A Strategy for Getting Into Sales?

[Masonite]

Can anybody tell new how to get into the sales profession? I’ve had some retail experience as a sales assistant, I also have a degree in English & Creative Writing. But I’ve been out of work for the last 15 years. I am am considering getting personal coaching, I’d somebody could recommend a good coach then that would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Mr D]

Apply for jobs.

Some businesses will be so desperate and have such staff turnover that they take on inexperienced people, give you 10 minutes training then let you loose.

Not usually that good an employer or that good a wage - several I have heard of simply pay commission only and you live on fresh air until you sell.

Failing that, try a sales course. May cost a couple of grand and have to wait probably a couple of months.
No guarantee of a job but a sales course can give you some skills useful at interview.

 

[MBE2017]

Look for some companies recruiting. Sales training in the UK is normally awful, and the vast number of companies have unrealistic targets which are often unobtainable.

A lot has to do with what sort of sales you wish to get into. A sales assistant in a shop where people walk in and know pretty much what they want, and walk up to the till and hand you their money, expect NMW.

At the other end of the scale you prospect, find, build accounts from scratch and can literally change a companies fortunes, you can expect high earnings, often self employed or low basic with commissions.

Once you can say what you are looking to achieve I might be able to show you a few avenues.

 

[Deleted member 335660]

H

Can anybody tell new how to get into the sales profession? I’ve had some retail experience as a sales assistant, I also have a degree in English & Creative Writing. But I’ve been out of work for the last 15 years. I am am considering getting personal coaching, I’d somebody could recommend a good coach then that would be helpful. Thanks

Hi, I left the RAF with a Diploma in Marketing and got a sales job selling office equipment. I had 30 years in sales and marketing and did many courses.

I guess it depends on how confident you are but there are jobs on commission only and this may be a good starting spot as the company takes less risk and may be more willing to employ you.

There is also the Institute if Professional Sales ( something like that, it may have management on the end). They might help or give advice.

There is rarely a shortage of sales jobs, just apply.

 

[apricot]

If you've been out of work for 15 years, I have feeling personal coaching is not for you.

Anyone who cannot get a job, claims that they are Personal coaches! (It is almost screw you friends and you business) It's booming but it will die very soon I suggest you to stay away from that and have proper carrier. It will pay you back in the long term.

You can definetly get into Sales or content writing or Social Media etc any job where you can use your language skills.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Sales is the easiest profession to get into. Just look for jobs offering low basic & high commission and after a few interviews someone will take a chance on you.

it does of course depend on any number of other factors whether this approach is right for you.

 

[AllUpHere]

If you've been out of work for 15 years there is a bigger problem; you need to work out what it is.

Also, if you were meant to work in sales you'd never have been out of work for longer than 5 minutes.

Why do you think you have been out of work for so long?

 

[mattk]

Sales is a vast profession, what kind of sales do you want to do? Do you have an industry in mind? Face-to-face (obviously not a lot of that at the moment) or on the phone? Selling to businesses or consumers?

As others have said, sales jobs are 10 a penny. The problem isn't getting one, it is finding one that you're good at and willing to stick to. I sold adjustable beds on the phone. It was soul destroying knowing that you were not just cold calling people while they were eating their tea, but also if they did buy something it would be thousands of pounds for something of questionable value. I left at the end of my first shift and never went back.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Anyone who cannot get a job, claims that they are Personal coaches!

They are looking GETTING a personal coach, not becoming one!

As mentioned, just keep applying for sales jobs.

 

[MBE2017]

I sold adjustable beds on the phone. It was soul destroying knowing that you were not just cold calling people while they were eating their tea, but also if they did buy something it would be thousands of pounds for something of questionable value. I left at the end of my first shift and never went back.

Many years ago I was asked to join such a company, but before joining I said I would go on a sale with their national manager. Now I have done all sorts of selling, but I have yet to sell my soul for a bit of money. I declined to join them after seeing his four hour normal sale turn into a six hour ordeal for an elderly couple.

I like to be able to look myself in the mirror the next day, despite being asked to leave several times this guy just kept at them, ignoring them, eventually they signed a deal, and he was chuffed to say the least. I had never felt so embarrassed and had decided not to join them after the first hour. The elderly couple thankfully cancelled the next morning. The national manager annoyed at losing his £1200 commission even rang the couple trying to change their minds the next day. Sadly, too many of his kind still exist today.

 

[AstEver]

And select the indutry that is growing otherwise you will be contantly blamed for low sales.

 

[Mark T Jones]

It was soul destroying knowing that you were not just cold calling people while they were eating their tea, but also if they did buy something it would be thousands of pounds for something of questionable value. I left at the end of my first shift and never went back.

