When I was younger, my neighborhood would hold a yard sale one Saturday each Spring. It would start at the crack of dawn, and I’d jump out of bed those mornings knowing it was my time to shine. The more things I sold, the more money I’d make. And the more money I made, the more candy I could buy! My first tactic was to get people “in the door” by yelling out that I had fresh hand-baked sticky buns for sale for $1.00 each. Turns out nothing grabs attention like the allure of breakfast in the morning. After I’d hooked folks with my food, I’d ask them what they were looking for, hunt my most similar item down for them, and bargain over the final price. That was my introduction to sales–a job function in which a person helps to sell goods and services to new or current customers.
Photo Credit: Flickr user dennis
A sales person tries to sell products, services, or facilities to people who might be interested in them. Sales is a function that can be found in nearly every organization in some form. A salesperson’s goals is to teach potential customers learn more about the product or service and help them overcome any objections they may have to making a purchasing decision. Sales jobs can range from the retail level where you convince someone to buy a particular cell phone to the enterprise level where you are hammering out multi-million dollar contracts between businesses.
There are two types of sales jobs–one is called “outside sales” and the other is referred to as “inside sales.” Outside sales representatives generally sell goods outside of the office–this could range from going door to door to flying across the world to make a pitch. People in outside sales typically focus on bringing in entirely new business or at least opening up the opportunity for a business relationship in the future. People who work in inside sales primarily close over the phone or e-mail, and their job is geared towards closing new sales with current customers. This may mean upselling, convincing a client to renew a contract, or closing a sale with a warm lead.
The day of a Sales Associate is dominated by communication with prospects–this may be over the phone, by e-mail, or in person. Depending on what is being sold, the time spent on an individual prospect could be minutes or weeks (for instance some companies will require employees to make 200 calls a day or schedule 20 meetings a week). This means that there is a lot of variance in the day to day activities of someone in sales, but the days typically consist of following up on previous interactions, searching for and researching new prospects, and reaching out to these new prospects. Some businesses provide their salespeople with leads, while others require their sales team to find new prospects on their own.
The most successful salespeople are able to understand their customers’ problems and then frame the product they are selling as the best solution. The key to selling is overcoming a customer’s objections, so people in sales typically need to excel at reading people and asking questions. Jobs in sales are heavily shaped by what is being sold, but the skills that are most important in the job span across all industries.
A sales person on average makes $52,000 per year. But that can range a bit depending upon what industry you’re selling in. For example, in advertising sales, the average person makes $43,000 per year, but in medical sales, the average sales associate makes about $67,000 per year. There are endless possibilities for growth, as you can expand across industries, or add on additional territories within your current industry to become Regional Sales Manager ($50,000-$160,000), Sales Director ($45,000-$210,000), and National Sales Manager ($50,000-$165,000). Many Sales jobs come with relatively small base salaries and significant commission structures or performance bonuses.
These hot spots have the highest salaries for salespeople:
To work in Sales you’ll need to develop specific skills like good listening, exceptional self-confidence, and persuasiveness. It’s also important that you’re self-motivated, and a real people person. On top of that, beyond a basic college degree (which isn’t always required) you’ll probably need to undergo some company specific training, so that you can learn the products you’re pitching inside and out.
