Do your peers/friends scoff at the fact that you're in sales?

We've all heard it. "Oh, you're in sales? Couldn't find a 'real' job?" I recently had a conversation with a family friend who asked me what I went to school for and when I told him what I studied and what I'm doing now he said I wasted my undergrad, which I don't really disagree with that much, but he more so implied I'm not doing shit with my life cuz I'm in Sales.


It didn't really bother me since the guy inherited all his money and hasn't actually worked a day in his life, but do people ever harshly judge you because you're in sales?

Do people judge you based off of your title or the fact you're in sales?

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🐱 Off-Topic
😂 Sales Humor
🏄 Personal Life
25
paddy
WR Officer
8
Director of Business Development
I've never been scorned in the sense someone said it wasn't a "real job" but people definitely look at me like I'm some shady guy trying to sell snake oil. Who cares though. And when I say who cares, I sincerely mean it. Life gets way easier when you live with an attitude that you don't give a shit about what anyone thinks. 
funcoupons
WR Officer
4
👑
🤴

Seriously, who gives a fuck. And if they catch me on an emo day I'll just go ahead and dry my tears with a handful of $100 bills. 
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
Yup, ironically enough, being in Sales and being told you to fuck off and just constantly being rejected makes me care way less about what people think.
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Yeah rejection does not mean jack shit anymore. 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
If they do it's not to my face. 🤷‍♀️
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
1
SDR
those are good friends hahahah 
looper1010
Celebrated Contributor
2
Solutions Specialist
Yes, even from my co-workers :(
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
1
SDR
that has to hurt 
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
Probably marketing.. Lol
Gottapumpthosenumbers
Opinionated
2
Biz Dev
Do my friends and family judge the fact that I work in sales? No way.

Do I have a former CEO that judges the fact that salespeople exist? Yes lol
slaydie
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
This CEO (rolls eyes)...how does they expect to sell their product....? lol
Gottapumpthosenumbers
Opinionated
1
Biz Dev
No idea! The logic always baffled me. This CEO maintained the ideology of "technology can solve anything".

Needless to say, I no longer work for this organization. lol
slaydie
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
haha what a silly silly CEO. Glad you've moved on
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
1
SDR
no trying to be mean or anything but that CEO doesn't sound too smart tbh 
Gottapumpthosenumbers
Opinionated
0
Biz Dev
/shrug
goose
Politicker
2
Sales Executive
F anyone who says you wasted anything. What a sorry sack of shit that person must be.
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
0
SDR
totally agree
Avon
Politicker
2
Senior Account Executive
No, my friends aren’t assholes
youKNOW
Politicker
1
Sales Manager
Not sure if "scoff" is the word but I would definitely say that with a few people I know, there's some sales "stank" that they carry with them. Whatever. F*ck them.
NotInterested
Catalyst
0
Business Development Manager
Scoff is kind of like a shitty laugh in someone’s face.
friendlyginge
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Most of my friends are in the arts or are also in a customer/prospect facing role in tech, so they don’t judge. 

I have one friend who works for a city council member who always tells me “I know I could make more money if I just sold my soul and went into sales or something.” I want to tell her that working for our city is absolutely more soul-sucking than what I do, but I don’t have the heart.
slaydie
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
I find most people don't even understand my job. It's only my friends that I have met at my past or current job actually understand what I do...everyone else just seems confused haha. I don't think they realize that sales does require some skills...or at least I like to think I have skills
NotInterested
Catalyst
1
Business Development Manager
My friends don’t even have “real jobs”. What’s a “real job” anyway? I’m working, making solid money for my age, and am happy...most of the time
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
1
SDR
life can always be a bitch lol, as long as you get the money through legal means, its a real job so fuck anyone who doesn't agree 
SiliconBBQ
Politicker
1
The Metal Rooster
No. Am almost 40. Make good money.

My friends in town these days are a mixture but many are from a sales team I was on several years ago.

My friends from my old career know why I switched.

My friends from college know why I switched. That said, over 60% of them sell.

Most of my friends from growing up, that I'm in touch, with run their own businesses or are partners in Professional Services firms...so they gotta make it rain.

My grandfather definitely judged it. But anything other than MD or some high-profile white collar career was going to be a failure. Other than that my family knows why I switched careers.

The rest can kick rocks. People's opinions matter as much as the grass I throw on my compost pile.
Stratifyz
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
They hate us cause they ain’t us 🤷🏼‍♂️
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
They only scoff at the money with the "I could do that" attitude, then fucking do it. 
LordOfWar
Tycoon
1
Blow it up
Some peers joke that we're just sleazy sales guys, but they are jealous deep down they can't break out of being a regular 9-5 drone. They are also likely jealous of the commission earnings we get.

As for friends and family, they are all jealous as hell of my current and past jobs. They only see the fun stuff that we all post on social and talk about at parties, not the ball-busting/stressful work we do every day. 
Boutdamtime
Politicker
1
Client Executive
I’m not joking when I say my own family doubted my abilities. Hell even friends I went to college with who are doctors somewhat look down on me. I just bought a house in the $1m range and they’re all eating shoe. Their doubt fuels my cold calling. Their lack of support fills my bank account. I buy $500 worth of Girl Scout cookies I don’t even eat just to flex on them now.
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
1
Account Executive
Lmao that thin mint flex. 👌
Boutdamtime
Politicker
0
Client Executive
Had to do it to em
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
If your friends scoff at your profession, you might need new friends. I assure that there are plenty of bullshit jobs out there. And a lot of those people probably have those jobs.
Blackwargreymon
Politicker
1
MDR
If they do it's not to my face.
alecabral
Arsonist
0
Director - Digital Sales Transformation
Yep, especially some "friends"...
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
Idk, my friends who work in STEM or are engineers usually look down on the fact that I'm in Sales. I just think it's more so they don't even realize what being in sales entails.
dworkdaddy31
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I get judged for being in sales from time to time, but I don’t care. I enjoy the grind and make more money then them!
Swarthymovie
Arsonist
0
SDR
sometimes, cuz they are morons hahahaha they don't do it like in a mean way cuz at the end the money is there hahaaha 
NoSuperhero
Politicker
0
BDR LEAD
No, my family actually likes the fact that I'm in sales now as compared to what I was doing before to make a living.
KendallRoy
Politicker
0
AM
I've gotten the "Oh... you're *just* in sales...?" response a few times, but I also earn 2-6 times more than anyone I know aside from more senior people at my company. Not really fazed what they think.
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Most people do not understand it. I do not care because it’s a great job. 
Santipodero
Politicker
0
Sanix
no and they should not make fun of your university career or work we all go through different processes, paths and choices, this does not mean that in the future you will be better than them
MR.StretchISR
Politicker
0
ISR
Discuss this with your management. We’re in sales. Less friction is always better.
12

Are your best friends also on your sales team (past or present)?

Question
20
Are your best friends also on your sales team (past or present)?
52% Yes
48% No
125 people voted
4

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

Discussion
17
12

Sales is more important than product. You are more important than you know, friends.

Discussion
5