Being Discouraged, Need Help

Hi guys,

I am stuck in a dilemna. Here's a little background. I used to be in an inside sales position, and hated it because the management at the company was very lousy. I left the company and got my bachelors. After leaving, I worked a glorified customer service job, which has a lot of job security and great benefits. The sad thing is that the money is too little and advancement opportunities are almost non existent. Most of all, I feel underchallenged.

So, I've been looking around at sales jobs and finally got an interview with a company that pays base + comission. The only thing is that the base is a lot lower (6K a year) than what I'm making now.

However, I've been wanting to get back into sales. I just like the high energy environment and the fact that you are almost running your own business. With the comissions, if I get them, the company says that I should be able to make a lot more than I am making now.

But, all my friends and family members are discouraging me, telling me that it would be stupid to leave the base salary and go after a sales job because it isn't secure blah blah and that the company is lieing and they won't pay me any comissions.

My interview with this company is on wednesday and I need to decide before that. Please help.

Think of the long term not just the current job opportunity.

If you want to transition to sales you have to be willing to take the risk.

If you want some help succeeding n the job once you take call me (866.744.7904 or +1.403.874.2998) and I'll show you a few things that can make a BIG difference.

Regards,

Your dilemma is a same one that every sales guy who is changing his job asking himself - should I go for less (smaller base) for promise of making more.
If you want to stay in sales, ask yourself this question - what are you going to learn on this job that you can transfer to your next position?
What are you going to sell with this new company? Are you feeling comfortably selling this product/service? Can they give you the opportunity to speak with someone from the sales team, so you can get the idea how hard it to reach 50, 80 or 100 per cent of quota (and therefore you can calculate how much money you are going to earn).
Every sales person who is asking for higher base doesn't really trust himself that he is going to be able to reach his quota or sell as much as he can.
If you see yourself as sales pro, always look at the complete package - base + salary, but choose wisely, there are many companies promising 3x or 5x more than base, but not really explaining how you will be able to sell that much - what I mean to say here is - double check their sales processes, targeted customers, markets, competition, advantages of their products on the market, etc.

And listen none but yourself - it is your career and try to do a good move for yourself, to find the place where you will feel better than just a number or someone who is there to pick up the phone. Fight your fears too

And good luck!

Sales Diva here!

OK - first things first. Have you checked out this new company - googled them, spoken to any previous and existing sales reps to get the "goods" on them?

Secondly - you have to have a contract which identifies the terms of your employment, your base, benefits, expense account etc - as well as the budgets you are expected to achieve before you achieve commission.

Also it should identify what the commission levels are, whether it is based on gross or net sales etc - and also when the commissions are paid out. Also make sure to have within your contract the list of customers you will be managing etc, how long you are on "trial" etc.

$6,000 gross per year difference is not $6K on your take home pay. Less taxes etc. it should be in the 3500-4K range less. So sit down and figure out if you can live with that initially (in terms of less monthly pay) for the first 3-6 months.

It takes time to establish rapport with customers. Find out how long the average sales cycle is - how quickly did the other reps start making commissions? How established is your list? Are you starting off with a COLD list or are there already customers who are buying and they will be on your list and be going toward your commissions?

Any legitimate company will be offering you a contract with all of the above - if they don't - then keep looking.

As for the friends and family? You're the one who has to live with the decision. Remember - most people are afraid of selling which is why they are discouraging you. They like the security of a pay cheque. Sales people tend to think much bigger than that. We trade security for the opportunity to make much larger incomes than the average person plus far more independence, creativity and freedom.

I have been a 100% commission sales person and sales manager for 15 years in the Canadian media - and I still am on commission - as I am now an entrepreneur!

So....trust your gut. If it feels right - go for it. And also - remember - nothing is written in stone. If that company doesn't work out - there are thousands of others - and you can always go back to a desk job if you need to. Nothing ventured - nothing gained!! (I have never regretted making job changes over the years and have always made waaaaaaaaaaaay more money than my peers)

Plus - don't allow discouragement to hit you too easily. To be in sales - you need thick skin and you have to be willing to ride out the dry spells. But it can be an extremely rewarding profession and I love it!

Good luck to you - no matter what you decide - you'll be FINE!!!

