What can you expect in the way of salary expectations as a sales executive? There is really no limit to your earnings. Each industry is different, but in most commissioned sales industries, your potential job earnings are well over $100,000. Again, much of this is determined by how dedicated and motivated you are to sell. While many jobs start out with a base pay and bonus incentives, if you don't sell anything you won't make much. Not to mention, you'll probably soon be out of a job. In 100% commissioned jobs, it will take a very strong person to get into this field. If you're getting started in a new industry, you will have to fill your pipeline with customers before the earnings really start to flow in.
How many jobs are there in the sales executive arena? For those looking to climb the sales ladder, there is always going to be good potential. The industry is always seeking more talent. If you can sell, you will almost always be in high demand. The problem is when people who can't sell try to get involved in the industry. They usually struggle through a job or two and then try to find another profession. While you can be taught to sell, many people have the natural abilities to succeed. They are natural born salespeople and love to deal with other people. If you don't have good interpersonal skills, you might want to look at another industry. However, if you are highly skilled in sales, you will always have many opportunities and a high earnings potential.
Education
If you want to climb the sales ladder and have an executive job, you probably need at least a bachelor's degree. An M.B.A. or a doctorate couldn't hurt your chances of landing a great job either. In some cases, companies prefer sales experience to any degree. If you have proven yourself before, the employer feels that you can do it again. This is why some companies don't really require you to have any outstanding education credentials. When you advance into some of the upper management sales jobs, this might become more important. However, if you are staying in the basic sales jobs, they don't usually require a lot of education. Your ability to sell will help you get a job for almost any company or industry.
Most companies like to see that you've had at least a year of full-time sales experience. Other companies prefer that you have at least 3-5 years of sales before you'll even get an interview. It is best if you have experience in the sales industry before you try to climb the sales ladder and move up to the next level. Most of these jobs are given to experienced salespeople who have displayed the ability to succeed. If you haven't been through the fire of commissioned sales before, they don't want you in upper management. You need to show the capability to motivate others and lead them through the trials of sales. If you can't do this, you probably shouldn't bother with applying for too many jobs in this area. Executive sales jobs aren't usually a place that receives many inexperienced new jobseekers.
The job description for a sales person is pretty standard. It is a little different from company to company, but you'll be prospecting and selling in all of them. There are two basic sales atmospheres: inside and outside sales. If you are inside salesperson, it's usually in an industry where prospects come to you. These are usually the retail sales jobs or companies that have an exclusive product. These types of businesses usually do a lot of advertising to help drive traffic into the store. In this type of job, you have to be good at greeting strangers and making them like you. If you can develop a relationship quickly, you will succeed in this type of sales. Product knowledge is essential in this industry and you have to make new customers believe that you know what you're talking about. If you are not confident in yourself or your product, customers will sense it. They will probably go somewhere else to buy.
Outside sales are a completely different animal. This type of sales takes a special type of person. In this type of sales, you have to get out into the public and meet new people. You have to go into new places and try to meet the decision makers. Outside salespeople have to be great at meeting new people and very outgoing. You can't really be shy and be a successful outside salesperson. You develop long-term relationships with your clients. Becoming friends with your clients is important and helps to generate a strong business relationship. They have to be very organized and self-motivated. The ability to make yourself go out prospecting on a daily basis is a rare skill that is essential in this type of sales.
Overall, getting into sales has great potential. You can basically write your own paycheck. This is even more so when you move up the sales ladder and get an executive sales job. The earnings potential is virtually unlimited. The more you sell the more money you'll make. If this sounds appealing to you, be sure to check into an executive sales job.