Takes me back a few years to when I shared an office with a telesales company.

Salespeople were just cannon-fodder - the OP would definitely be offered a job.

80% of recruits wouldn't last a week. One newbie turned up suited & booted with a leather briefcase,. First coffee break he was spottd, briefcase under his are, literally running down the road, never to be seen again.

 

[mattk]

Takes me back a few years to when I shared an office with a telesales company.

Salespeople were just cannon-fodder - the OP would definitely be offered a job.

80% of recruits wouldn't last a week. One newbie turned up suited & booted with a leather briefcase,. First coffee break he was spottd, briefcase under his are, literally running down the road, never to be seen again.

I chalked my experience up as "character building".

 

[antropy]

Sales is the easiest profession to get into

Easiest to get into, hardest to stay in. The turnover in telesales type roles is extreme! As highlighted before best just to apply for lots of jobs and start from the bottom and work your way up! Alex

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Can anybody tell new how to get into the sales profession? I’ve had some retail experience as a sales assistant, I also have a degree in English & Creative Writing. But I’ve been out of work for the last 15 years. I am am considering getting personal coaching, I’d somebody could recommend a good coach then that would be helpful. Thanks

Yours is not the mentality of a successful sales person.

I would strongly advise that you focus your efforts elsewhere.

 

[antropy]

Yours is not the mentality of a successful sales person.

I would strongly advise that you focus your efforts elsewhere.

Mentality can change if you really want it to!

Paul.

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Mentality can change if you really want it to!

Paul.

...which is repeated relentlessly on sales training courses, coincidentally!

...Positive Mental Attitude...
...Be a winner...
...etc

 

[MarkOnline]

Many years ago I was asked to join such a company, but before joining I said I would go on a sale with their national manager. Now I have done all sorts of selling, but I have yet to sell my soul for a bit of money. I declined to join them after seeing his four hour normal sale turn into a six hour ordeal for an elderly couple.

I like to be able to look myself in the mirror the next day, despite being asked to leave several times this guy just kept at them, ignoring them, eventually they signed a deal, and he was chuffed to say the least. I had never felt so embarrassed and had decided not to join them after the first hour. The elderly couple thankfully cancelled the next morning. The national manager annoyed at losing his £1200 commission even rang the couple trying to change their minds the next day. Sadly, too many of his kind still exist today.

There's some scum out there, sounds like a company like A********ic and the "sales manager" will think he's the bees knees, dissgraceful some of them.
I used to be a face to face commision only salesman many years ago, when I started I thought I knew how to sell, gee did I have a lot to learn. If you are an honest, ethical man/woman who cares about the people you sell to you may have a chance. If your a money driven scumbag who thinks everyone is a mug (apart from the other top scumbag salesman) then selling as a career isnt for you. Its like in the movies, the good guys will win the end.( oh and forget that " I can sell sand to the arabs me" cobblers, every person I ever met with that mindset never lasted long)

As has been said it depends where you see yourself. The blue chip businesses such as Proctor and Gamble Smithkline Beecham look for university graduates with no selling experience and train them to do it their way. They want bright people they can mould. Companies down the scale will recruit based on the industry. Selling for a Rolls Royce dealership will have a different recruitment criteria to a used car lot.

If I was wanting to start out as a salesman I would cut my teeth with a phone company or a national brand retailer (someone everyone has heard of) selling beds, bathrooms etc.
Just be aware no matter where you are selling, the " top salesman" who blags their way to a sale by deceipt and omisions isnt a salesman. Real salesmanship is listening to what a customer really wants and/or needs and fulfilling that customers requirements using conversation. People buy from people not a script, a t**t is still a t**t no matter what nonsense comes out of their mouth.

I would forget the course, unless you believe it will give you another benefit such as confidence ( confidence is good, but humility is even better.

If your a decent human being it can be a very rewarding career path Good luck fella

 

[antropy]

...which is repeated relentlessly on sales training courses, coincidentally!

...Positive Mental Attitude...
...Be a winner...
...etc

Indeed, but it's true.

Paul.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Easiest to get into, hardest to stay in. The turnover in telesales type roles is extreme! As highlighted before best just to apply for lots of jobs and start from the bottom and work your way up! Alex

Yip. Second only to chefs on the psychopath scale!

However, a harsh intro to telesales can be a good step into a more civilised sales environment

 

[MBE2017]

Yours is not the mentality of a successful sales person.

I would strongly advise that you focus your efforts elsewhere.

