Life Sales jobs

BWillie · 06-07-2008, 12:16 PM

I've finally updated my resume and cover letter and have posted it on careerbuilder. Haven't really got around to applying for many positions yet, but it seems like every call I get is either a shitty job that pays less than mine or a sales job that is 100% commission and it just seems really shady. They say you will make 150K a year, but I know better.

My question is how do I sort out what sales jobs are BS and which jobs are legitimate opportunities?. I know 90% of these jobs out there are scams, but I never know. I don't have enough time to waste going to six interviews a week to just waste my time. I know there are good jobs out there..my dad is in sales and makes 150-175K a year, and one of my buddies who failed out of college and who I swear cannot read has one for about 75K a year. Seems all of my college friends make less than the friends that didn't go to college, and they are all in sales. I know you need to have a knack for sales, but I have excelled in every position I have ever had, and I know I could do almost anything given the proper tools to succeed.

Whenever you look for jobs it's like they want to keep it top secret how much you make. When they call and I ask they still don't really tell me. Even if they told me some sort of definite range like "75% of our first year candidates make X". That is all I want to know, bottom line, how much will I make. If I'm not going to make more than I make now, why on earth would I waste my time. They would be wasting their own time as well when they get to the end of the interview and go and this job starts at $37,000 a year.

SBK · 06-07-2008, 12:22 PM

If you don't know how to sell go to a company that has a fantastic sales training program.

**Nzoner** · 06-07-2008, 12:29 PM

Although I flunked out of college I got the best degree ever in socializing and meeting people and have been selling advertising for my own company for almost 18 years.

As for sales,take my word on this,you only need 1 book to make your career a great one.

Tom Hopkins

Friendo · 06-07-2008, 12:34 PM

the top 20% of sales peeps drive 80% of the sales--always has/always will be the case. that's why you're not getting a "straight answer". instead, I would ask what the top 20% "range" is. that, would be a better start in many ways

**Rain Man** · 06-07-2008, 03:26 PM

I always wonder about this too, not that I'm looking. I always hear that top salespeople make extraordinary money, but it always looks to me like the sales jobs that are advertised are total scams.

**Bwana** · 06-07-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I always wonder about this too, not that I'm looking. I always hear that top salespeople make extraordinary money, but it always looks to me like the sales jobs that are advertised are total scams.

A lot of them are.

BWillie · 06-07-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bwana

A lot of them are.

Which ones?? How do you know? Are most sales jobs that don't offer at least some sort of base a scam? My dad and the friend I know all have a base, then earn salary.....then I see all these jobs for 100% commission saying you should be able to make 100K to 150K a year.

**Bwana** · 06-07-2008, 03:40 PM

"How do I know?" Because I am in sales. There are also a lot of them that are above board. A big red flag is if you have your resume on CB, or monster and they call you without putting in for a specific job...........watch out. If they won't tell you exactly what the job entails and "want to talk to you in person," it's likey a crap job. If you see the same company with the same job on-line over and over, it's a shit job. Pick and choose and you should be fine.

**Nzoner** · 06-07-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWillie007

Which ones?? How do you know? Are most sales jobs that don't offer at least some sort of base a scam? My dad and the friend I know all have a base, then earn salary.....then I see all these jobs for 100% commission saying you should be able to make 100K to 150K a year.

Sales is nothing more than the people business,if you have a good product and you radiate confidence in that product you'll do fine.Not saying there aren't alot of scams out there but I've always looked at it as there's a very fine line between a con man and a salesman.

A salesman loves people and uses money

A Con Man loves money and uses people

trndobrd · 06-07-2008, 03:48 PM

If you have to purchase training tapes or make your money from distributors that you recruit, it might be a scam.

**Bwana** · 06-07-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trndobrd

If you have to purchase training tapes or make your money from distributors that you recruit, it might be a scam.

Might be?

jspchief · 06-07-2008, 04:09 PM

Use a headhunter. The yaren't going to set you up with those "scam" type of sales jobs.

Also, think about what it is you're selling. Everything you buy in a store was also sold to a store. 95% of the items in that store are repeat sales. That's the kind of job you want to aim for. A job that has good existing base sales, and your opportunity to make more arises from what you do above and beyond that base. If a large portion or your sales are generated off of cold calls, it's going to be a very tough place to start.

B_Ambuehl · 06-07-2008, 04:23 PM

Look for something that has base pay plus commission. Companies that pay base don't want to waste their money on people who just quit so they'll spend time training you. It costs a company nothing to pay people on straight commission so they expect to go through 10 salesmen to find 1 good one.

Most of the "scams" you're seeing aren't scams.....non salespeople think everything non-salaried is a freaking scam. But for those straight commission jobs 1 out of 10 people will make big bucks and the other 9 will quit and talk shit about the company.

Some personalities are not cut out AT ALL for sales. Typically the better you do in formal education (ore the more labcoat and professor oriented you are), the more difficult you're gonna find it in sales.

58-4ever · 06-07-2008, 04:49 PM

I've found it to be a good idea to find companies you'd like to work for and apply on their website directly. Find them, don't let them find you.

BIG_DADDY · 06-07-2008, 05:38 PM

Big items usually equal big pay days. Jobs that can provide you with a residual income can equal big dollars as well. You gotta decide what your happy with as well. My years in the health club industry were about as fun as it gets. Selling time share on an island or in Mexico where you live on the resort can be a kick int he ass as well.