I feel your pain. The job market is really tough out there and making decisions on your present and future career becomes a daunting task. So let me just give you my views on your situation. Keep in mind they're just my views, and the ultimate decision you make will need to be yours.

Let's start with family and friends. I assume you're not married with children since you didn't bring it up, which would have been the only ones who have a say in this. I've seen opinions by family and friends ruin a lot of potentially great careers. They can be the most negative when it comes to careers based on salaries vs commissions. Since I own my business, I've been working on commission for over 20 years, and can still remember my family telling me to get a "real job". Strictly commission is a "high risk yields high rewards" philosophy. You have the opportunity to make a lot of money, but also the risk of making no money. The salary you are being offered amounts to $125 per week, which let's face it, will hardly pay for gas if your outside sales job makes you pay your own expenses. So in essence, you really don't have a salary at all.

As to why your family is worried that the company won't pay you the commissions is beyond me. Is the company not reputable? There are sales jobs out there, like if I can blow my own industry's horn, car sales where you can make a good income and work for a reputable company. But even there you need to find the right dealership with the right management in order to attain the quality of life you desire.

Let's get to the bottom line. First, you need to have a job. You can't pay your bills without one. Second, look for a company that will fulfill your needs for longevity, income and quality of life. Third, don't listen to your family and friends, they will be negative and drive you crazy. If you have your degree, you're old enough to make decisions on your own. And finally, don't be afraid to set yourself up with a lot of interviews. You never know when that great opportunity will come along.

During your interview on Wednesday, don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. You need to remember that they're not only interviewing you, you are also interviewing them. Be prepared with a list of questions you need answered in order to make your final decision. Since you don't have a job right now, whether you take this position may be determined on how much money you have available to pay your bills. I leaned in car sales a long time ago that there's an a*s for every seat. They'll be a job out there that you're going to love, and be able to make the type of money you need.

I remember watching the movie with Will Smith, "The Pursiut of Happyness" and the relentless way he went after the job he wanted. If you haven't seen it, rent it. It may inspire you to strive for your dreams.

I hope you have plenty of members follow-up on this post with their comments so you can get a wide view of suggestions. But remember - the ultimate decisin is yours. Hope this helped a little.

Good luck,
Mike

Wow...

I'm lost for words. Honestly, this is probably the best career advice I have ever gotten. Thank you all SO much.

Here's a little more that I found out...

First of all, the company is none other than CareerBuilder.com (CB). So, I'm sure they aren't going to scam me off the comissions. I did some research and found an article written by Business Week magazine, which says that CB is one of the best companies in America to start your career with. They own 34% market share in online job classifieds. On the company website, it says that the department that I'll be doing sales with has grown some 110%+ in the last 2 years. There were 600 some people and out of that 47 got promoted.

I start making my comissions after two weeks of training, which is also paid. There is a monthly goal I will have (don't know what it is yet) and if I hit that goal, I get a bonus. Any sales after that also yield comissions. The benefits are ok - I found out the companies they use for insurance and 401k...it seems pretty standard.

It turns out, also, that my girlfriend's ex roommate used to work the same job (small world huh)? My girlfriend says that the roommate did make comission but the hours were crazy. Frankly, I don't mind crazy hours. At my last sales job, I was a superstar, but worked 14 hour days atleast twice a week.

Also, I can see this position opening many doors for me, if I am strong enough to take the chances. I will be making a lot of connections with HR people probably. I can eventually start a small recruitment company or something on the side if I want. Or start a consulting business offering hiring advice to small businesses in my retirement years (50 years from now

)

So...with your great advice and with what I've found out thus far, I think i will go for the interview and see how things go. The HR lady herself was in their sales department previously, so I think she should be able to give me some hands down figures.

Again, thank you all so much for your help. I really really appreciate it.

