Would you rather work in sales or public relations?

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
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I have two potential internship offers: sales (not commission, no closing of deals) and public relations.

I like to work with people, and I'm good with working with people. They both require roughly the same hours per week (part time), and the sales job pays ~20% more than the PR job.

I'm not really sure career wise where I'm headed, so I'd like to get input on which position would be more appropriate for someone in my feet. I know that I'd like to make a lot of money one day, but money isn't everything, and if I can make a great living in PR without the stress of one day having to close deals in sales to earn my salary, I'd like to pursue that.

I'd also like to know which field is tougher to get into.
 

theflyingpig

Banned
Mar 9, 2008
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A career in sales can lead to a life of mediocrity or of riches, it all depends on your talent as a successful sales person. If you are even the slightest bit lazy or if you are put off by continuous failure, I suggest you stay away from sales, as you won't cut it. Everyone knows this.
 

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
3,780
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Well, it's not about failing in the sales job. My primary function will be to contact clients that have shown interest in the products offered by the company, and find out as much as I can about them to determine if they should be contacted by a sales rep, who would actually pursue a deal.

I'll also be contacting current clients and finding out if their needs have changed, or if they want to upgrade to any of the new services that are being offered.
 

RU482

Lifer
Apr 9, 2000
12,689
3
81
oh god...sales. PR is the work of the devil. So is sales, but at least you get paid
 

Riceninja

Golden Member
May 21, 2008
1,841
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PR for sure.

with sales sounds like youll be cold calling ppl and/or filling a quota, even if youre not directly closing the deal.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
A career in sales can lead to a life of mediocrity or of riches, it all depends on your talent as a successful sales person. If you are even the slightest bit lazy or if you are put off by continuous failure, I suggest you stay away from sales, as you won't cut it. Everyone knows this.

Even though the above quote is from theflyingpig, it's 100% accurate. In sales, if you are an effective closer, you can make a shitload of money. It's high stress and most of your waking life will be working, but if you're the right kind of person the payoff can be amazing. If you're the wrong kind of person, it'll suck more than anything else you can even think of doing for a career.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
Well, it's not about failing in the sales job. My primary function will be to contact clients that have shown interest in the products offered by the company, and find out as much as I can about them to determine if they should be contacted by a sales rep, who would actually pursue a deal.

I'll also be contacting current clients and finding out if their needs have changed, or if they want to upgrade to any of the new services that are being offered.

^^ That's not really sales. You'd be doing the grunt work while someone else makes the money.
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
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71
Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god damn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?
 
Apr 20, 2008
10,067
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I would work in PR.

Sales is far too tiresome and you'll spend 90% of your time getting nowhere. PR work is lame. Sure. But atleast you wont be annoying the shit out of other people.
 

MikeMike

Lifer
Feb 6, 2000
45,885
66
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I would work in PR.

Sales is far too tiresome and you'll spend 90% of your time getting nowhere. PR work is lame. Sure. But atleast you wont be annoying the shit out of other people.

dont forget true sales will be a LOT, and i mean a LOT of driving.
 

oiprocs

Diamond Member
Jun 20, 2001
3,780
2
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I decided to go with PR. I'm sure I'll always be able to find a gig somewhere in sales if I really want to pursue that route, but this PR chance may not be there again.

Plus, if I don't like doing PR work for this company, I'll at least have the experience to try and jump to a company whose product I really like pushing.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
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I decided to go with PR. I'm sure I'll always be able to find a gig somewhere in sales if I really want to pursue that route, but this PR chance may not be there again.

Plus, if I don't like doing PR work for this company, I'll at least have the experience to try and jump to a company whose product I really like pushing.

ts much easier to from PR to sales than vice versa. Sales is for sure not for everyone. I get shot down/told off/shopped 40+ times a day. I do well because I focus on the 10-15 people that I do close. PR is something that I would hate. I like closing people.