The head hunter idea usually doesn't work in sales unless it's in a specialized field you already have the background in. Tech sales would be a good example of that.

06-07-2008, 12:16 PM
BWillie El Gato Gordo Loco Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Earth Casino cash: $2171241	Sales jobs I've finally updated my resume and cover letter and have posted it on careerbuilder. Haven't really got around to applying for many positions yet, but it seems like every call I get is either a shitty job that pays less than mine or a sales job that is 100% commission and it just seems really shady. They say you will make 150K a year, but I know better. My question is how do I sort out what sales jobs are BS and which jobs are legitimate opportunities?. I know 90% of these jobs out there are scams, but I never know. I don't have enough time to waste going to six interviews a week to just waste my time. I know there are good jobs out there..my dad is in sales and makes 150-175K a year, and one of my buddies who failed out of college and who I swear cannot read has one for about 75K a year. Seems all of my college friends make less than the friends that didn't go to college, and they are all in sales. I know you need to have a knack for sales, but I have excelled in every position I have ever had, and I know I could do almost anything given the proper tools to succeed. Whenever you look for jobs it's like they want to keep it top secret how much you make. When they call and I ask they still don't really tell me. Even if they told me some sort of definite range like "75% of our first year candidates make X". That is all I want to know, bottom line, how much will I make. If I'm not going to make more than I make now, why on earth would I waste my time. They would be wasting their own time as well when they get to the end of the interview and go and this job starts at $37,000 a year.
Posts: 46,254

06-07-2008, 12:22 PM	#2
SBK Curry is the pick??? Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Casino cash: $10004900	If you don't know how to sell go to a company that has a fantastic sales training program.
Posts: 8,153

06-07-2008, 12:29 PM	#3
Nzoner a haw haw haw Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: MIZZOU Casino cash: $26365802	Although I flunked out of college I got the best degree ever in socializing and meeting people and have been selling advertising for my own company for almost 18 years. As for sales,take my word on this,you only need 1 book to make your career a great one. Tom Hopkins __________________ *Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.*
Posts: 27,111

06-07-2008, 12:34 PM	#4
Friendo cigarette? Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: n.c. Casino cash: $10004945	the top 20% of sales peeps drive 80% of the sales--always has/always will be the case. that's why you're not getting a "straight answer". instead, I would ask what the top 20% "range" is. that, would be a better start in many ways
Posts: 1,787

06-07-2008, 03:26 PM	#5
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3058491 VARSITY	I always wonder about this too, not that I'm looking. I always hear that top salespeople make extraordinary money, but it always looks to me like the sales jobs that are advertised are total scams. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,648

06-07-2008, 03:40 PM	#8
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2139293647	"How do I know?" Because I am in sales. There are also a lot of them that are above board. A big red flag is if you have your resume on CB, or monster and they call you without putting in for a specific job...........watch out. If they won't tell you exactly what the job entails and "want to talk to you in person," it's likey a crap job. If you see the same company with the same job on-line over and over, it's a shit job. Pick and choose and you should be fine. __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 69,779

06-07-2008, 03:48 PM	#10
trndobrd 'Stachecicle Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Tolerance Box Casino cash: $4745087	If you have to purchase training tapes or make your money from distributors that you recruit, it might be a scam. __________________ "I don't really think there is a need to raise or debate this point." -jAZ
Posts: 7,083

06-07-2008, 04:09 PM	#12
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	Use a headhunter. The yaren't going to set you up with those "scam" type of sales jobs. Also, think about what it is you're selling. Everything you buy in a store was also sold to a store. 95% of the items in that store are repeat sales. That's the kind of job you want to aim for. A job that has good existing base sales, and your opportunity to make more arises from what you do above and beyond that base. If a large portion or your sales are generated off of cold calls, it's going to be a very tough place to start. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

06-07-2008, 04:23 PM	#13
B_Ambuehl Veteran Join Date: Apr 2005 Casino cash: $9805405	Look for something that has base pay plus commission. Companies that pay base don't want to waste their money on people who just quit so they'll spend time training you. It costs a company nothing to pay people on straight commission so they expect to go through 10 salesmen to find 1 good one. Most of the "scams" you're seeing aren't scams.....non salespeople think everything non-salaried is a freaking scam. But for those straight commission jobs 1 out of 10 people will make big bucks and the other 9 will quit and talk shit about the company. Some personalities are not cut out AT ALL for sales. Typically the better you do in formal education (ore the more labcoat and professor oriented you are), the more difficult you're gonna find it in sales. __________________ Who's decision was it to fire Romeo" - Coleman C Hunt: "It was my decision but it was one that Scott agreed with" LOL
Posts: 2,605

06-07-2008, 04:49 PM	#14
58-4ever The Collective Unconscious Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: The OP Casino cash: $9520422	I've found it to be a good idea to find companies you'd like to work for and apply on their website directly. Find them, don't let them find you.
Posts: 10,425

06-07-2008, 05:38 PM	#15
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $4968410	Big items usually equal big pay days. Jobs that can provide you with a residual income can equal big dollars as well. You gotta decide what your happy with as well. My years in the health club industry were about as fun as it gets. Selling time share on an island or in Mexico where you live on the resort can be a kick int he ass as well. The head hunter idea usually doesn't work in sales unless it's in a specialized field you already have the background in. Tech sales would be a good example of that. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,387