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New Job taking a dive :(

Deadly Sushi

Deadly Sushi

The One, The Only, Sushi
Folks Im nervous as hell. My job that I started 2.5 months ago is going as planned but thats not too good.
Let me explain. I get $60K/year pay for the 1st 4 months. Then the pay goes down to $30K/year pay for the next 4 months but with a much higher commission structure. Then after the $30K is over its $0.00 with 100% commission.
Well I sell to LARGE clients. Clients like McDonalds, Burger King, Ebay, Toyota, AT&T ..... etc.... etc... etc...
What I sell is technology solutions. If it plugs in and isnt food related, chances are I can sell it. Thing is..... these very large clients take about 6 months to a year for them to start purchasing. (its called the Sales Cycle)
Well, I have sold a few things to a few smaller fish, but nothing to even note. I have till the end of December until my pay drops by 50%!!
Im very very worried.
I need advice. Maybe I should just get out of sales? Im creative and want to help people. What job does that fall under without going back to school ANNNND pays atleast over $30K????
I really need advice. AND if you know someone in a company that has the power to purchase from me PLLLLLLEASE tell them about what I do!
 
Thats the problem with sales based income. No sales no income. Same is true in the car industry. 30K a year is pretty low income but if your happy there then ok. If your good at sales then shop around diffrent types of electronic companies. Computer companies tend to pay very well and are not sales based since the calls come in to you. BUT most Computer companies are out in Kalifornicator country. You should fit right in........ Try and get some interviews and fly out. Cant hurt.
 
Deadly Sushi said:
Let me explain. I get $60K/year pay for the 1st 4 months. Then the pay goes down to $30K/year pay for the next 4 months but with a much higher commission structure. Then after the $30K is over its $0.00 with 100% commission.
Click to expand...

Translation:
$5000 x 4 months
+ $2500 x 4 months
+ $0 x 4 months

equals $30,000/year

Time to look for another job.
 
Sushi, large sale companies like the one you are working for know exactly what they are doing. The Sales rep that makes $60-100K a year on commission is probably pretty rare. They need to cull out the low performers pretty early and the easiest way to do that is to get them on 100% commission.

Sales is a rough business. Build your funnell, "touch" your contacts frequently without being annoying, and pray. Oh yeah, it doesn't hurt to know your business really well. An informed and helpful sales rep is much better than a price quoter.
 
Ever see that movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" starring Will Smith? Time to get out of that business and find something more stable. Sure, you might have to settle for alittle less pay but at least it's guaranteed.
 
Sush, I think it may be time for you to get a new job, particularly if you're still drinking.

Sales jobs, particularly those with no supervision, really depend on the person doing the job.

Honestly, it sounds like you've been "thrown to the wolves" which I even see my company doing with people from time to time.

Last fourteen years I've been with the same company, last seven being in outside sales. Sales jobs tend to be labled with what I call the "used car sales syndrome".

I happen to think I have the best job in the world. I account to no one, make my own agenda and do what I want to do. That said, I even ended up working on my wedding day for an important job that had to be finished (heck, even though I'm on short term disability now from surgery, I ended up getting my ass in a ringer with the home office the other day because I'm still taking care of some of my customer needs).

Dedication and the love of the work is the key in my opinion. If you're doing it just for the money, sooner or later you're going to end up on the short end of the stick.

That said, my sales has no impact on my base salary and expenses.

However, I'll be the first one termintated in my area if my company numbers are not where they think they should be.
 
Good advice DZ.

Sales can be tough, but if you are good at it, it probably is one of the highest paying occupations out there. If you are not good at it and cannot handle rejection, and as a result do not make the sales calls, you will soon starve.

However, in a sense, we all are selling to some extent. We have to sell ourselves to our employers and produce more than it costs to employ us, else we become unemployed. Business owners are selling to their customers their goods and services every day, for a profit, or they must close their doors and find a job.

If you are going to remain in sales, you are going to have to find something to sell that you believe in, that makes it easy for you to get out of bed in the morning and do.

Like DZ said, if booze is an issue, you need to stop drinking if it is creating problems for you. End of discussion there, because if it is a problem moderating now, it will always be a problem...FOREVER. If you know this is is creating problems, please check out this link:

http://www.rational.org/

Take the crash course ASAP, unless you have been drinking today. If so, go there tomorrow after you have sobered up and take the crash course.

