Anyone here in sales?
Discussion
You will need to be more specific. It is a very wide spectrum.
If you can sell Oracle / Salesforce / AWS at the enterprise level then you can make £500k - 1m + per year, but you have to be very good and you don't get to miss many targets before you are out.
At the lower end, resellers / VARs / niche are anything from £40k upwards.
If you can sell Oracle / Salesforce / AWS at the enterprise level then you can make £500k - 1m + per year, but you have to be very good and you don't get to miss many targets before you are out.
At the lower end, resellers / VARs / niche are anything from £40k upwards.
I started out in sales selling wholesale line rental and calls to businesses before VOIP etc came on the scene. Starting at the bottom you’re making maybe 100 calls a day and it’s horrible. But necessary to progress.
Then spent a few years selling energy efficient technology, anything from LED lighting to Voltage Optimisation, for a large company. Good year, just over £100k. 4/5 years of that, driving round the UK in a VW CC and I was pretty knackered and never saw my wife.
Started my own business 3+ years ago selling similar stuff, slowly diversified into selling lease end assets out of the NHS (mostly into Europe and the developing world) and then into dental equipment.
Now others do the selling and I run the business and spend more time in the office and less away from home, only just starting to take home what I used to and it’s been mega hard work. Just had my first daughter so it worked nicely as the wife is only on stat maternity so we lost a decent income.
Sales definitely isn’t for everyone and my approach was always to make sure you know what you’re talking about and to make sure you make friends with everyone you meet. I couldn’t have kept doing what I was doing for much longer, chasing a number, competitive and back stabbing colleagues, 50k miles a year etc.
Well done to those making £500k - £1m from it and genuinely enjoying what they are doing, money aside.
Then spent a few years selling energy efficient technology, anything from LED lighting to Voltage Optimisation, for a large company. Good year, just over £100k. 4/5 years of that, driving round the UK in a VW CC and I was pretty knackered and never saw my wife.
Started my own business 3+ years ago selling similar stuff, slowly diversified into selling lease end assets out of the NHS (mostly into Europe and the developing world) and then into dental equipment.
Now others do the selling and I run the business and spend more time in the office and less away from home, only just starting to take home what I used to and it’s been mega hard work. Just had my first daughter so it worked nicely as the wife is only on stat maternity so we lost a decent income.
Sales definitely isn’t for everyone and my approach was always to make sure you know what you’re talking about and to make sure you make friends with everyone you meet. I couldn’t have kept doing what I was doing for much longer, chasing a number, competitive and back stabbing colleagues, 50k miles a year etc.
Well done to those making £500k - £1m from it and genuinely enjoying what they are doing, money aside.
Currently in IT Hardware sales which i enjoy compared to other sales jobs i have been in.
I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
Arranguez said:
I’m in software sales for a US company. What do you want ask (aside from how much I earn!)? Been in software sales for about 20 years now.
What do you sell? And I am currently a sdr what’s your best piece of advice for someone looking to move from an inside sales position to an outside one in software?AB said:
I started out in sales selling wholesale line rental and calls to businesses before VOIP etc came on the scene. Starting at the bottom you’re making maybe 100 calls a day and it’s horrible. But necessary to progress.
Then spent a few years selling energy efficient technology, anything from LED lighting to Voltage Optimisation, for a large company. Good year, just over £100k. 4/5 years of that, driving round the UK in a VW CC and I was pretty knackered and never saw my wife.
Started my own business 3+ years ago selling similar stuff, slowly diversified into selling lease end assets out of the NHS (mostly into Europe and the developing world) and then into dental equipment.
Now others do the selling and I run the business and spend more time in the office and less away from home, only just starting to take home what I used to and it’s been mega hard work. Just had my first daughter so it worked nicely as the wife is only on stat maternity so we lost a decent income.
Sales definitely isn’t for everyone and my approach was always to make sure you know what you’re talking about and to make sure you make friends with everyone you meet. I couldn’t have kept doing what I was doing for much longer, chasing a number, competitive and back stabbing colleagues, 50k miles a year etc.
Well done to those making £500k - £1m from it and genuinely enjoying what they are doing, money aside.
Wow thanks ever so much for that I enjoyed reading it immensely. I’m currently in a lead generation role for a software company and I want to move into a business development manager position but don’t have any experience what’s your best piece of advice?Then spent a few years selling energy efficient technology, anything from LED lighting to Voltage Optimisation, for a large company. Good year, just over £100k. 4/5 years of that, driving round the UK in a VW CC and I was pretty knackered and never saw my wife.
