Comments on: Why You Should Consider Taking That Sleazy Sales Job

By: How to Succeed as a Multi-Passionate Careerist | canuworktomorrow

How to Succeed as a Multi-Passionate Careerist | canuworktomorrow — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 22:25:07 +0000

[...] like event planning or sales can expose you to a wide range of experiences. In fact, many jobs fit this bill if you have the [...]

By: Smart Buzz | The Customer Service Secret To Dealing With Angry People

Smart Buzz | The Customer Service Secret To Dealing With Angry People — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 17:51:03 +0000

[...] when you’ve done it enough, you do more than just build up a thick skin — you also learn a few strategies that help bring a hostile person down to earth. Whether you’re [...]

By: Budding Entrepreneur

Budding Entrepreneur — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:46:00 +0000

Great point of view on sales. Any recommendations on online resources for getting started understanding how to think like a salesperson?

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:02:00 +0000

Hey Michelle,
Thanks a lot for the comment! Glad you didn’t just accept the “I’m no good at sales” bit and instead found a way to make it work. Great job and thanks for reading!

Tim

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:38:00 +0000

True, we are always selling, regardless of our job function. I used to be quite envious of effective sales people who seem so natural in their role….but once I better understood my strengths and why official “sales” isn’t on that list, now I just admire their skill set. Thanks for the post, Tim!

By: Jrandom42

Jrandom42 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:39:00 +0000

How do I “sell” an IT project? Simple. I confirm their pain points with the current infrastructure. I then lay out the new infrastructure, what goes into it, why it’s an upgrade from what they currently have, and how much time and money they save from the lack of downtime, and necessity to keep fixing and patching the current infrastructure.

Either they say no, it’s too expensive, or they say I’m sick and tired of spending time and money to continually fix what we have now.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:31:00 +0000

Hey Christina,

Exactly! Just because someone’s role isn’t “Sales Person” doesn’t mean they don’t have to sell. We all do, and learning the craft will pay off in the long run. I used to work in PR and cold call pitching reporters (which I sucked at) really pushed me to think on my feet and get better at it. I wasn’t selling them a “thing” but I definitely had to sell them on my idea or client.

Quick thinking is an awesome skill to have and my “sales” practice really led to improvement.

Glad you enjoyed the post – thanks for reading!

Tim

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:21:00 +0000

Hey Jrandom,

Thanks a lot for the comment!

There are definitely a lot of crappy salespeople out there, and the bad ones really do stand out (poor attitude, pushy, whatever). I think that’s why so many people are afraid of taking a sales job or learning to sell, because it involves a lot of rejection and if you are bad it’s really obvious.

My point was that even if someone doesn’t like selling, there is SO much value in learning the skill. The crappy salesman might just be crappy because he’s new, but by taking a sales job he can learn and get better. Regardless of your job (engineer, artist, whatever) you will have to sell/convince/pitch/debate/argue your point at some time. Sales jobs teach you very valuable skills to that end.

I’m not advocating everyone quit their job and go into sales, just saying that sales jobs offer a lot more value than people might think.

Thanks for reading!

Tim

By: Christina Wood 82

Christina Wood 82 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Great post. I like your angle. I’m a college recruiter, and although I consider myself more an educator than a sales person, you’re right…sales plays a factor. I have a “product” and it’s education and the desire to advance professionally and academically. I have to be able to “sell” people on this idea so that they will want to invest.

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:07:00 +0000

Hey Edward,

Thanks a lot for the comment. I totally get that you don’t care for the sales pitch thing, and that you don’t think you’re any good. You just need to practice! Like it or not, you’ve certainly pitched many people throughout your life, and will continue doing so as long as you’re alive (we all will). So, anything you can do to get better (including taking a sales job) will get you ahead. Not that you need to quit your current job and run out to get a sales job. I was just saying there’s a ton of value in learning to sell and a sales job is a great way to learn and improve.

Thanks again for the comment and for reading!

Tim

By: Jrandom42

Jrandom42 — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:16:00 +0000

As an Adult Asperger, I’d really suck as a saleman, sleazy or not. I don’t do well with the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that sales regards as integral tools.And I can’t begin to count the incidents where I’ve yelled at a salesperson who’s trying to change my mind on what I want to purchase,

“Because you’re so clueless that you don’t seem to understand “GO AWAY! I KNOW WHAT I WANT!’, I’ll go to your direct competitor and purchase something more expensive, and let yoursales manager know that it was YOUR attitude that drove me to your competitor!”

The choice comes down to: do I want to be a successful engineer or a failed sales person? The answer is obvious to me, but for those that don’t get, success ALWAY trumps failure.

By: Edward - Entry Level Dilemma

Edward - Entry Level Dilemma — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Personally, I’m one of the world’s worst salesmen. Part of it is just because I don’t like being sold to. I’m a “just the facts, ma’am” kind of guy. The one who shoos the salespeople away from me in the store. My roommate is an insurance saleman; a couple times he’s tried to cross the line from informing me what my options are to trying to get me to buy something. Because he’s my roommate, I’m a little more polite to him, but I still shut him down.