Nikhil Chhabra profile picture
Nikhil Chhabra profile picture

Nikhil Chhabra

Research Manager at Dig Insights

For those who transitioned into tech sales, HOW did you do it?

For those who transitioned into tech sales, HOW did you do it?


I've read Bravado posts on how to do it but want to hear about actual people's experiences.


How did you land the first role that got you in and set you up for success?

🎈 Mentorship
☁️ Software Tech
🤝 Networking
13

24 comments

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Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
5
Sales Rep
My story is I got lucky. It was during the "Great Recession", I have been in sales for a couple of years and was hoping to get into Tech Sales. Luckily that industry was hiring like crazy and I got a message from a recruiter and used him as a resource to interview for as many roles as possible until I got one.
2
Research Manager
I guess the market right now is not as good since there have been sales layoffs. But that's an awesome story about how you got in.
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
2
Sales Rep
A good takeaway is establish a good relationship with the HR person so if you dont land the first role, call them and talk about the next one
Diablo
Politicker
5
Sr. AE
I had many years of sales experience in food industry. First thing I had to do is convince myself that I ammeant to do software sales, 2nd was to accept that I might have to start again from the a scratch. Started networking and that’s how I landed first SDR role, moved companies in a few month as an SMB rep the promoted to MM in a few months and the journey continues.

The journey was not easy but the result is fruitful :)
0
Research Manager
What kind of people did you network with and how did they help you?
Maximas
Tycoon
0
Senior Sales Executive
Same here as my very first start-up job started at MAC and currently I'm in Sales Music Industry!
oldcloser
Arsonist
4
💀
I had no tech experience, but a ton of experience selling into a target niche. I found a company with that target and put name in hat. If you've got a pedigree in a specific vertical, you'll find an audience. If your experience is limited to retail transactions, as I recall is the case, you're not going to find this easy. Selling a conceptual solution is very different.
2
Research Manager
I have been interacting with clients regarding setting up research studies in our company's Research SaaS product and have become a sort of product expert on my team. If I can sell to researchers I think that would be good. It's just really niche and there's not many roles
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
4
☕️
The volume of posts you’ve made on this topic tells us that you’re either apprehensive to do so, or you’re researching via the community.
2
Research Manager
Definitely researching via the community instead of a few blog posts. I'm a research manager so I'm used to getting a bigger sample size and making analytical decisions.

Also I admit I have a little apprehension (I think its natural since changing industries has its risks)
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
0
☕️
So which is it? You want to be a SaaS AE or you want to understand how SaaS AEs make decisions for your own research?
1
Research Manager
100% want to be a SaaS AE - that's the goal but I know I have to start from somewhere (as a BDR/SDR)
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Didn't you just ask this or was it several posts on this topic?
0
Research Manager
I asked why people chose to do it in another posy but forgot to ask how they did it. Some people gave me that response but wanted more experiences
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
I've been in tech for my entire sales career. I got my first tech job by faxing in my application and resume (via Kinko's). That was after I had chiseled that resume in cuneiform onto some tablets, so scanning it on a copy machine was a bit challenging, but I made it work.
2
Research Manager
Lmaoo the part about chiseling your resume in cuneiform
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
It was a very long time ago.
3
Regional Vice President
Found a small software consulting firm that needed someone with pure selling skills. Built a network in the Oracle & SAP world doing that.
punishedlad
Tycoon
2
Business Development Team Lead
Through my personal network. First job out of college was in event sales but I pivoted over to the tech side of the company. Buddy of mine was the manager and took me on.
Beans
Big Shot
2
Enterprise Account Executive
Found an adjacent product (Product Compliance) to my current gig (Med Dev), researched their industry and where we crossed over, leveraged the network I'd already built and how it would allow me to hit the ground running, acknowledged the gaps I may have early in the interview process and how I would address them, and finally asked that should I be selected I be given a mentor with similar external experience.

Nothing wrong with admitting your flaws as long as you have an action plan to solve them, be passionate about the industry and do the extra leg work before to show you're willing to prove yourself out.
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Lots of rejection and taking an SDR role for 40K base pay and making tons of cold calls.
IYNFYL
Politicker
1
Enterprise SaaS AE
I actually started at my first company in a support role then made my way up to be the only seller after multiple promotions. I think many people get in the industry through a BDR / SDR workflow
ASalesCoach
1
National Director of Sales
My move into Tech sales followed a path where my previous sales jobs had similar experiences to the tech sales position I moved into. I was selling outsourced services, i.e. a very heavy emphasis on the people in the company and not a software. This experience allowed me to confidently adapt my skills while bolstering my technical knowledge.

The other thing in my advantage was that my first tech boss was an ex client of mine at a previous company and he knew my tenacity and people skills. Use your network. Reach out to people you know who might be in the tech space and invite them for coffee or lunch. If they are not local to you, ask for a Teams meeting or phone call to pick their brain. They might have role for you that you did not know of they might have a contact elsewhere to introduce you too.

Lastly, take inventory of you skills, knowledge, experience, and successes. Be honest with yourself (hiring managers and recruiters will see the truth) and craft your message of the value that your past jobs bring forth into each of these tech opportunities.
Gyro25
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
Was a BDR intern a year after graduating college in SF, was teaching prior to that. Has 2 very shitty sales jobs prior, but got lucky on the third despite getting laid off.

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