The bottom line is that you should know yourself and choose your work location accordingly. If you live in Orange County, CA, and you want to take a job in Santa Monica, CA, you might want to think twice about the commute. For those of you who are not aware, that's about a three-hour drive in the morning and, if you're lucky, an hour-and-a-half drive at night. Now, consider adding that to a job that requires you to work 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Yeah, it's not healthy.
Many people convince themselves that they want these types of jobs so badly that they'll put up with the drive, but don't kid yourself. You'll regret it, fall into a pit of despair, and end up teary-eyed in your boss's office. Trust me, I know—I've been there.
So when you search for jobs, stay within an hour radius of your home. Don't say "I'm open to relocating" unless you have a deposit check in your hand.
2. Hours
Face it; as a young salesperson, you will be working a lot of hours, especially at the beginning of your career. Some jobs may even require you to come in before 9:00 a.m., and if you are not a morning person, you will need to become one quickly or find something that suits you better. Otherwise, you'll just end up getting fired for not showing up on time or putting in enough hours.
As a business-savvy person, you have options throughout the sales industry. Target your talents, and find creative and fulfilling jobs that can satisfy you and your lifestyle.
3. Pay
This one is tough, especially for young professionals. If you're not one of the lucky ones to find a six-figure salary right out of grad school, you will have to invest some time before the money will come. You will also have to stay realistic about what you can afford to live on. If you're a young salesperson starting out in New York City with a $42,000-per-year salary, you'd better think about where you're going to live because money will be tight. If you don't feel like sleeping on a colleague's couch for a year and eating Cup Noodles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then you should reconsider.
In almost any industry, many in-demand jobs start out very poorly paid and take time to gain momentum. I'm not saying you should turn down your first job offer after college because it doesn't pay big bucks; I'm just warning you that it won't be fun. Some people will not last under these conditions, and as a result, they'll eventually quit. As I said before, know yourself and what you can live with!
4. Work Environment
This one is almost impossible to decipher until you visit the office itself. Everything from the people to the dress code to the vibe of the office—it's all got to be considered. You can usually figure out these details within a few minutes of entering the company's office.
Again, if you're someone who will be miserable in a quiet and conservative office, don't shut yourself into that type of place. You'll resent your job and coworkers, which will just make coming to work even less enjoyable.
