.

After about 2.5 years of doing that and renting out other places, I opened my own private training facility on June 1st 2012. http://www.capitalstrength.com

If you want to do something similar... the path is like this:
1. Find something you are a good at and/or passionate about.
2. Become an expert (certifications, internships, degrees, etc.)
3. Sell the hell out of it
4. Organize, Systemize, Strategize with the goal of scaling.
5. Profit.

It's important you are either good or enjoy what you are doing, because it makes the "grind" phase bearable. What I mean by the "grind" phase is when you don't make much money, your client portfolio is slender, and your business is in its infancy.

Also you must keep in mind the goal isn't to do the technical aspect of your job. It's to get to a point where you are paying others to do that, while you are taking a large piece of that pie.

1/27/2013 8:56:54 AM