It's all up to you, Bro. Good luck.
 
A couple things I haven't seen mentioned yet.

Save every dime you possibly can while the salary based check is coming in.

Not sure about your particular company but it's not unusual to be able to get info about what your prospective clients have. E.g. If you're selling disability insurance, you can find out through some insurance site/agency/??? exactly what the client has, is paying, claims... It's very beneficial to walk into a client knowing what they have and where you can help them. Trying to come up with your sales pitch on the spot isn't as easy as knowing beforehand where you have your in.

Everything else that's coming to mind right now would just be piling on what others said.

Hang in there...
 
I cant beleive no one advised you to go sell something. DO what they trained you to do. talk to people. Close the deal. I know doctors to pilots, janitors and dishwashers, all kinds of people, the highest paid are sales guys, one that did not even graduate high school. give it your best shot at least.
 
mak2 said:
I cant beleive no one advised you to go sell something. DO what they trained you to do. talk to people. Close the deal. I know doctors to pilots, janitors and dishwashers, all kinds of people, the highest paid are sales guys, one that did not even graduate high school. give it your best shot at least.
Click to expand...

Truth is spoken. Some people can learn to be good at sales others are just right for the job.
 
Whether you take any of the good advice above and commit to this job, or bail to find something easy/easier... if you're boozing then you're losing.
 
Deadly Sushi said:
What I sell is technology solutions. If it plugs in and isnt food related, chances are I can sell it. Thing is..... these very large clients take about 6 months to a year for them to start purchasing. (its called the Sales Cycle)

Well, I have sold a few things to a few smaller fish, but nothing to even note.

Im very very worried.

I need advice. Maybe I should just get out of sales? Im creative and want to help people.
Click to expand...

Sush, will you still make a salary next year, or does you salary come directly from sales going into next year?

If you can still make a salary next year and you really like your job, I'd say stick it out.

PB and CB make some great points about sales.

I guess what I'm wondering about is for myself, courting a customer is, or was, like dating a woman, at least for myself. Only problem, from what I've seen on how you handle your love life, you may be in for some problems:D

Seriously, do you have to do alot of cold calling with people unfamiliar with your business? Is the interatction with the customer strictly over the phone? If the answer is yes to both questions, man, that kind of selling can be tough and rough.

Reading from your first and only post on your topic, you sound in trouble because you sound desperate. Believe it or not, if you sound desperate to me, you can sound desperate to your customers. This is your first "no no". Customers can pick up quickly on small signals you may or may not know your sending. Kind of like when you date a woman, if you get desperate, it can play out on the relationship, usually it's not good.

Last book I read was "The Accidental Salesperson" by Chris Lytle. Hate to admit it, but it was mandatory reading, however, I can say I honestly enjoyed the book and it's something you may want to read.

For myself, I never wanted to be a salesman. I interviewed for another position in another state, and the people thought I should go into sales. Honestly, I hated the salesmen for my company. They never seemed to work (always playing golf), always thought they were better than us, and took the credit for our work, and made the money, but if the crap hit the fan, it was never their fault. I guess my point is that you need to take responsibility for your own actions. You are not only selling a product, more importantly, you are selling yourself. People don't buy from my company, they buy from me.

Problem is your starting to sweat. This can be a downward spiral with no end in sight.

A couple years ago I was working 60-80 hours a week in a bad market for our company. Sales were slowley picking up for the first time ever, but even with my salary, for the hours I was working, man, I was ready to quit. However, I realize the grass is always greener on the other side, and my company has always been good to me, so even though I was working some mega hours for the year and not seeing anything for my work, I stayed put. Well, the next year I ended up framing a couple of paychecks for my father. I seriously couldn't believe the money, and best of all, since I had put in the time the previous year, that year I didn't have to work as hard (although I love my work, I will not burnout over it).

Problem with sales is no matter what you do, they want more. This can get old as well. For one year, you 3 million when they only wanted 2 million, guess what, the following the year they now want 4 million. You then do 6, and the next year they want 8. It NEVER ends. Always more, never less.