	#1
xxdhoomxx	Being Discouraged, Need Help Hi guys, I am stuck in a dilemna. Here's a little background. I used to be in an inside sales position, and hated it because the management at the company was very lousy. I left the company and got my bachelors. After leaving, I worked a glorified customer service job, which has a lot of job security and great benefits. The sad thing is that the money is too little and advancement opportunities are almost non existent. Most of all, I feel underchallenged. So, I've been looking around at sales jobs and finally got an interview with a company that pays base + comission. The only thing is that the base is a lot lower (6K a year) than what I'm making now. However, I've been wanting to get back into sales. I just like the high energy environment and the fact that you are almost running your own business. With the comissions, if I get them, the company says that I should be able to make a lot more than I am making now. But, all my friends and family members are discouraging me, telling me that it would be stupid to leave the base salary and go after a sales job because it isn't secure blah blah and that the company is lieing and they won't pay me any comissions. My interview with this company is on wednesday and I need to decide before that. Please help.

	#2
Craig Elias "Top Sales Expert"	Take the job and get on with it. Think of the long term not just the current job opportunity. If you want to transition to sales you have to be willing to take the risk. If you want some help succeeding n the job once you take call me (866.744.7904 or +1.403.874.2998) and I'll show you a few things that can make a BIG difference. Regards, __________________ Creator of Trigger Event Selling™ Chief Catalyst at SHiFT Selling, Inc. Contributing autor to the #1 Best Selling Book "Masters of Sales"

	#3
AlenMajer "Top Sales Expert"	Your dilemma is a same one that every sales guy who is changing his job asking himself - should I go for less (smaller base) for promise of making more. If you want to stay in sales, ask yourself this question - what are you going to learn on this job that you can transfer to your next position? What are you going to sell with this new company? Are you feeling comfortably selling this product/service? Can they give you the opportunity to speak with someone from the sales team, so you can get the idea how hard it to reach 50, 80 or 100 per cent of quota (and therefore you can calculate how much money you are going to earn). Every sales person who is asking for higher base doesn't really trust himself that he is going to be able to reach his quota or sell as much as he can. If you see yourself as sales pro, always look at the complete package - base + salary, but choose wisely, there are many companies promising 3x or 5x more than base, but not really explaining how you will be able to sell that much - what I mean to say here is - double check their sales processes, targeted customers, markets, competition, advantages of their products on the market, etc. And listen none but yourself - it is your career and try to do a good move for yourself, to find the place where you will feel better than just a number or someone who is there to pick up the phone. Fight your fears too And good luck! __________________ Alen Majer http://www.alenmajer.com/

	#4
Kim Duke "Top Sales Expert"	Sales Diva here! OK - first things first. Have you checked out this new company - googled them, spoken to any previous and existing sales reps to get the "goods" on them? Secondly - you have to have a contract which identifies the terms of your employment, your base, benefits, expense account etc - as well as the budgets you are expected to achieve before you achieve commission. Also it should identify what the commission levels are, whether it is based on gross or net sales etc - and also when the commissions are paid out. Also make sure to have within your contract the list of customers you will be managing etc, how long you are on "trial" etc. $6,000 gross per year difference is not $6K on your take home pay. Less taxes etc. it should be in the 3500-4K range less. So sit down and figure out if you can live with that initially (in terms of less monthly pay) for the first 3-6 months. It takes time to establish rapport with customers. Find out how long the average sales cycle is - how quickly did the other reps start making commissions? How established is your list? Are you starting off with a COLD list or are there already customers who are buying and they will be on your list and be going toward your commissions? Any legitimate company will be offering you a contract with all of the above - if they don't - then keep looking. As for the friends and family? You're the one who has to live with the decision. Remember - most people are afraid of selling which is why they are discouraging you. They like the security of a pay cheque. Sales people tend to think much bigger than that. We trade security for the opportunity to make much larger incomes than the average person plus far more independence, creativity and freedom. I have been a 100% commission sales person and sales manager for 15 years in the Canadian media - and I still am on commission - as I am now an entrepreneur! So....trust your gut. If it feels right - go for it. And also - remember - nothing is written in stone. If that company doesn't work out - there are thousands of others - and you can always go back to a desk job if you need to. Nothing ventured - nothing gained!! (I have never regretted making job changes over the years and have always made waaaaaaaaaaaay more money than my peers) Plus - don't allow discouragement to hit you too easily. To be in sales - you need thick skin and you have to be willing to ride out the dry spells. But it can be an extremely rewarding profession and I love it! Good luck to you - no matter what you decide - you'll be FINE!!! __________________ Kim Duke http://www.salesdivas.com/

