Al_the_Shark

Account Executive

Whats your academic background? And why did you pivot to sales? I'll go first..

One of the coolest things I found when I switched industry and career was the diverse academic background that people had on the sales team.

I come from an engineering background. I completed a Masters in Mechanical Engineering and began working for one of the biggest Engineering contractors in Ireland. I couldn't handle more than 2 or 3 months in that boring environment of filling out paperwork all day 📋

So after a lot of research I decided to make a switch to the Tech Industry, and specifically the Sales side of things. I joined a reputable tech company as a BDR and haven't looked back. Now I'm making more 💰💰 than I would be as an engineer with more experience.

But back to my point, I found a lot of people on the sales team came from some very interesting backgrounds; one of my colleagues was an Aviation Lawyer, another was a Chartered Accountant at KPMG, another was a journalist etc... the list goes on.

So whats your background?

🚀 Career Goals

🏄 Personal Life

💡 Education/Resources

19

44 comments

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sales4lyf

Politicker

6

Business Development Manager

I studied Drama at uni, went into sales because money first and foremost and I can definitely utilise some of the drama skills (laughing at a client's bad joke to get the sale)

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

2

Account Executive

Hahah I can definitely relate to that one

paddy

WR Officer

4

Director of Business Development

I was a history major at UCLA. I wanted to go to law school because believe it or not I was actually a good student until I fell in love...the first time I laid my lips on her was a lustful experience. She filled me with an unmatched sense of pleasure and serenity. Her name was Kahlua, and from then on I knew sales was my calling.

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Hahaha brilliant

CuriousFox

WR Officer

3

🦊

Business. I doubled in Marketing and Management. I'm am obviously not in Marketing, nor am I a manager 😏

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Lool one day

Austin

Celebrated Contributor

3

O&G O.G. - Sales Mgr. - NCSA

I was kicked out of high school at 16. Earned my diploma at an ‘alternative’ school & graduated a year early. I partied for a couple of years afterward and got into some legal trouble. Then I went to work - literally sweeping graphite off the floors of a PDC Drill Bit manufacturer. I raised my hand every time there was an opportunity - and was rewarded for it with more responsibility every time - with the aim of getting off the shop floor & up into the conference room… with the sales guys… clean, air conditioned, eating breakfast & back slapping over story’s of how they all got too drunk last night. I made that my sole professional purpose, taking steps towards that role little by slowly. You can likely deduce “why sales” from the story above… but when asked the question I always reply: “Because I can’t sing or dance.”

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

2

Account Executive

A real 0 to hero story. Props to you man

Chep

WR Officer

2

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Film and Media degree but I've always talked good so ended up in sales and grew to love the grind

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

2

Account Executive

It's all about being able to talk well 😂

paddy

WR Officer

1

Director of Business Development

This makes complete sense. If you understand acting, you can sell.

Chep

WR Officer

1

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

Amen Paddy. I always treat the mock calls in training like acting🤝

SlideDecksAreUseless

Personal Narrative

2

AE

Communications and Equine Management. I thought I was going to sell thoroughbred race horses (bloodstock agent). The racing industry is so corrupted and old school I got into sports sales after graduating and then eventually into startup scene - which I will never leave

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

That is the first time i've heard of a bloodstock agent! 🐎

Maximum

Good Citizen

2

AE

College dropout

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

2

Account Executive

Probably making more money than most folks that went to college. And no student debt...

Maximum

Good Citizen

1

AE

From Europe so education is free. I like sales because all I ever was good at was talking. Maybe I’ll persue a higher education later in life 😌

Sgt_Trollingham

Valued Contributor

2

Business Development Director

Studied English and Sociology as a double major on a basketball scholarship... knee blew out and went on to teaching for a year. During that time I met a few people in sales, and they said it would be a good fit for me. Haven't looked back since! Went from a B2C environment that was very transactional and fickle. Now I'm managing my own team for a B2B technology leader. Love sales and will never look back. Only thing I could see is starting my own company or investing early as a CRO.

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

MSc. Kinesiology
M Sc. Management

Grimhelm

Politicker

1

Mid Market Account Executive

Theatre and Performance studies Degree here. Now a BDR, Got in right after college because money. Turns out being able to match tone and mood with people puts them a little at ease for selling to.

