jok71421

Business Development Representative

How did you know sales was right for you?

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully this is the first of many posts. To give you some background I am 24 years old with a Bachelor of Business studies degree specialising in Economics and Management. My first role out of college was Tech consultancy, which sounds fancy but really only involved me testing software. It's safe to say I hated the job even though it paid well.

Sales was something that was always pitched to me by others just because of my personality, so I began to look. Fast forward a year later and I have done 7 months as an SDR and now just over 5 months as a BDR. I work for a medium sized SaaS company, however while I have enjoyed my time and learnt a lot I'm not sure if the company and management are getting the most out of me. To be completely honest I have started to question if sales is right for my future, although I am not sure if it is the company or industry causing me to think this.

I definitely prefer sales to my old job but still not sure if it is what I want to do for the rest of my life and as all my friends continue their exams in accountancy or financial advisory, I cant help but think...…

Am I choosing the right career path?
Should I be in another industry?
Is sales for me long term?
Is it worth the stress?

Really appreciate any opinions, particularly the brutally honest ones!

Thanks!!

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16

29 comments

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hh456

Celebrated Contributor

6

sales

I enjoyed not starving.

jok71421

Member

1

Business Development Representative

Hahahahaha suppose that's a good enough reason

hh456

Celebrated Contributor

0

sales

im shallow. i got my mba bc they offered me a free tshirt for filling out the inquiry card at a booth

Kinonez

Celebrated Contributor

4

War Room Enthusiast

I was not bad at it, and commissions make all the difference.

UrAssIsSaaS

Arsonist

2

SaaS Eater

It's insane to think you're going to find your dream job at 24. BUT with limited info it doesn't sound like you don't like sales, but that you don't like having control of outcomes.

If you like to have control over your career, how much you make, and the outcomes of your actions, sales is about as good as it gets when you gain the experience and are good at it.

I wouldn't leave sales, you can make way more money than your bean counting friends, but I would find a role that has a clearer path to being an AE and then go kick some fucking ass.

jok71421

Member

1

Business Development Representative

Even though I am young still Ideally if I was going to make a move to accountancy or consultancy it would have to be sooner rather than later.

I think you are 100% right though I need to find a different role with better management and a pathway to AE.

Diablo

Politicker

1

Sr. AE

What do you mean by you not being sure if the company is getting most out of ya! What do you feel you can contribute more and how is can in the best interest of your company? Is it do something new in another vertical or more in the same? Have to tried to bring this to the management to see what they feel about it? This would be something I'd as communication is everything.

Honestly, I made sales work for me and I enjoy it.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

The company incentives are not structed well and there is no changing that as we have brought it up before. Also, I work as a BDR but have very little time to do my own prospecting as there are constant campaigns added to my outreach. The campaign yield interest but never close so it I don't understand what the point is

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

1

Account Executive

The great thing about being 24 is you have your entire working life ahead of you and don’t have to decide if a career path is going to be your one and only. If you’re not feeling super happy here, but are thinking of exploring sales further, apply to different companies, talk to people that you trust in sales at other places and get their feedback, talk to your manager about what’s not working for you. You’re not going to love this profession every day, I can tell you that much, but if the pros outweigh the cons for you, then it’s worth sticking it through and working out the kinks.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

Really good advice! Thanks

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

See I like sales but if I am being honest the main reason I will probably stay is because I don't know what else I would like to do

dwightyouignorantsale

Politicker

0

Account Executive

That’s probably the reason why half of salespeople became salespeople in the first place 😅 But eventually you will find your stride and find a company/product that you feel good and confident about selling.

CaneWolf

Politicker

1

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

I've been doing this for coming up on a decade and I'm still note sure if it's "right for me." It pays well though.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

what position are you if you don't mind me asking

CaneWolf

Politicker

0

Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract

I've been an IC from SMB to Enterprise and a lot in between for all but my brief BDR days.

InQ5WeTrust

Arsonist

1

No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL

They kept giving me money and hiring me when I wanted another place.

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

Do You get a lot of inbounds or these are just extracted list.

I would do 2 things:

1. Have a meeting with AE to see why the deals aren't closing + get FB from prospects to know what's holding them back. I'm sure you have conversion % (SQL -- Won). Explain my dilemma with numbers.

2. I'll dedicate sometime to prospect (ownership) as I know the cadences are going for waste.

You need to figure out about incentives if not explained well before.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

I get a lot of inbound campaigns, for example lists of no shows. However a lot of these are terrible and don't even reply to email or call.

I almost prefer cold prospect cause at least I can research and pick you I contact.

The deals are not closing cause the the leads are so bad

Diablo

Politicker

0

Sr. AE

Start doing what you feel will work and show the result. I'm sure if your new strategy works your company will adapt to this change

thesecretsauce

Politicker

0

Business Development

Fundraising as a child

Mobi85

Politicker

0

Regional Sales Manager

Sales has kept me coming back day after day for the last 10+ years because I like to blow money on stupid stuff and need to keep making it back. When I was "younger" I thought about other careers but as I looked at my opportunity to make the type of money I wanted to make I knew I needed to look at being in sales.

This is nothing against accountants, but damn they work a ton of hours (more than sales people during tax season) and honestly the ones I know are paid a flat rate. For many of my friends that are accountants it doesn't matter to them if they work 30 hours or 100 hours in a week they are making the same amount.

Possibly the industry that you are in may not be something that excites you and makes you passionate about being there every day. Find what you are passionate about and figure out how to sell that passion. When I started in sales, I hated my life because I was doing something I gave 0 shits about but overtime learned about other industries and I am doing something that is work but enjoy coming in everyday and enjoy the daily stresses that come within this industry.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

Really good advice man, thanks. What industry did you go into?

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

Also what would you say is the average amount of hours you work a week?

Mobi85

Politicker

0

Regional Sales Manager

@jok71421 so I went into industrial safety equipment distribution, fun industry and the government mandates contractors have to use the equipment. So it is just getting the companies to want to buy from you instead of your competitor that offers the same exact items.

Average work week for me is between 45-60 hours per week, all depends on if I am on the road traveling for work or at the office. Weeks on the road is closer to the 60 hour mark and in the office is closer to 40-45 hours.

LordBusiness

Politicker

0

Chief Revenue Officer

There is a reason they call it "work" my man, and not "fun time" - because to do anything well, its eventually going to feel like a grind, and "not fulfilling". That goes for every single career. Doctor - grind, professional athlete - grind, accountant - grind - you see where I am going. My advice, put yourself in a career that can reward you the highest dividend/grind ratio - and enjoy the finer things in life - because if you are expected to wake up everyday in your career and feel challenged, fulfilled, and all that -- your going to be switching careers ALOT. I know this advice sounds negative and sucky - but I'm just being real. Being fulfilled/happy with a career (a lot like a relationship) is a CHOICE, and one you have to make every day. It doesn't just happen.

jok71421

Member

0

Business Development Representative

Mate this is great! Really appreciate the honesty. Are you in sales?

Gyro25

Notorious Answer

0

Account Executive

I like not being flat broke and improving my sales skills.

Njanack

Good Citizen

0

SDR

The money

Nairobi

Politicker

0

AE

Hey I can totally relate to this—look at my first post— it seems like this is more about is this company the right fit for you, and not about sales. I worked at 2 awful companies, and kept questioning if sales was for me. I recently joined a new company and finally see myself in sales. Sales is sales no matter where but your company/work environment makes the big difference. Leave that company asap and go find a better one. You’ll probably get a higher pay too with the current market demand for BDRs.

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