So you are considering a job in Sales...

So you are considering a career in sales, but you have never done this before. 

  Your nervous because the Sales people you have met seem very polished, and quite comfortable in their role.   They don't seem to worry about working for commission, in fact they prefer it.

Maybe you have been very successful in another field and just want a change.  Perhaps , you find your self among the ranks of the newly unemployed and are just exploring the option. Or possibly you know enough people doing this ,and doing it well, that it looks very appealing to you.

The good news is that this is a great profession.  It can be a very well paying profession .  It is easily the most rewarding thing you will ever do for a living.


So in light of advice to a sales job seeker ;

1. IGNORE THE MYTHS

   Sales is not a "liars club"   Professional Sales people take a great amount of pride in operating with integrity and being honorable in their business dealings
  Sales people are not just "smooth talkers"  All that polish and self confidence is a result of serious study and a commitment to training
  Sales is not a "cut throat " industry   Make no mistake , this is a tough gig, but just as in any competition, their are winners and losers .  This is the simple truth of competition .
  Sales is not an "easy", or "gravy" job  To do this well, and to do it with long term success, you must have a dedicated path of learning and the discipline to train every day


2. LOOK HARD AT THE ORGANIZATION

They are looking at you, you in turn ,need to investigate them.

Talk to the best of their team - Don't waste time talking to the whiners and complainers , ask around ,find out who the top performers are, and speak with them .  Most will be happy to give you a glance "behind the curtain" as to the companies sales practices and support.

Talk to their customers - This is the real "Judge and Jury" on the Team.  If the customer base is unhappy the Firm is not succeeding and probably will not handle their people any better.  ** an exception to this would be the team that is rebuilding after a period of bad management .  If this is the case, they will be very upfront about wanting to develop a better team, and what they are expecting you to bring to the table . **

3. DIVE IN WITH ENERGY AND COMMITMENT
 
No one will expect you to know every thing when you start , but they will expect you to bring the heart, and enthusiasm that you will need to excel  BRING IT !!   . Soak every one like a sponge , learn every thing you can, READ READ READ , take home brochures, read phamplets, ( read this blog )  buy a sales book, watch sales videos.  saturate yourself with good training.



And    Sell like your living depends on it !!
Donnie