For what it's worth, when I started in N.C, there were about 19 sales postitions in our territory that covers four states. Since I've been in N.C (7 years), there is only one other guy that has stayed in his current position just like myself. That kind of turnover just in my market alone.

If you hate your job, leave. If you really like it and can survive going into next year, I'd suggest stay and work your butt off. Nothing in life is free, and you now have the opportunity to make money which you didn't have before. Get to know your customers, do research, know your market. You said you're creative, well, PROVE it. Remember, your customers are you livelyhood.
 
Last edited:
mak2 said:
I know doctors to pilots, janitors and dishwashers, all kinds of people, the highest paid are sales guys, one that did not even graduate high school.
Click to expand...

Out of a graduating high school class of 218 students, I placed at 213, and two of those that were behind me are still in jail:D

One reason why I wanted to make my parents proud of me later in my life when I realized what was really important in life (at least for myself).
 
dzalphakilo said:
Out of a graduating high school class of 218 students, I placed at 213, and two of those that were behind me are still in jail:D

One reason why I wanted to make my parents proud of me later in my life when I realized what was really important in life (at least for myself).
Click to expand...

:pat: Aw, man...when you said you & me were more alike than I thought you meant we were both dumbasses! :4_11_9: :poke:

I don't know where I was out of my class of about 500, but my GPA was 2.0.

Hey Sushi, the take-away here if us two dumbasses can be sucsessful, anybody can. Get out there and bust your ass!

Hey DZ, I'd give you more rep points for your posts if I could. :thumb: That was excellent! :beer:
 
Cityboy said:
:pat: Aw, man...when you said you & me were more alike than I thought you meant we were both dumbasses!
Click to expand...

I never thought you were a dumbass, just pig headed:D

Sush, two words come to mind when you're trying to sell.

Integrity and trust. Both of those words takes time to build with the people you deal with.
 
Some people may know already, but do you know what the best thing that ever happened to me career wise? For the first, and only, time in my life I got fired. This happened right after my wife gave birth to our third child, right after she got laid off from Bristol Myers (after 15 years), right after I just built a brand new home, and right after I sold my car since the company I'd been working for provided me with a company car, insurance, gas, and a $1000 a week expense account. I was given 2 weeks worth of salary (screwed out of vacation time) and asked to turn in my company car and company credit card immediately.

Between the two of us, we lost all our health care, stock options, 401K benefits, expense account, company car, and about $130k a year in income. We'd lost all that, plus we had a new baby and a new house. That sort of hit hard. I won't bore you with the details, but I only stood in line at the unemployment office for 1/2 an hour before I couldn't stand the people around me and left to never return. My wife has never had to return to work and, best of all, we plan to have a party next week to celebrate taking the wheels off of our house!! :thumb:

Seriously, the lowest point in my career turned out to be the push I needed to become the the best thing that ever happened to me. I drive very hard, but am very fair. I can't run my employees off with a big stick, so it can't be that bad. Maybe this will turn out to be good for you in the long run.
 
Lots of good advice has been offered. If I were to look at the amount of time you have spent on this forum, I might wonder if some of that time could have been better spent in study and improving your job skills.
 
guess what I'm wondering about is for myself, courting a customer is, or was, like dating a woman, at least for myself. Only problem, from what I've seen on how you handle your love life, you may be in for some problems:D

Seriously, do you have to do alot of cold calling with people unfamiliar with your business? Is the interatction with the customer strictly over the phone? If the answer is yes to both questions, man, that kind of selling can be tough and rough.

Reading from your first and only post on your topic, you sound in trouble because you sound desperate. Believe it or not, if you sound desperate to me, you can sound desperate to your customers. This is your first "no no". Customers can pick up quickly on small signals you may or may not know your sending. Kind of like when you date a woman, if you get desperate, it can play out on the relationship, usually it's not good.

Last book I read was "The Accidental Salesperson" by Chris Lytle. Hate to admit it, but it was mandatory reading, however, I can say I honestly enjoyed the book and it's something you may want to read.

For myself, I never wanted to be a salesman. I interviewed for another position in another state, and the people thought I should go into sales. Honestly, I hated the salesmen for my company. They never seemed to work (always playing golf), always thought they were better than us, and took the credit for our work, and made the money, but if the crap hit the fan, it was never their fault. I guess my point is that you need to take responsibility for your own actions. You are not only selling a product, more importantly, you are selling yourself. People don't buy from my company, they buy from me.

