Justatitle

Account Executive

Why I am in sales

What is happening War room.

I figured that it would be good to share how I got into sales, why I do it and start a discussion. What sparked this is it's likely people are facing a rougher time currently making it easier for self doubt to creep in.

I went to engineering school for 3 years and really hated it, stopped going to class and failed out of it. Took a semester off and then went and got a math degree from my local college. After that I had no idea what I wanted to do and was working as a bartender in Manhattan. Had a family friend offer me a recruiting job and took it. Quickly found out recruiting is rough and wanted out. Got in as a BDR at the worst company I have ever worked for and quit 5 months in, then went to a decent company and had been successful as a BDR for 8 months then was promoted to AE, from there went and got a new AE role when the NY office shut down. Moved around and am now at a company as an AE that I am very happy with.

Why I continue to do it is that although selling is a grind and it's not so easy right now there's not many other professions where I can make what I do and not have an MBA or PHD. (my reoccurring nightmare is that I am back in college).

Hope everyone is having a strong Q so far and of course that this post may inspire others to share.

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8 comments

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punishedlad

Tycoon

4

Business Development Team Lead

I'm in sales simply because I had cold calling experience in college (fundraising for scholarship funds by calling current student parents and alumni, asking them to give even more money to our school) Became pretty good at it. Garnered around $50k in donations from the 8 months I worked there. Which is funny because that seemed like so much to me at the time.
Friend of mine was working at a startup leading their sales team. Really funny in hindsight that a company, which still exists, was willing to let a 23 year old lead their sales team. I, armed with a degree in the philosophy of cognition, needed a job. Friend said he could get me a job. Started out making $30k/year.
Here I am 6 years and 5 jobs later making more than triple that and really thriving in my role. I almost left sales for a huge career pivot like 3 times, but it just keeps pulling me back in.

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

3

☕️

I think the irony is that most PhDs make absolute shit money because academia and research pay worse than a BDR job at Yelp.
I got into sales because there were no other roles that fit my skillset during the recession of 2010. I took a job that paid me less than if I worked full time at Wendy's making frosty's. Worked my ass off and became top rep in 2 months and held that until I left for a recruiting role. Similar to you, got out after a year and joined a tech company as a BDR and have moved up the ranks of the startup world ever since.

I do not actively sell anymore, but I build and lead teams because I know that is my strong suit and what I was meant to do in this industry. I enjoy developing talent, helping reps find the best fit for them in an org/their career, and the pain of reporting to the c-suite fuels me.

Justatitle

Big Shot

2

Account Executive

The good old C-suite... is that nightmare fuel you are referring to?

poweredbycaffeine

WR Lieutenant

2

☕️

Night terrors and sweat, mmmm make it hurt.

Maximas

Tycoon

1

Senior Sales Executive

Here, I finished my law school but found it somehow hard for me to maintain a fixed income, so I started my career in Customer service at first however I definitely knew that the sales Q at my company with the one with the cash, had to join it and kept moving from a company to the other till I landed the one with the highest Comp structure!

GDO

Politicker

1

BDM

I'm in sales for the freedome. Nobody cares when or how I work as long as the results are good. I also live discussing / convincing people. Now I like the kick of seeing my quota and achieving it.

MiceTrap

Opinionated

1

Sales Development Representative

I’m in sale’s because of the competitive environment & the opportunity to make f*** you money.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

0

🦊

I ask myself this very question every day I wake up.

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