If Sales still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Account Executive | New York, NY |
| Senior Account Executive | Los Angeles, CA |
| Accounting / Contracts Coordinator | Lehi, UT |
| Field Marketing Manager | Redwood Shores, CA |
| Marketing Coordinator | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Cafe Manager Hiring Event | New Windsor, NY |
| Senior Behavioral Scientist | Dallas, TX |
| Host | Tulsa, OK |
| Cook | Tulsa, OK |
| Corporate Merchandise Training Program | Framingham, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Associate, Competitive Intelligence | New York, NY |
| Senior Associate, Competitive Intelligence | New York, NY |
| Senior Associate, Competitive Intelligence | New York, NY |
| Social Media Analyst | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Float Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse | Boston, MA |
| Medical Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse | Boston, MA |
| Surgical Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse | Boston, MA |
| Neurological Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse | Boston, MA |
| Medical Surgical With Telemetry Registered Nurse | South Weymouth, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Outside Sales | Santa Clarita, CA |
| Independent Sales Agent | New Brunswick, NJ |
| Business to Business Sales | Cincinnati, OH |
| Home Based Telemarketing | Fargo, ND |
| Physical Therapist Direct Hire: Inpatient | Dalhart, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Japan Marketing Associate | San Francisco, CA |
| Design Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Web Designer | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Business Development/ Sales Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Business Development / Sales Associate | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Strategist/Copywriter | San Francisco, CA |
| Ad Trafficker / Analyst | San Francisco, CA |
| Visual Designer | San Francisco, CA |
| Sr. Interaction Designer | San Francisco, CA |
| Product Marketing Manager, Sync | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Lean Healthcare Leader | Dallas, TX |
| Physical Therapist - Home Health - (PT - HH) | San Jose, CA |
| VP Development | San Francisco, CA |
| Senior Technical Consultant - Java | Pittsburgh, PA |
| Pediatrics Physician - Permanent: Pediatrician for 95% Outpatient Clinic in the Heart of the Met... | Texas |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Java Developer | Herndon, VA |
| Senior Software Developer | Herndon, VA |
| Marketing Intern | Herndon, VA |
| Outside Sales-Well funded Internet Startup (Online Ad Sales) | Annandale, VA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Senior Director - RMI | Irvine, CA |
| Plastics Set-up Technician | Greeneville, TN |
| Marketing Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Market Research Analyst- NCH Marketing Services | Deerfield, IL |
| Account Executive | Austin, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Brand Ambassador: Street Team needed for delivery.com in Cambridge | Boston, MA |
| Brand Ambassador: Street Team needed for delivery.com in West L.A. | Los Angeles, CA |
| Brand Ambassador: Street Team needed for delivery.com in Lincoln Park, IL | Chicago, IL |
| Partner Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Loyalty Marketing Intern | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Internet Marketing & Conversion Optimization Guru | Orlando, FL |
| scala engineer | Beverly Hills, CA |
| Engineering Manager | Opelika, AL |
| Account Manager | Mankato, MN |
| Plastic Extruder Machine Operator | Minnetonka, MN |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Category Manager Writing | Oak Brook, IL |
| Strategic Insights & Analytics Analyst | Sheboygan Falls, WI |
| TV Extras wanted in Nitro, WV | Nitro, WV |
| Movie extras wanted (flexible hours) in Nitro, WV | Nitro, WV |
| Movie Extra - part time work in Nitro, WV | Nitro, WV |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Design Manager - Accessories & Footwear Job | Foothill Ranch, CA |
| Senior Product Designer - Footwear | Irvine, CA |
| Senior Designer | Stratham, NH |
| Director, Men\ | Maryland |
| Senior Product Manager - Outerwear Apparel | Canton, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Video Editor Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| PPC Marketing Manager at ZOZI | San Francisco, CA |
| Gear/Ecommerce Marketing Intern at ZOZI | San Francisco, CA |
| Marketing Project Manager | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Fast-paced tech company seeks Android Mobile developer | Provo, UT |
| Technical Analyst / Star Trek Advocate | Roseville, CA |
| Asst Dir Ind Relationships | Evanston, IL |
| Administrative Assistant | Waterloo, WI |
| Account Executive | Durham, NC |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Executive Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager (Contract) | San Carlos, CA |
| Advertising Sales -- Print & Digial | Phoenix, AZ |
| Technical Customer Support Specialist | Foster City, CA |
| Systems Operations Engineer | San Francisco, CA |
| Backend Software Engineer - Yield Optimizer | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Operating Room Operating Room Technician | Warrenton, VA |
| Open Heart Operating Room Operating Room Technician | Arlington, VA |
| Maintainer - Engineering Department | New York, NY |
| PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT -SKILLED NURSING FACILITY | Washington, DC |
| OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASST -SKILLED NURSING FACILITY | Washington, DC |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Server | Boston, MA |