Started my own business 3+ years ago selling similar stuff, slowly diversified into selling lease end assets out of the NHS (mostly into Europe and the developing world) and then into dental equipment.
Now others do the selling and I run the business and spend more time in the office and less away from home, only just starting to take home what I used to and it’s been mega hard work. Just had my first daughter so it worked nicely as the wife is only on stat maternity so we lost a decent income.
Sales definitely isn’t for everyone and my approach was always to make sure you know what you’re talking about and to make sure you make friends with everyone you meet. I couldn’t have kept doing what I was doing for much longer, chasing a number, competitive and back stabbing colleagues, 50k miles a year etc.
Well done to those making £500k - £1m from it and genuinely enjoying what they are doing, money aside.
nealeh1875 said:
Currently in IT Hardware sales which i enjoy compared to other sales jobs i have been in.
I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
Awesome stuff did you go straight in doing the full sales cycle?I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
Be honest and ethical in all you do. Know your subject. Be confident. Don't think about the sale but the person you're selling to, in other words show empathy and take a personal interest in the person. What problem do they have and how can you solve it? Understand the sales process. Don't delay in getting the quote out. Always follow up. Don't deal with arses. If you sell software make sure it isn't a pile of crap
Biggest mistake I see in IT sales is they talk about tech specs instead of features and benefits in english. (sales 101).
If you're near Manchester I know of a IT BDM role that needs filling for someone willing to put in the leg work.
Biggest mistake I see in IT sales is they talk about tech specs instead of features and benefits in english. (sales 101).
If you're near Manchester I know of a IT BDM role that needs filling for someone willing to put in the leg work.
Engelberger said:
Be honest and ethical in all you do. Know your subject. Be confident. Don't think about the sale but the person you're selling to, in other words show empathy and take a personal interest in the person. What problem do they have and how can you solve it? Understand the sales process. Don't delay in getting the quote out. Always follow up. Don't deal with arses. If you sell software make sure it isn't a pile of crap
Biggest mistake I see in IT sales is they talk about tech specs instead of features and benefits in english. (sales 101).
If you're near Manchester I know of a IT BDM role that needs filling for someone willing to put in the leg work.
Thanks for that and I agree too the amount of salespeople who focus on features instead of Benefits in plain English is astonishing.Biggest mistake I see in IT sales is they talk about tech specs instead of features and benefits in english. (sales 101).
If you're near Manchester I know of a IT BDM role that needs filling for someone willing to put in the leg work.
Will the company in Manchester accept people who have only done lead generation sales roles before?
Thanks
Iloveshirts said:
Thanks for that and I agree too the amount of salespeople who focus on features instead of Benefits in plain English is astonishing.
Will the company in Manchester accept people who have only done lead generation sales roles before?
Thanks
Yep. Tech sales can be taught. It is about the personality and willingness to work and see the bigger pictureWill the company in Manchester accept people who have only done lead generation sales roles before?
Thanks
Iloveshirts said:
I’m currently in a lead generation role for a software company and I want to move into a business development manager position but don’t have any experience what’s your best piece of advice?
Do you know any of the sales or account management guys you are generating leads for?Perhaps ask them if there is an opportunity to visit the customer (or be on a call) with them so you can start to get experience of the external sales process. Who knows, there might be an opportunity to switch roles if they see your enthusiasm and capabilities in action.
Iloveshirts said:
Wow thanks ever so much for that I enjoyed reading it immensely. I’m currently in a lead generation role for a software company and I want to move into a business development manager position but don’t have any experience what’s your best piece of advice?
One route... is find a big company and go through the account route - bid management/solutioning/pre-sales advisor are all "soft selling" roles that let you build up client facing experience without a big sales number on your head - and farming an existing account is a good way to build confidence (vs cold call / lead generation through to sales). They aren't as well paid, but normally carry a bonus (15-25% of salary)Salesforce are growing like crazy. Ditto Amazon, Microsoft (esp Azure) and Google, though the latter three have very high barriers to entry.
Salesforce offer free training (via Trailhead) that would give you enough understanding of the product to be very confident in an interview (in my view)
Iloveshirts said:
nealeh1875 said:
Currently in IT Hardware sales which i enjoy compared to other sales jobs i have been in.
I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
Awesome stuff did you go straight in doing the full sales cycle?I wanted to get into sales as i used to work in a factory and i wanted to learn the whole business. There was a customer facing showroom at the front.
