GlenRoss

Director of Sales

Do you want to get out of sales?

I am seeing a trend, both on social media, but also with my friends and colleagues that most people seem to be reaching their boiling point with this career (especially tech and SaaS specifically). Bullshit quotas and OTE, micromanagers, selling bullshit products.

are you seeing/feeling this as well and thinking of moving out of this world? Or does my network just like to bitch a lot?

🐱 Off-Topic

34 comments

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RandyLahey

Politicker

Account Executive

I am pursuing my interests outside of sales in the goal of giving myself options. I love the lifestyle it has afforded me, and will forever be grateful. I find the work, however, to be incredibly dull and redundant.

SerialBiller

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

Can I fill yer boots pls sir?

Joel23

Good Citizen

Community Manager

great job for a young man

braintank

Politicker

Enterprise Account Executive

There's nowhere I'd rather be

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

I'm good here. The stress isn't always fun, but the days are generally different and I can actually influence my income.

Gasty

Notable Contributor

War Room Community Manager

It really depends. For some people it may not be going good but for some, they’re kicking it out of the park.

I guess it all boils down to the industry, the product, the org, the Leadership.

What are you planning to switch to?

GlenRoss

Politicker

Director of Sales

Yeah it’s actually going good for me and the people I’m speaking to which is why I’m surprised. Some of them want to buy old school service businesses to escape some of the daily grind. I’ve always wanted to be an actor so thinking of taking a riskier jump and just going for it with the savings from sales. Everyone is a different

alCan

Contributor

Account Executive

There is no doubt that it is getting progressively tougher and it is not the economy. As the industry matures (for a majority of solutions) and companies grow, opportunities become more constrained because the explosive growth is in the rear view mirror and investors/the market demand more and more and more compared to previous years.Companies like Gartner would also remind you that customers need sales persons less and less.

With that said, sales has always been tough, but people accept the risk/reward. "Sure, 70% of people are not hitting quota, but those who do make good money and drive nice cars" (sorry paraphrasing here of course). So, that piece is not new. An ex-colleague was a teacher who had moved over to sales for the $$ glory, but ended up begging his way back into his old profession. Overall, what I am saying is it is a risk/reward thing. Risk is more acceptable to someone with no family/debt etc. So perhaps it makes more sense to take the chance, jump into sales young, make some money and deploy it to something more sustainable.

FinanceEngineer

Politicker

Sr Director, sales and partnerships

I made the move to a more data/consulting heavy company. I have also gone into “leadership” so that is something as well.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

ERP Sales

Nah I cant live be doing excel all day and need the stress to keep me motivated

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

That’s because the people posting about it are whiners and losers. The people killing and who have no intention of leaving Sales aren’t posting about it.

Armageddon

Opinionated

Enterprise Account Executive

the question is, where does someone with no hard skill turn to?

Justatitle

Big Shot

Account Executive

for some yes, everyone has a shelf life in sales. Corp talks about it all the time

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Corp is still in sales, he just shifted what he sells.

SaaSguy

Tycoon

Account Executive

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

☕️

Everyone is in sales. Depends on your title and what you’re measured by that makes it stressful.

Que

Executive

Director Strategic Accounts

Hell yes sales sucks

SalesBeast

Politicker

Sales Leader

Yes and no.

medhardwaredr

Politicker

Director of Sales NA

It can be stressful that’s for sure however the good outweighs the bad on my end. Not really seeing many leave sales however I am on the hardware side and healthcare isn’t going anywhere

CadenceCombat

Tycoon

Account Executive

Its the best its ever been for me right now but if Im still selling / client facing in my 50s, then shoot me in the face and put me out of my misery.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Every fucking day.

SerialBiller

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

wherever you are running to, can I join you and flee this place?

Diablo

Politicker

Sr. AE

I am happy to stick with it :)

FeelItInMyPlums

Valued Contributor

Sales Account Executive

I feel like all sellers have wanted to get out at some point. Earlier in my career it would have been an actual conversation (after 2 layoffs in 2 years, I seriously told myself; "I should just get into marketing where I'll have no deliverables and can keep a job").
But then I have a run like I did in 2016-2020, and am on another great run that started for me at the end of 2022. Easy for me to say I want to stay in sales while I'm on a high note.....but its home and I'll never leave.

HappyGilmore

Politicker

Account Executive - SMB

At some point sure, but I feel like there’s more that I want to accomplish in sales before bowing out

Ryscott0317

Politicker

Cloud Specialist

I definitely want out. Great money but tech is slow right now if you can even find a job. I’m hoping to be more of a partner manager in the future.

F5onrepeat

Politicker

Sales minion

On the flip side, I've seen a lot of people stepping in to sales as a way to truly control their earnings. There aren't many other professions that offers the type of flexibility you can have by working in sales either.

LambyCorn

Arsonist

A mfkn E

starting to get a bit tired of the constant same conversations over and over.. so, maybe

SerialBiller

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

Its like a drug that I am permantley hooked on like a heroin addict, I am useles without it... Theres nothing else out there for me. I hate that and so does my wife. I would love to start my own business for sure, at the end of the day, we are the best people to go out and start a business but gotta pay the fucking bills ya know>?

SerialBiller

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

I think also though that this is driven by having a bad boss.. And also the risk of being fired. If it was your own company selling something you love, then hell no, I would do it until I die. But thats just not the case now is it? Tell me I am wrong people, tell me Im wrong

SerialBiller

Executive

Enterprise Account Executive

Even though I am english, whenever I type on here, I type in an american accent in my head. What do you make of that?

LegacySales

Politicker

Account Executive

I have the potential to make more than a Doctor or lawyer and I am not drowning in crazy amounts of student loan debt. In addition to this, after I hit my number, I basically do not open my laptop.
For these above reasons, despite being fired twice, called an "incompetent" and all the other weird things that management says to sales people, it makes the job worth it.

Senior HCM Account Executive, Mid-Market

No where else will pay me the type of money I'm accustomed to from sales and flexibility. As much as I hate working for the corporate machine, I have learned to control it while constantly planning my exit strategy lol but aren't we all....

AnchorPoint

Politicker

-1

Business Coach

Sales is the best profession in the world... what else is there?