| Special Events Coordinator | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| Physician Urgent Care | Iowa |
| Event Coordinator | Washington, DC |
| Special Events Coordinator | South Lake Tahoe, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Executive Assistant | Los Angeles, CA |
| Men's Apparel Intern | San Francisco, CA |
| Flexible Fashion Consultant | Los Angeles, CA |
| Fun and Flexible Position | San Jose, CA |
| Engineer - Ruby on Rails | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Marketing Intern | Chicago, IL |
| LA Copywriting Intern | Los Angeles, CA |
| Content and Copywriting Intern | Chicago, IL |
| Graphic Designer | Chicago, IL |
| Web Application Designer | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Copywriter | Detroit, MI |
| Copywriter | Detroit, MI |
| Research Assistant | Santa Clara, CA |
| Video Editor | Detroit, MI |
| Creative Intern | Detroit, MI |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| PR & Content Intern | New York, NY |
| Management Assistant Intern | New York, NY |
| Business Development Intern | New York, NY |
| Creative Director | New York, NY |
| Art Director | New York, NY |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Web Application Developer | Barrington, NJ |
| Information Security Manager Job | Santa Monica, CA |
| Administrative Assistant - Library Acquisitions/Purchasing | Wichita, KS |
| Technical Document Specialist - Marketing Communications | Pullman, WA |
| Inventory Planning Intern | Barrington, NJ |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Intern, Marketing & PR | Evanston, IL |
| Associate, Sales | Chicago, IL |
| Associate, Client Management | Chicago, IL |
| Director, Sales | Northbrook, IL |
| Director, Strategic Sourcing | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| M & A Investment Banking Intern | Rockville, MD |
| Investment Banking Analyst Position | Palo Alto, CA |
| CCI Summer Intern | Need, CA |
| Graphic Design Associate | Madison, NJ |
| Capital Raiser / CIO: VC, Private Equity, Hedge Funds | Los Angeles, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Software Engineer | Washington, DC |
| Senior Software Engineer | Washington, DC |
| Sales Directors | Washington, DC |
| Software Engineer | Washington, DC |
| Senior Software Engineer | Washington, DC |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Inside Sales Business to Business - Killer Instinct Required | Forest Park, IL |
| C++ Software Programmer (OOD) (283) | Hanscom AFB, MA |
| C++ Object-oriented Software Programmer (230) | Hanscom AFB, MA |
| SVP Global Sanctions Compliance | New York, NY |
| R & D Chemist | Port Byron, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Education Content Development Specialist III | Burlington, MA |
| Software Developers - PHP, Python | San Francisco, CA |
| Sr. Software Engineer in Test - Java, Hadoop | Burlington, MA |
| Solution Architect | Burlington, MA |
| Principal Software Engineer- Java, Swing, GXT / GWT | Burlington, MA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Mobile Developer, Windows 8/Phone (Austin, San Diego, Orange County) | Santa Ana, CA |
| Online Marketing Analyst | Austin, TX |
| Statistical Analyst – Marketing Analytics | Austin, TX |
| Marketing Specialist | Austin, TX |
| Staff Accountant | Austin, TX |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Instructional Designer | Phoenix, AZ |
| Department Chair, Associate Degree Nursing | Pasadena, TX |
| Community Outreach Coordinator (520197) | Tucson, AZ |
| Community Marketing Specialist | Saint Clair Shores, MI |
| Senior Policy Analyst | San Francisco, CA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | Seattle, WA |
| Senior Creative Designer | Seattle, WA |
| Accounting Assistant | Seattle, WA |
| Customer Success Representative (North America & Amsterdam) | Seattle, WA |
| Market Development Representative (North America & Amsterdam) | Seattle, WA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| ICD-10 Coordinator (Hospital Coding Exp-Required) | Hartford, CT |
| Coder II - System Services (Telecommuter) | Vancouver, WA |
| Coder II - ICD 10 Implementation (Telecommuter) | Vancouver, WA |
| Coder II-Relief | Ketchikan, AK |
| Coder II-Temporary | Ketchikan, AK |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Director of Special Events | Boston, MA |
| Conference Services Manager | Nashville, TN |
| Assistant Director | Simsbury, CT |
| Vice President of Marketing (Mortgage) | Roseville, CA |
| Convention Coordinator | Chicago, IL |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Hyperion Principal Architect Oracle Consulting | Washington, DC |
| Speech Therapist (Home Health) | Winter Haven, FL |
| Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA Home Health) | Clearwater, FL |
| Director, HRIS | Torrance, CA |
| WebCenter / ADF / Spaces - Development | Atlanta, GA |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Baker - eatZi's Market & Bakery | Grapevine, TX |
| BUSPERSON - GRAND WOK | Las Vegas, NV |
| BUSPERSON - GRAND WOK | Las Vegas, NV |
| Kitchen and Bakery (up to $10.50 hr) Manassas | Manassas, VA |
| Commercial Cooking Equipment Technician | Harwood, MD |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Human Resources Assistant | Centennial, CO |
| A/R Coordinator | Centennial, CO |
| Research Analyst | New York, NY |
| Interactive Designer | Centennial, CO |
| Sr. Manager, Digital Marketing | Centennial, CO |
| Job Title | Location |
|---|---|
| Online Marketing Manager | Washington, DC |
| Retail Sales - Pawnbroker | Greenville, SC |
| Assistant Manager Retail | Spartanburg, SC |
| Area Supervisor - Retail | Louisville, KY |
| Retail Store Manager - Pawnbroker | Columbia, SC |
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