When i realised there was never going to be a FT sales position i decided to move on.
Was a service advisor for a midlands car group, first Toyota and then Audi. Then a move into estate agency which i ended up despising.
If it wasn't for the EA job i wouldn't have the job i have now so i have that at least.
I earn enough to go on 3 holidays a year as well as save and do what I want to do every weekend.
Current car Seat Leon FR, 17 Plate on lease.
Disappointing i didn't do car sales, or have the opportunity. the service side was hard as was upselling. Toyota i loved, customer fantastic. Audi customers where not so!
This sales now is a lot different as for once i'm not selling an emotional product or service. Its box shifting and price based/stock and building customer relations which through the few industries i have been in i think helps.
Loving the no weekends graft too
Iloveshirts said:
What do you sell? And I am currently a sdr what’s your best piece of advice for someone looking to move from an inside sales position to an outside one in software?
I sell CRM and automation software, although my particular specialisation is in customer decisioning, i.e. I know loads about you, what should I talk to you about. I look after one of the UK big banks for a company that are the best in the market.I think the advice about selling around business benefits is spot on of course. People I’ve seen move from inside sales roles tend to be thorough and enthusiastic. Make sure you follow up and are on top of all of your contacts. Bring the AE and teams valuable information all the time and blend that with perhaps some ideas for what you think could be a good next step. Running your own account(s) will require endless enthusiasm and creativity. Pin your ears back, identify the guys that are good, and try and learn as much from them as possible. I’ll never be too experienced to want to learn, or need to learn.
Sales is the best and worst job. Great when it goes well, a very dark and lonely place when it doesn’t. Thankfully I’ve not seen any of the latter, but it can also be a game of significant timing, good or bad.
Understand your customer and what motivates them. Listen, a lot. Ask pertinent questions. You are listening rather than broadcasting.
If you ask the right questions and listen, your prospect will tell you how to match your offering to their need.
Don't be afraid to ask basic questions. Better to know than assume and be wrong.
Always over deliver and under promise. Manage expectations from the word go.
Be consistent and understand the relationship between effort and reward.
The best salespeople on a team are often not the best sales people, they are the most consistent hard/system workers.
If you ask the right questions and listen, your prospect will tell you how to match your offering to their need.
Don't be afraid to ask basic questions. Better to know than assume and be wrong.
Always over deliver and under promise. Manage expectations from the word go.
Be consistent and understand the relationship between effort and reward.
The best salespeople on a team are often not the best sales people, they are the most consistent hard/system workers.
Vaud said:
You will need to be more specific. It is a very wide spectrum.
If you can sell Oracle / Salesforce / AWS at the enterprise level then you can make £500k - 1m + per year, but you have to be very good and you don't get to miss many targets before you are out.
At the lower end, resellers / VARs / niche are anything from £40k upwards.
Genuine question, bar country managers and genuine AVP or global sales leads what do you think the % of individual contributor sales guys in the big players earning 350k ote a year is ?If you can sell Oracle / Salesforce / AWS at the enterprise level then you can make £500k - 1m + per year, but you have to be very good and you don't get to miss many targets before you are out.
At the lower end, resellers / VARs / niche are anything from £40k upwards.
To the OP PM me if you fancy a chat, I have spent the last 14 years in house as a recruiter including 4 of those for one of the firms mentioned above managing a massive piece of their EMEA hiring.
dibblecorse said:
Genuine question, bar country managers and genuine AVP or global sales leads what do you think the % of individual contributor sales guys in the big players earning 350k ote a year is ?
I worked for one of the global players in the enterprise market, UK sector lead sales people ote's were 3/400k, 5 people out of a sales team of 25ish. UK sales VP was on more.dibblecorse said:
Genuine question, bar country managers and genuine AVP or global sales leads what do you think the % of individual contributor sales guys in the big players earning 350k ote a year is ?
To be honest, I don't know. I have only worked with the larger accounts with the main players so my info is biased to be fair. I also seen some startups that have been very generous with IPO stock with even junior account leads making 500k in payout.Many years ago I worked for a US h/w corp and the UK CEO was very keen to point out that the best paid 5 people in the UK company were his top 5 sales people and they were the ones with the Ferraris.
He gave them a target, they smashed it, he doubled it, etc... It's the accelerators that did it... it all paid for itself... he was as arrogant to say that he should earn the most.
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff