is anyone here in sales?

[Summer Bunny]

I work directly with alot of orthopedic sales reps and let me tell you they can get pushy and sneaky b/c its a competetive field out their. sure they do make good money why else would they want to stick around in that job and kiss doctors asses all the time. they get commission off of everything the doctors uses.
but when it comes down to family life they will tell you that they have just about no family life (in orthopedic sales) b/c the doctors are always calling you up to come assist them in cases all hours of the night.
experience? humm i don't think many of them are college grads but they do have some sort of hospital background, such as buying or techs.
i think it would be a good field to get into if your a real pushy and they type of person that doesn't back down.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

I've always wondered this too. I've seen polls on this subject in the past and I'm always suprised there are that many people making over 100K. It certainly is possible, but I'm sure part of it is bravado or misrepresentation.

Most people have to work their asses off to earn that much, and like you say putting in 100-110 hours a week, if it works for you from a lifestyle standpoint, is your choice.

I'm in operations and it's taken me a number of promotions and hard work, being on call 24/7, working nights, weekends, whatever it takes to get me where I am today. I do better than average financially I'd say, and with incentives can make over 100K which I am happy with. From a lifestyle standpoint I wouldn't want to work 100-110 hours per week because it just wouldn't make me happy.

I still have a 10 year plan or so to save, save, save and then get the hell out of corporate America which is unfulfilling to me. I know some people love it and it is a sign of success and prestige. Unfortunately how much you earn in this country is often equivalent to how successful you are, and even how good a person you are. I'd still rather be a poor, but happy student or artist, than a rich, sad, corrupt businessman.

It's killing my liefstyle bro. I plan my fun like 3 weeks in advance. Like for example, I am going to the Final Four this weekend. I had to move 100 things around on my schedule to get the time off.

I left work at 12:30 last night, and surpirse, I am back now.

All the other points are true about status and all that shit. I get invited to so much crap, never go. I would just prefer to have some time to myself.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

Good post bro. One thing that I would add to this is that in Software Sales, if you are not making well over $100,000 you are truly in the minority. Want proof? Go to Monster.com and look up Software Sales positions. Most positions (with experience), have starting salaries at the minimum of $80k to $100k (that the min), and with comp plans, you are easy at $150k to $200k.

There are for sure a lot of salespeople out there that don't make any money. Sales people are a dime a dozen, lots of them barley make minimum wage. However, software sales is still the exception, and if you are a high level software sales person, you are making at least $250k +.

That's sweet about your business, book and everything else Matt. You truly are an intelligent, educated, brilliant guy. I mean that! I agree with everything that you said as well, including telling people to not believe the hype. However, I will say to anyone that is "good" at sales, do everything you can to get into selling software. You can make a couple hundred thousand a year, doing what you love to do...talking.

I did IT work for a while, when there was actually a demand dfor Cisco people. Salespeople made a lot of money, and if you can sell shit, you'll always have a job, but the overwhelming majority of them flounder. Good luck.

 

[kronk]

These guys are dead on with thier saleries and hours worked.

I basically do corporate sales stuff for a large financial institution. Even though I'm super low on the totem-pole, I still make around 30K/year working half time.

Kronk, what kind of educational background do you have? (Sorry if you've already mentioned it -- I'm half asleep right now, lol). I'm just about finished an Information Systems degree and software sales is something I'm interested in getting into....

I have a BA in Speech Communications and a Law Degree as well.

You IS degree should help a lot, actually if you can get into pre-sales support you will do well as well as a Sales Engineer. If not, just get your foot in the door somewhere. Once your in the game, you will always have a job.

 

[manny78]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

It's killing my liefstyle bro. I plan my fun like 3 weeks in advance. Like for example, I am going to the Final Four this weekend. I had to move 100 things around on my schedule to get the time off.

I left work at 12:30 last night, and surpirse, I am back now.

All the other points are true about status and all that shit. I get invited to so much crap, never go. I would just prefer to have some time to myself.

I respect your lifestyle but this is why I prefer working 35-40 hours/week and make 50000$ than 100 hours at 130k. Also the more I read this thread the more I'm wondering why do people waste their time studying in other fields like science, law......

 

[bigschweeler]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

It's killing my liefstyle bro. I plan my fun like 3 weeks in advance. Like for example, I am going to the Final Four this weekend. I had to move 100 things around on my schedule to get the time off.

I left work at 12:30 last night, and surpirse, I am back now.

All the other points are true about status and all that shit. I get invited to so much crap, never go. I would just prefer to have some time to myself.

That's the trade off. For me, it just isn't worth it, but that's my choice. Perhaps you will make a change if it is killing your lifestyle. I'd be worried about burnout, but if you can at least work in a couple of vacations a year, you may be able to carry on.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: is anyone here in sales?

I respect your lifestyle but this is why I prefer working 35-40 hours/week and make 50000$ than 100 hours at 130k. Also the more I read this thread the more I'm wondering why do people waste their time studying in other fields like science, law......

Manny,

To be fair, I'm not at $130K. I did make that in a day once...well actually it was $125K.

But I hear you - I often wonder if feeling this tired all the time is worth it. I womder if spending Saturdays and most Sundays doing business related shit is worth it.

I wonder, when my only escape is a movie on a weekend, if that is worth it. when i have to plan my fun a month in advance - is that worth it? I try to balance it...like this weekend I am going to the NCAA Final Four. The tickets were expensive, but, that's why I work.

So when I do have a minute, I try to go all out.

 

[Burnboy]

so what would i take in college to be in sales?

 

[rudedawg]

so what would i take in college to be in sales?

You don't need college to be in sales.

Depending on what line of sales you want to get into then that is what you would focus on in college. A lot of the corporations, especially the companies that are offering salary + commish, instead of straight commish, have a prerequisite of a degree.
Check out the help wanted ads and stuff and see what the requirements are for the type of sales job you want to get into.