
Oct 25, 2017 ● Kate Lopaze
Which sales job is right for you?
Maybe well-meaning friends or relatives have said to you, “You should think about getting a job in sales.” Great—now what? “Sales” can absolutely be a solid career path, but unless you already know what you want to do, it’s a vague one. There are tons of different kinds of sales jobs: field sales, retail sales, sales support, account management, and even sales engineering, just to name a few. So how do you know which path you should take?
What should you look for in a sales job?
Sales is a tricky field, in that the industry you work in will help determine the path. A salesperson in the tech industry has a much different career than someone working in, say, publishing sales or pharmaceutical sales. So the first thing you should consider is this: what industry interests you? Retail? Healthcare? Food? Manufacturing? Real estate? Considering the industry is a good starting point, as it can help focus your job search. The good news is that virtually every industry out there has a sales component, and therefore job opportunities. Second, take a look at your personal skills and strengths. Are you good at explaining complex concepts for a lay listener? If so, you might be well-suited to a sales job in a science or tech field. Are you good at schmoozing people and maintaining relationships? You could be an outside salesperson or business development rep. Are you super organized, with an eye toward logistics? You might want to consider being an account manager and working directly with clients. Next, think about the financial logistics. Sales jobs can have a range of compensation types, including the following:- Salary: Your standard yearly wage, with no commission (compensation based on what you sell). This is also known as a “zero-commission” sales job. Many salespeople who work in retail or storefronts work on this model.
- Commission + salary: You make a base salary, with additional commission and bonuses built in based on your sales. Many business development professionals (like those in software or tech services sales) work on this model.
- Commission-only: You are what you sell. In this model, your compensation is based entirely on a percentage of your performance. Many independent sales reps (who typically sell a product or service directly to customers) work on this model.