	#5
Mike Whitty "Top Sales Expert"	I feel your pain. The job market is really tough out there and making decisions on your present and future career becomes a daunting task. So let me just give you my views on your situation. Keep in mind they're just my views, and the ultimate decision you make will need to be yours. Let's start with family and friends. I assume you're not married with children since you didn't bring it up, which would have been the only ones who have a say in this. I've seen opinions by family and friends ruin a lot of potentially great careers. They can be the most negative when it comes to careers based on salaries vs commissions. Since I own my business, I've been working on commission for over 20 years, and can still remember my family telling me to get a "real job". Strictly commission is a "high risk yields high rewards" philosophy. You have the opportunity to make a lot of money, but also the risk of making no money. The salary you are being offered amounts to $125 per week, which let's face it, will hardly pay for gas if your outside sales job makes you pay your own expenses. So in essence, you really don't have a salary at all. As to why your family is worried that the company won't pay you the commissions is beyond me. Is the company not reputable? There are sales jobs out there, like if I can blow my own industry's horn, car sales where you can make a good income and work for a reputable company. But even there you need to find the right dealership with the right management in order to attain the quality of life you desire. Let's get to the bottom line. First, you need to have a job. You can't pay your bills without one. Second, look for a company that will fulfill your needs for longevity, income and quality of life. Third, don't listen to your family and friends, they will be negative and drive you crazy. If you have your degree, you're old enough to make decisions on your own. And finally, don't be afraid to set yourself up with a lot of interviews. You never know when that great opportunity will come along. During your interview on Wednesday, don't be afraid to ask the tough questions. You need to remember that they're not only interviewing you, you are also interviewing them. Be prepared with a list of questions you need answered in order to make your final decision. Since you don't have a job right now, whether you take this position may be determined on how much money you have available to pay your bills. I leaned in car sales a long time ago that there's an as for every seat. They'll be a job out there that you're going to love, and be able to make the type of money you need. I remember watching the movie with Will Smith, "The Pursiut of Happyness" and the relentless way he went after the job he wanted. If you haven't seen it, rent it. It may inspire you to strive for your dreams. I hope you have plenty of members follow-up on this post with their comments so you can get a wide view of suggestions. But remember - the ultimate decisin is yours. Hope this helped a little. Good luck, Mike __________________ Mike Whitty,* Salesperson, Inc. Celebrating 20 Years in Vehicle Sales Training www.slpinc.net, www.salesmeeting.org

	#6
xxdhoomxx	Thank you so much, here's the scoop Wow... I'm lost for words. Honestly, this is probably the best career advice I have ever gotten. Thank you all SO much. Here's a little more that I found out... First of all, the company is none other than CareerBuilder.com (CB). So, I'm sure they aren't going to scam me off the comissions. I did some research and found an article written by Business Week magazine, which says that CB is one of the best companies in America to start your career with. They own 34% market share in online job classifieds. On the company website, it says that the department that I'll be doing sales with has grown some 110%+ in the last 2 years. There were 600 some people and out of that 47 got promoted. I start making my comissions after two weeks of training, which is also paid. There is a monthly goal I will have (don't know what it is yet) and if I hit that goal, I get a bonus. Any sales after that also yield comissions. The benefits are ok - I found out the companies they use for insurance and 401k...it seems pretty standard. It turns out, also, that my girlfriend's ex roommate used to work the same job (small world huh)? My girlfriend says that the roommate did make comission but the hours were crazy. Frankly, I don't mind crazy hours. At my last sales job, I was a superstar, but worked 14 hour days atleast twice a week. Also, I can see this position opening many doors for me, if I am strong enough to take the chances. I will be making a lot of connections with HR people probably. I can eventually start a small recruitment company or something on the side if I want. Or start a consulting business offering hiring advice to small businesses in my retirement years (50 years from now ) So...with your great advice and with what I've found out thus far, I think i will go for the interview and see how things go. The HR lady herself was in their sales department previously, so I think she should be able to give me some hands down figures. Again, thank you all so much for your help. I really really appreciate it.

Being Discouraged, Need Help

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