Five Reasons to Consider Technology Sales as a Career Path
Over the last decade, the number of open positions in technology sales has surged, and it will more than likely continue to do so. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, employment in computer and information technology occupations is expected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations.
Technology sales is an ever-growing field of work offering virtually unlimited potential for financial and professional growth. The technology industry itself is projected to exceed $5.3 billion in 2022 (you can read more on this here). If you are curious by nature, eager to learn, and enjoy networking and meeting new people, this might be a career fit for you.
Here are five reasons to explore this industry:
1. Learn new technology
If you already have an interest in working with cutting-edge technology, a job in technology sales requires you to learn a product from the inside out. You’ll understand how to use your product, how it works, and why it benefits the customer. You’ll also need to stay on top of product updates as your technology continues to evolve.
2. Competitive salary and room for growth
According to Indeed, as of November 30, 2021, the average salary for an entry-level technology sales position is $77,357/year. Of course, if you land a job at one of the tech giants -- such as those mentioned in this Business Insider article -- there’s potential to earn significantly more (six figures).
3. Opportunities to network and potentially travel
While technology sales roles are typically remote, sales positions offer the opportunity to travel to meet with prospects and clients. Read job descriptions carefully to see how much travel is required. You’ll also meet people and make valuable connections from many different companies and industries.
4. Transferable skills
Sales not only involves promoting and selling a product but also maintaining and managing existing customer relationships to ensure customer satisfaction. People skills are invaluable and will carry you far in life, no matter where you end up career-wise.
5. Accessible – take our course!
A career in technology sales is accessible. You’ll have a leg up if you are already working in sales. If you have no prior experience, we recommend taking our sales course. This program is fully remote, available online through multiple schools:
- University of California Santa Barbara – Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE)
We offer payment plans to help make this possible if finances are a factor in your enrollment decision.
We also offer a free, shorter version of the course through Coursera, where you can learn the basics of technology sales through experts, available here.
Have more questions about the industry or our course? Reach out to the Virtanza team here.