I think this assessment would be correct 99% of the time, unless there is a very good reason for being unemployed for fifteen years. Add to that no reply to his own thread after almost four days, hardly an awe inspiring attempt to find a career.

 

[antropy]

Add to that no reply to his own thread after almost four days, hardly an awe inspiring attempt to find a career

And you never know where your next job will come from, there could have been someone on this forum looking for a sales person and this could have been the platform to show how good he is and willingness to get a job! Alex

 

[Alhen Jones]

Right data gives your marketing team access to qualified leads who are relevant to your business. As marketers, we know that this information is important, and can save you hours, days, or even weeks spent trying to qualify leads and move on to the next step.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

...which is repeated relentlessly on sales training courses, coincidentally!

...Positive Mental Attitude...
...Be a winner...
...etc

But not always understood.

Our new boss had an idea that motivating the entire workforce from Receptionist to Tea Lady would be beneficial so he convened a meeting of the sales team and a dozen others.

First page on the flip chart. PMA - Positive Mental Attitude, followed by a 10 minute ramble.

After half an hour the bosses idea of seeing how much had been retained started with a question to a young girl who wasn't in sales and almost certainly didn't understand most of what had been said. 'Susan, what does PMA stand for?'

'Permanent Mental Attitude sir'.....

Think, Captain Mainwaring and 29 adults crying with laughter.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Can anybody tell new how to get into the sales profession? I’ve had some retail experience as a sales assistant, I also have a degree in English & Creative Writing. But I’ve been out of work for the last 15 years. I am am considering getting personal coaching, I’d somebody could recommend a good coach then that would be helpful. Thanks

You really need to get some idea of what sort of sales career you see for yourself? Here today, gone tomorrow - Double Glazing - Loft Insulation type of sales, Relationship building customer service type sales, Technical sales where expertise in a certain type of product helps you excel.

Selling something that you have an empathy with is always a good starting point.

 

[MBE2017]

Here today, gone tomorrow - Double Glazing - Loft Insulation type of sales, Relationship building customer service type sales, Technical sales where expertise in a certain type of product helps you excel.

I know more salesmen who became millionaires through double glazing than any other product, and a young 23 year old lad I trained several years ago is currently making £80k plus giving away loft insulation. He is in his third year, I know guys in that industry who have been selling insulation for over thirty years.

Too many people blame the product rather than look at their own failings.

 

[Mark T Jones]

You really need to get some idea of what sort of sales career you see for yourself? Here today, gone tomorrow - Double Glazing - Loft Insulation type of sales, Relationship building customer service type sales, Technical sales where expertise in a certain type of product helps you excel.

Selling something that you have an empathy with is always a good starting point.

I think we can safely assume that the OP is somewhat lacking in commitment to get into any kind of sales

 

[Mark T Jones]

I know more salesmen who became millionaires through double glazing than any other product, and a young 23 year old lad I trained several years ago is currently making £80k plus giving away loft insulation. He is in his third year, I know guys in that industry who have been selling insulation for over thirty years.

Too many people blame the product rather than look at their own failings.

A friend made a very good living from double glazing. He is about as far removed from the 'typical salesman' as you can get

A favourite trick was honesty. When it came to quoting, instead of going through the Chirade of pretending to phone a manager and beg for discount, he'd just tell them 'im supposed to quote high and let you haggle me down. Here is the price we'd get to'. It was remarkably effective

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I know more salesmen who became millionaires through double glazing than any other product, and a young 23 year old lad I trained several years ago is currently making £80k plus giving away loft insulation. He is in his third year, I know guys in that industry who have been selling insulation for over thirty years.

Too many people blame the product rather than look at their own failings.

To clarify my terminology, by 'here today, gone tomorrow', I was referring to the customers, not the businesses. Probably better named the one off sale, which takes a particular type of salesman.

Having spent a couple of years of one off selling in harsh environments working alongside ruthless highly driven salesmen who would happily sell a Skateboard to their Granny, it wasn't until I moved into more customer service, business development, negotiation type sales that I realised where my true ability was.
Nothing to do with blaming products and own failings, but everything to do with understanding your own strengths.

It could be said that you need to walk into the fire to find out what you are good at but I've seen many a salesman wilt when the door is slammed in their face, despite them being the number one baked bean seller for 3 years at a previous employers. If the OP has a feeling for what he's good at he'll be much better off.

 

[MBE2017]

If the OP has a feeling for what he's good at he'll be much better off.

I don’t think the OP will be back.

 

[Alhen Jones]

Sales strategies are meant to provide clear objectives and guidance to your sales organization. They typically include key information like growth goals, KPIs, buyer personas, sales processes, team structure, competitive analysis, product positioning, and specific selling methodologies.