Considering a Career Change to Sales? Part 1
Are you switching careers to sales? Ask yourself some critical questions and think deeply before making a move.
Are you open to a sales role within your current company?
Remember, a company change is a major move. Unhappiness in a job does not necessarily mean you need to change your career path altogether. If you’re at a medium or large company, there are likely sales positions that you could explore. Are you a marketing professional looking to transition to selling? Often, there is overlap between these two fields, and you may already know people on the sales team you could talk with.
Or, are you tired of moving from one company to the next trying to advance your career?
Good news: big data and top technology firms are oftentimes stable, growing firms. Tech is the future!
Do you know anyone in sales, specifically in the type of role you’re interested in?
Networking is key! Chatting with someone you know might help, or you could even book an informational interview with another company.
What’s important to you in a career—in terms of values and mission?
Your career does not need to set a passionate fire within you or give you a huge sense of purpose. However, feeling accomplished at the end of the workday can help you build success. Working in sales is an excellent avenue for personal fulfillment. You can feel confident knowing that you helped somebody solve a problem. And when you make a sale, you can often form lasting relationships with your customers. Remember: the best salespeople make someone feel as if they’re not being sold to! Consider the Virtanza Sales Process, which consists of four steps: Prospecting, Needs Assessment, Proposal, and ROI/Closing. These concepts focus on finding a customer who has a need, problem, or goal and then helping that person reach a solution.
Remember that your job can be a catalyst allowing you to live the life of your dreams, so consider different types of companies and positions. Do you want to spend more time with your family? Look into a role that perhaps allows you to work from home and spend more time with your kids. Or maybe you’re in your early twenties and eager to travel. Either way, different types of sales roles can work for various lifestyles.
Are you hoping to grow within a company?
One of the most appealing parts of working in sales is the possibility for professional growth – financially and in terms of your title and management responsibilities. You might start as a Sales Development Representative, then move to an Account Executive, and then be promoted to an Account Manager. The skills you learn at the start of your career will be valuable no matter what position, so keep looking upward!
How do you manage your time?
Time management can be challenging in a sales role. Are you independent with your workflow, or do you prefer more guidance? A remote job can be challenging if you struggle with time management. If that’s the case for you, you may want to consider fully in-office or hybrid work options when looking at job opportunities.
Are you satisfied with your current salary?
If not, we have good news! The sky is the limit for income through sales, especially technology sales. According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, sales representatives who sell technical and scientific products and services to businesses earned a median annual wage of $108,830 in 2020.
Speaking of money, are you willing to invest money (and time) in yourself to learn new skills?
If you are new to selling, you might want to consider enrolling in one of our Virtanza sales programs, where you’ll learn everything from digital sales tools to closing a deal with your customer.
If you are interested in taking this major step but still have questions, contact the Virtanza team here! We are passionate about helping people build their career pathway in the sales world and would love to assist you in your career path.