Anyone work software sales?

[slackerinabox]

Looking for a job right now and it seems like there are a lot of people hiring software sales agents. Anyone have any experience here? Is it a sustainable position? Any thoughts?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Depends on the company.

 

[DarkManX]

such a broad question, it all depends on what you are selling and how you are expected to sell. Are you expected to sit on the phone and cold call all day and get hung up on 95% of the time? Or are you going to be on the road doing sales demos because your product is in demand and all you have to do is show up and smile? I think that would be my first question going into something like this.

 

[baydude]

I don't know why software sales people keep randomly calling me for security software just because I work in IT. It's not my area of responsibility nor do I have authority to make those decisions! so annoying

 

[poofyhairguy]

such a broad question, it all depends on what you are selling and how you are expected to sell. Are you expected to sit on the phone and cold call all day and get hung up on 95% of the time? Or are you going to be on the road doing sales demos because your product is in demand and all you have to do is show up and smile? I think that would be my first question going into something like this.

Exactly.

 

[slackerinabox]

such a broad question, it all depends on what you are selling and how you are expected to sell. Are you expected to sit on the phone and cold call all day and get hung up on 95% of the time? Or are you going to be on the road doing sales demos because your product is in demand and all you have to do is show up and smile? I think that would be my first question going into something like this.

I know it's a broad question, I just really want to hear people's experience in the field. My big question is sustainability - is it a real career, or was it like my gig in real estate - 90% of the field gives up in about a year

 

[DarkManX]

I know it's a broad question, I just really want to hear people's experience in the field. My big question is sustainability - is it a real career, or was it like my gig in real estate - 90% of the field gives up in about a year

that is also very vague, software is so broad. I work in healthcare and use specialized software that has been around since 1979, that means there were people selling it since 1979... if 90% give up, its probably due to poor work ethic. There is always a need for realtors, and its not an easy job. The best/most successful realtors are the ones that work hard and hustle. Most like people arent going to chase a realtor begging to buy homes.

 

[WackyDan]

I know it's a broad question, I just really want to hear people's experience in the field. My big question is sustainability - is it a real career, or was it like my gig in real estate - 90% of the field gives up in about a year

I've been in hardware sales and now in software. In both cases I have been the systems engineer/sales engineer. I basically have to change my product path every four to five years as what I once helped sell becomes another has been technology.

Either way... I'm paid well for my success.

 

[kranky]

People who have sales skills can sell anything. If you can sell, and software doesn't pan out, move to another field and sell something else. If you can't sell, it doesn't matter how much you know about the product or the field.