Do You Feel that Your Friends / Family Think Sales is A Great Profession?

Do you catch yourself telling people, "I'm just doing this sales role until I......" "go to grad school, etc.) In other words, you couch what you do in sales because deep down you or your family members or friends think it is not the awesome career for you?

On the other hand, do you think people are surprised, or became surprised to see how well you've adapted to your sales role and are starting - or making - the money? Do you appreciate the flexibility your role offers?

๐ŸŽˆ Mentorship
4
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
๐Ÿ‘‘
My father's biggest dream for me is still to work for the government and get a pension lol (I think this is every baby boomer's picture of heaven.) He's happy for me though, knows I'm happy in my role. Friends...I don't think anyone thinks about my job much. Most people probably assume I'm a telemarketer as most people don't get sales unless they've worked in it.
Aries
WR Officer
0
Fractional VP Sales
ha ha. Funny, I am a boomer and have 100% enjoyed my sales career ever since I got into it! Glad your dad is happy for you.ย 
countingmyinterest
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I mean BDR's are technically telemarketers...ย 

As long as you're happy coups
CadenceCombat
Tycoon
1
Account Executive
They dont really get it.
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
1
Senior Account Executive
It's very common, here sales is usually associated with "trading" or "commerce" people in Egypt respect salesmen...all salesmen except the ones who work for realestate and realestate brokerage.ย 

Also our culture favors alot the sales lifestyle...everyone hates the 9-5 so for a lot sales is a good escape from this culture.

Like I don't want to go religious...but the prophet Muhammed was a salesman and worked in trading (buying and selling which extends not to import and export) so yea culturally and socially no one looks down on salesmen...except the examples I mentioned. But yea I'll take any opportunity to contribute some knowledge in this community.ย 
funcoupons
WR Officer
1
๐Ÿ‘‘
Why do you think people in Egypt look down on real estate sales?
SalesPharaoh
Big Shot
0
Senior Account Executive
Because there is too many brokers brokering the same plots so automatically people feel they don't do much of an effort. There is a feeling that the buyer/seller can do their job so why pay an extra fee? Also real estate brokers here do not require a license...ย 
Grant_Horun
Politicker
1
Account Executive
When I worked as a BDR I was definitely hesitant to say what I did as a profession. I think many people look down on it and think "oh so you're the one who calls me at dinner time." After getting promoted from that position and now working in enterprise sales, I am proud to say what I do. Plus, the money isnt bad either.ย 
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
A few thoughts on this:

1) Most of my friends work in different industries. The truth of the matter is that they don't really give a shit what I do. I think that's more often the case than people realize.

2) My family just wants me to be happy. My parents think it's hilarious how much money I was making by 27.

3) The grass is not greener. So many of my friends bitch about their jobs constantly and they're in "more prestigious" careers.

4) More and more people respond "oh, that's cool" when I tell them I'm in tech sales.

5) It mostly matters what you think. If other people don't like what you do, that's their problem, not yours.


Aries
WR Officer
0
Fractional VP Sales
good attitude!
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
๐ŸฆŠ
I can't imagine doing anything else.ย 
Trinity
WR Officer
0
BusDev
My family didn't think that I would ever get into sales. But here I am, enjoying it.
CuriousCat
Fire Starter
0
BDR
This is an interesting question! I have worked in retail sales as well as tech sales. So while working in retail sales my friends and family thought I was fooling people by selling them stuff they didn't need, so more like a pushy salesperson but to my surprise, their perspective changed when I moved to tech sales as they said, "Ahh so you sell that cool technology to companies" with the help of technology! But in both cases, it's hard for them to understand the amount of hard work, persistent efforts and patience that goes into being a sales professional.ย 
NorthernSalesGuru
Politicker
0
Manager, Outbound Sales
No.ย 

People in my social circles who arenโ€™t in sales tend to think sales is a โ€œlast resortโ€ career.

What they donโ€™t realize is itโ€™s not easy and thereโ€™s a much more technical and niche aspect to itย 
Aries
WR Officer
0
Fractional VP Sales
plus, the rewards of a sales career are many- not just financially - but the flexibility and talking to people from so many different organizations and industries.ย 
Executioner
Politicker
0
Business Dev.
interestingly, my old man runs a small business, so the family respects the sales role like crazy as they knows that sales are a business' lifeblood.
friends have mixed reactions, but mostly positive. depends on their roles/expertise.
countingmyinterest
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I mean, my dad started 2 VC backed companies so he definitely gets sales is important. (He was a marketer hahahahaha)

I love sales, loud and proud. Yes, it's a pain in the ass sometimes.ย 

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