Switching careers to Sales

[Jon]

What should I look for if I am switching careers to sales? I have
always sold in one fashion or another (as an engineer). I interviewed
with one company that has a base salary to begin with, then phases to
commission only after three years. No benefits, milage, or allowances
- kind of acting as contract sales.

- Jon

[NC]

Post by Jon
What should I look for if I am switching careers to sales?

The total package. Salary, benefits (health, dental, vision, 401-k,
equity-based compensation), commissions, company car, company laptop,
expense account (or corporate credit card), access to the corporate
travel agent, reimbursement of telephone and Internet access charges.
This is more or less the standard for senior sales people in Fortune
1000. Also, look at job security (i.e., how long the company has been
around and whether it is going under soon) and growth opportunities
available.

Post by Jon
I have always sold in one fashion or another (as an engineer).
I interviewed with one company that has a base salary to begin
with, then phases to commission only after three years. No
benefits, milage, or allowances - kind of acting as contract sales.

Do you really think this is worth abandoning an engineer's job? If you
switch, you'll need to make more money to maintain the same standard of
living (you will have to buy your own health insurance to start with).
Also, the whole setup seriously smacks of a fly-by-night operation
unsure of its viability...

Cheers,
NC

[John A. Weeks III]

Post by Jon
What should I look for if I am switching careers to sales? I have
always sold in one fashion or another (as an engineer). I interviewed
with one company that has a base salary to begin with, then phases to
commission only after three years. No benefits, milage, or allowances
- kind of acting as contract sales.

The big question is if you can sell, or at least do the things
that lead to sales. Are you good at cold calling, follow-up
calling, taking slobs out to dinner, lying, and playing golf?
If so, then you will be great at sales. If you still have some
morals left, then don't waste your time.

-john-