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Its all about them transferable skills 🙌

Hoss

Executive

1

Partner Sales Manager

I was fortunate to land a nice telecom sales role freshman year of college. After that I kind of took it and ran, never actually finishing school. I have a mortgage license though if that counts as schooling lol

funcoupons

WR Officer

1

👑

Human Resources - realized I could do that and make pennies for a decade and then live well or do sales and live well within a year. Ez decision

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

2

Account Executive

Absolutely, I made double what I was making as an engineer in my first sales role as a BDR

Beans

Big Shot

1

Enterprise Account Executive

BA Psychology, switched to economics mid-way through the program.

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

All power to you!

Justatitle

Big Shot

1

Account Executive

Civil Engineering for 3 1/2 years undergrad.
Majored more in partying instead
Hated engineering transferred got my math degree 1.5 years later
Worked for a construction company out of college, hated it
Became a BDR and the rest is history

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Another engineer in the house 📐
Very similar to my story, I actually enjoyed studying engineering but the construction industry sure as well will kill all that passion.

ThatDudeFrio

Good Citizen

1

Account Executive

Studied Finance. Found corporate finance to be a lull & the most highly touted jobs in IB etc. seemed to make those financial employees miserable and at the end of the day, they really didn’t make much considering their hours. I loved the upside of sales in that you dictate what you make with effort/success put in, more control of calendar, and its competitive as hell. Reminds me of all the sports played growing up.

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Corporate finance will suck the life out of someone

braintank

Politicker

1

Enterprise Account Executive

Journalism. Had an offer to go work for a PR agency where I interned. Started chatting with salespeople from a tech company at a career fair and they sold me on sales. Their pitch: if you enjoy public speaking, can write coherently, and like asking questions you can make a lot more money in sales than in PR. They were right!

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

Sales people doing what sales people do. Selling ideas!

Patbate

Politicker

1

Product Advisor

I was an aircraft mechanic first then got a degree in Business admin. Got into sales because I always wanted do something in business and sales seemed the easiest point of entry….now here we are. I enjoy it!

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

An aircraft mechanic? That must have been mental.

Patbate

Politicker

1

Product Advisor

Great career and I’d encourage it for anyone who likes that stuff. I did it for 6 years but it’s just not me dawg. This is where I belong.

FatVeinyTip

Arsonist

1

Account Exec

Business Economics, the only reason i passed is because i knew all the smart people

Turns out knowing the right people is a great trait to have in sales

Hoss

Executive

1

Partner Sales Manager

Sick username lol

NorthernSalesGuru

Politicker

1

Manager, Outbound Sales

I have a useless Bachelor of Arts… But tons of real work experience and industry/sales related education

Sgt_Trollingham

Valued Contributor

1

Business Development Director

Please tell me your B.A. degree means you can make vague references to novels you haven't read and philosophers you don't really understand? Isn't that what a liberal arts degree is really for?

TheRealPezDog

Notable Contributor

1

Account Manager

I got a degree in Marketing and bounced back and forth from inside sales jobs to working as a retail manager, got back into sales and stuck it out, built a solid bob, and after 3.5 years I’m crushing it, best financial decision I ever made, and getting out of retail was also a bullet dodged!

Al_the_Shark

Fire Starter

1

Account Executive

I worked a retail job while finishing up my masters. I know your pain.

Hambalang

Politicker

1

Enterprise AE

Philosophy major here. Took up sales when I realized no one would pay me to wear a toga and accost strangers.

CynicalOpportunist

Executive

1

Account Director

Went to undergrad for Electrical Engineering but jumped into online poker 2 years in. Played for 15 years mostly making between 80–120K each year, my highest was 180.

Got burnt on it, then we had a kid so I took an AE role in the MarTech space selling lead gen, display, etc. I quickly realized it’s so much easier to make money in B2B sales. About to take a role for 157K base and 50% of that in commission if I hit target

cw95

Politicker

0

Sales Development Lead

Geography as my Undergrad then a Masters in Environmental Management as I wanted to get into Energy - an industry where you need 10 years of experience straight out of primary school so that never happened. Pivoted to sales as the majority of people I knew were in it and well, I needed a job. Worked it's way out though!

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