Okay, so i'm looking for a job and at this point in my life (44 years old) I seem to be having a hard time getting a job in my field of expertise. I'm qualified for several of the jobs I've applied for in that field, but I get the feeling that my age is a barrier. I've been on quite a few interviews that sound promising when I talk on the phone to people, but then it all falls through. I won't go into great detail, but suffice to say I really do believe that I'm not getting hired because I'm middle-age. So anyway, I'm thinking that I might want to get into sales. I love interacting with people, and I love a challenge. I had a sales job a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but I had to drive a long way to work and the market in that area was pretty small. The two sales managers even admitted that there were too many salesmen for that area. The main reason i'm hesitant is that salespeople have such a bad reputation in general and I wonder why that is. I know the stereotype is that all salespeople are liars, but in my experience the customer was usually the one that wasn't completely honest. I also can't work straight commision because I have a family to support, but I know that usually you get a draw or a small salary and that's okay with me. I guess I'm just wondering why they have such a bad stereotype and if there are things out there to sell that you can make a decent living at. Any suggestions (or job offers :lol?
I always figured it was the company that hired sales folks... promising big bucks and then screwing them over.
Here's my 2 cents: Some sales people I've met in my life are so into the "sales", that they allow it to bleed into their general personality altogether. They become "schmoozy" even when talking to other folks in non-sales situations. They also become a bit of a boastful boar, always talking about how they were able to "crack that nut", as though they alone were able to accomplish that and no one else could have.
I've been in some type of "sales" for .... well forever it seems like. :lol: I love what I do and KNOW I'm not like any other "sales person" :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: MS, not sure what you are looking for there are lots of "sales" jobs available.
Employers do discriminate based on age and don't let the stupid law, that could never be proved on your behalf, fool you. Why else would you see a 60 year old 4 year grad with 30 years of experience greeting people at Walmart. There are companies that prefer age and knowledge over youth and idiocy. CVS is one of them and there are many more listed on the web if you check. The second idiotic reason is a credit check. Check your credit report and see if the employers are checking your credit. Also read the application form fine print to see if they are asking you to sign permission for them to do so. The answer I got to “Why is my credit a factor in employment?”, they say, "If you have bad credit you may steal from us." With that analogy only the financially wealthy will have jobs in the future. If you don't think so, ask yourself why you see and hear so many credit repair commercials on the radio and TV? What's next, if I own a gun I'll come in and shoot the place up? You can not project what people "will" do, quit trying to. And quit listening to that bubble gum chewing nerd with the coke bottle glasses in Human Resources telling you otherwise. Sales is the only profession where you are paid your true net worth. You define how much you make by how much effort you put into your work. It's a lot like owning your own business. If you’re going into sales the 1st key is knowing your industry and product, inside and out. Sales is a lot like teaching. Once you have an informed customer they can make an educated purchasing decision. You become an asset to your customer base that they don't have to hire within their company. The 2nd key is maintaining honesty in your actions. Right down to the point of loosing the sale if necessary. Your boss may not like it, but, the customers you deal with will remember this. It will be a factor in the decision on who they buy from. Price is not always the factor but it does play a big part. Hard work, knowledge, integrity and price. A note to Magnolia; I feel the same way about Human Resources people. I’d like to know who invented that position of psycho annalistic wacko’s anyway.
MS, have you looked here http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/...nput1=Raleigh,+NC&intl=us&query_city1=Raleigh there are always sales jobs listed on there.
I don't mind sales people trying to sell me something. That's what they DO. I just don't like the pushy ones. If I say, "No thank you, I'm just looking", DON"T keep asking! I've never really thought about how I react until this thread. Usually, if one asks twice, I'm fine. But by the third time I usually won't buy squat. It's a big turn off for me. There have been several occasions where I left the premises because I was too nice to tell the sales person to shut the heck up and when I needed them I'd ask for their help. The first thing I do is ask for their business card so I'll know the name of the person I'm looking for. Here's a fine example I just remembered! It may be part rant... I won a $5000 gift certificate to Circuit City about ten years ago. The first sales person that offered to help absolutely hounded us. I asked for, and she gave me her card the first time she "offered" her help. That way I knew who to call when I was ready, and since she was the only female sales person working - I thought I'd help a sister out. Sexist, I know. So what. pppbbbtt. But she "offered" her help probably 8 or 9 times. (we were there a while, when you're first married and have nothing and get a $5000 freebie you try to get as much bang for your buck as you can! lol) So after we had our mental shopping list together we scoped the place deciding, with purpose, who should get the commission (not even knowing if they made commission or not...but just in case) We pick a skinny lil kid who offered help only once and smiled each time we passed. He was a very happy boy. The female sales person?! OH! was she peed!!!! She gets kudos for holding her tongue. ... I mean... she really was mad!
You might try pharmaceutical sales. I see a lot of ads for it. I work in the pharmaceutical industry. My neighbor is in pharm sales and we have a friend in pharm sales. One guy is very reserved and professional while the other is a little boastful and extroverted. I guess it all depends on who you are.
Hey Shake, I found a sales job for ya... http://4042.appcomm.net/cgi-bin/4042classifieds/classifieds.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=59921&query=retrieval We are currently hiring life insurance agents. Experience or No experience. Very lucrative positions available. Last month top producer earned over 7k. Leads, and training NO CALL CALLING What the hell is no call calling?
Cold calling is going through the phone book or lists that are provided and calling folks who have expressed no interest in what you are trying to sell.
