engineering tech. sales 2

[dzyn]

I've seen many positions in technical sales and product development. Any pointers in determining if this a career for me? Any insight into the pros and cons? (Especially interested to hear if anyone is in this line of work currently and if they love what they do and why, etc.)
Thanks.

 

[RDK]

Dzyn

Are you a people person?

Do you like meeting different people?

Can you remember names? even of someone you met for 5 minutes a couple of weeks ago?

Do you remember what you talked about and can you follow up on that conversation (How was the hockey game that you were going to?)

Did you have a successful lemonade stand when you were a kid?

Did you sell your last used car for more than you paid for it?

Can you convince someone to act on something?

Can you handle personal rejection?

Do you take rejection personally?

Can you come back after being rejected and act like your last meeting went just the way you wanted?

If you can answer yes to most of the above questions then sales might be for you. If the majority of your answers were no, try a different path.

Good luck
Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[DaveVikingPE]

Mr. Kitson makes excellent points.

Salespersons are a special breed, like medical doctors. -

Wait...

Here's what I mean. A medical doctor - a good, successful one - has been a "people person" all his/her life, in addition to being "smart" with the obvious academic strengths, etc. Think about your doctor... Very unique person, no?

Then there are salespeople. First of all, as Mr. Kitson says, HANDLING REJECTION is a major part of being a successful salesperson. If you can't bounce back immediately, you will not be successful; the only exception to this was Mr. F.W. Woolworth. Nine times out of ten, a sales pitch will be rejected, it hurts a lot - but if it doesn't hurt you will make a good salesman. This may be a bit crude, but I've observed that the frat guys who were able to "pick up" a different woman every night invariably end up in sales. How are they so good? Because they can handle rejection very well, watch 'em get "shot down" and bounce right back up, within minutes. They might very well be total jerks, but man, can they sell... So if you aren't bothered by the nasty sting of rejection, you're over the first hump.

The other talents, and remembering names is a major talent, then come into play. Are you punctual? Are you persistant? What about your personal appearance?

I know myself pretty well and if there is one thing I am not good at it is selling things. The major problem for me is that I usually didn't want the thing I was selling... Plus I feel like I'm conning people. So if the product you're selling doesn't bother you and if you can give a good pitch, you're over another major hurdle.

I've read several books on selling and I've even looked at some of the TV-advertised "buying and selling" kits - a buddy of mine bought them in a rash of irrationality a few years ago. The best book on the philosophy is Og Mendino's "The Greatest Salesman in the World" or something like that. Next are the books on selling techniques, marketing, etc. - I think they're mostly hot air, but, again, that's why I am not a salesman.