AdventuresinBeerSelling

Account Executive

How Well Does a Sales Career Translate

I already got a great technical answer from SalesGPT but I would be interested to know the group's opinion on transitioning into roles related to something you have a love for or hobby like a nonprofit or charity

Let me ask the gallery as a matter of opinion, how well do you believe sales skills would translate to a nonprofit job (in a position let's say procuring donations or managing a rebuilding campaign) but more importantly:

Do you think a role like this will maintain the interest, competitive spirit and mentally stimulating life of a veteran salesperson? Or do you think something like this would ultimately wear off or hurt your love of hobby.

Very philisophical question lol

Cheers

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22 comments

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js2458

Politicker

Enterprise SDR

I used to work in non-profit sales as a street fundraiser so I can touch upon this pretty well.

Key differences are the population you are selling to, the type of product, monetary gain, and location.

Re the first point, the average consumer is a lot less savvy than the average executive. But, I have found that most of them could be easily swayed by emotional logic rather than rational logic. IE: think of the poor starving children > 5 million starving children died. I think most executives would respond better to the second point (or similar logic).

Second point: the product you are selling offers no tangible ROI. People are not going to make money off of using your product - in fact, they can only lose money. The thing that they do gain is entirely mental/emotional and, as such, the sales process is much different. Additionally, the sales cycle for non profit sales is instantaneous.

Because most non profit sales jobs deal with smaller deal values and sales cycles, most of them don’t pay as well. You probably already know this, but don’t expect to make 100k right off the bat. You will need to grind for years to make great money.

Location is a thing I think a lot of people don’t understand. As a street sales person, you are on the street for 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. Super mentally draining and all the rejection you take is face to face. Additionally, if you live in a cold state, you will have to bear out the winters. Same goes for rain and other inclement weather. The grind never stops.

Overall, based on my experience - it depends on what kind of a salesperson you are. There definitely is immense gratification from convincing people f2f to donate. The cause is also honorable.

On the flip side, there are a ton of assholes and crazy people you will have to put up with. Immense amount of emotional turmoil that comes with the territory may drive you out of it quickly. Little time for eating breaks, no retirement plan, no benefits. Most of the pay is hourly.

Much better jobs within sales but if this is your passion, I’d go for it. GL.

AdventuresinBeerSelling

Member

Account Executive

This is great insight! Thank you!

Retired Sales Professional

Well said!👍

GDO

Politicker

BDM

thanks for this js!

Filth

Politicker

Live Filthy or Die Clean

As long as you are still selling your hobby or going after wins I'm sure you'll feel fulfilled. Just make sure the $$ matches up or you're in a position to not pull all that hot commish in as the new situation may require more investment of time and not such an immediate reward.

AdventuresinBeerSelling

Member

Account Executive

Fully agree! That is what has always stopped me from making these kind of transitions, the fulfilment and economical benefit of commission, incentives, etc. I have seen some with a high enough base to validate the lack of incentives but there still a natural rush from winning incentives and/or maxing out commissions. I guess it could be a mental thing you could create yourself if the $$ is right.

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

There are lots of translatable skills - starting with building a framework, being good at follow up, communication.
You just have to be able to afford to walk away from sales $$ to pursue something else.

jefe

Arsonist

🍁

This is it. Especially when it comes to soliciting donations - that's just a different kind of sales.

BTQ

Politicker

Account Manager

Can't hurt. What did salesGPT say?

Sunbunny31

Politicker

Sr Sales Executive 🐰

I'm curious about this as well.

AdventuresinBeerSelling

Member

Account Executive

Here is the link to the SalesGPT version of the question:https://bravado.co/search?sid=cef60c7c-7c80-4fcf-8e3a-92112167e350&share&query=What%20aspects%20of%20sales%20coordinate%20well%20with%20procuring%20donations

AdventuresinBeerSelling

Member

Account Executive

Actually a screenshot is probably easier. See attached

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Be sure to give kudos so that person will get a few commish points thrown their way.

AdventuresinBeerSelling

Member

Account Executive

Done!

Retired Sales Professional

I'm a firm believer that the fundamentals of sales are transferable in any career in sales. It's the building block to your own individual techniques and style. There are very good responses on this thread and I agree that commission is a driving force in sales, but I left a very high paying job for quality of life which ment taking a 50% cut in salary, but I was rewarded with a very healthy environment at my new place of employment, no commission and the drive was still there because of how I myself viewed the situation.

oldcloser

Arsonist

💀

You understand critical listening? You solve problems? You have an empathetic ear? Yeah- you do and it translates. You got a chance to do something close to your heart? I say chase it. There’s nobody in our world that wouldn’t understand it if you want to come back… not that you’d want to work for anyway.

Kosta_Konfucius

Politicker

Sales Rep

I know a lot of people successfully transition into IT roles, especially Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Project Manager.

A few people have switched to Procurement and recruiting also

wolfofmiami

Opinionated

🐺

Sales is such a universal skill and since it’s your passionate about it you might enjoy it more. I think what will happen is you’ll love it and won’t feel like work or you might miss the hunting of new deals or the thrill of closing a deal if anything.

ThatNewAE

Big Shot

Account Executive - Mid enterprise

My fiance worked in an NGO years and years ago - doing the exact thing - procuring funds, frundraising events translating into liquid funds etc.

he then entered the sales world, officially. But of what I have heard him talk about so far, your sales skills, your ability to convince, your ability to articulate in an efficient way, your skills in terms of managing a campaign (viz-a-viz a deal) all are sales skills that translated into a non-profit job.

Pachacuti

Politicker

They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy

Go read To Sell is Human.

pirate

Big Shot

🦜☠️ Account Executive

You need sales in everything or the skills you learn through it

AnchorPoint

Politicker

Business Coach

Sales skills are life skills. They help you do everything better.

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AdventuresinBeerSelling

How Well Does a Sales Career Translate

22 comments

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