Problem is your starting to sweat. This can be a downward spiral with no end in sight.

A couple years ago I was working 60-80 hours a week in a bad market for our company. Sales were slowley picking up for the first time ever, but even with my salary, for the hours I was working, man, I was ready to quit. However, I realize the grass is always greener on the other side, and my company has always been good to me, so even though I was working some mega hours for the year and not seeing anything for my work, I stayed put. Well, the next year I ended up framing a couple of paychecks for my father. I seriously couldn't believe the money, and best of all, since I had put in the time the previous year, that year I didn't have to work as hard (although I love my work, I will not burnout over it).

Problem with sales is no matter what you do, they want more. This can get old as well. For one year, you 3 million when they only wanted 2 million, guess what, the following the year they now want 4 million. You then do 6, and the next year they want 8. It NEVER ends. Always more, never less.

For what it's worth, when I started in N.C, there were about 19 sales postitions in our territory that covers four states. Since I've been in N.C (7 years), there is only one other guy that has stayed in his current position just like myself. That kind of turnover just in my market alone.

If you hate your job, leave. If you really like it and can survive going into next year, I'd suggest stay and work your butt off. Nothing in life is free, and you now have the opportunity to make money which you didn't have before. Get to know your customers, do research, know your market. You said you're creative, well, PROVE it. Remember, your customers are you livelyhood.
Click to expand...

Excellent points!!!
Along with everyone else too! Thanks!
Well, so far the company isnt the worst by far. But the opporunity to make money is pretty darn iffy. Plus the damn PHONES havent been working 75% of the time since last Friday. :pat: Try and make some sales without .... you know..... speaking with anyone. :rolleyes:
I think I'll be looking for other positions while I still have this one. If they arent going to give me at least $40k/year pay for the next 4 months then I have to say my life is going to be mighty stressful paying the bills.
 
Deadly Sushi said:
If they arent going to give me at least $40k/year pay for the next 4 months then I have to say my life is going to be mighty stressful paying the bills.
Click to expand...

Sushi, maybe part of the problem is the way you are thinking. Employers don't "give" you anything. You have to earn it. If you are having trouble performing to the level where you can earn $40K a year, then you need to look at improving your performance. You can find a way to make the sales calls, or you can make excuses. There has got to be certain odds to making a sale. Maybe you have to make 100 calls to get 10 appointments to make 1 sale. No calls, no sales. However, if you go about those 100 calls with a defeatist attitude, you probably won't make many sales.

Change the way you think, and your sales will improve.

Here's another book for you to read: "Learned Optimism" By Martin Seligman. This guy helped develop the test that insurance agents for Met Life take and must pass before they are hired. Take some of you FF posting time (as entertaining as it is to us) and read a chapter a night. Logical thinking is a learned skill for most people, and poor thinking is the cause of most people's problems.
 
Thanks Pirate Girl. :)

Sushi, maybe part of the problem is the way you are thinking. Employers don't "give" you anything. You have to earn it. If you are having trouble performing to the level where you can earn $40K a year, then you need to look at improving your performance. You can find a way to make the sales calls, or you can make excuses. There has got to be certain odds to making a sale. Maybe you have to make 100 calls to get 10 appointments to make 1 sale. No calls, no sales. However, if you go about those 100 calls with a defeatist attitude, you probably won't make many sales.

Change the way you think, and your sales will improve.

Here's another book for you to read: "Learned Optimism" By Martin Seligman. This guy helped develop the test that insurance agents for Met Life take and must pass before they are hired. Take some of you FF posting time (as entertaining as it is to us) and read a chapter a night. Logical thinking is a learned skill for most people, and poor thinking is the cause of most people's problems.
Click to expand...

Well I hear ya man. Thing is, when I have gotton opportunities (and I have) there are certain things that throw a wrench in the gears. I wont elaberate because it would take me a long time to explain. But 2 weeks ago I found out that in the last 6 months there have been FIVE predecessors before me that have quit. :4_11_9: ANd I can tell you that I have been very good at what my job is. And thats bringing in opportunities. Alas these have been failed because of different things and Im happy to say (sort of) that none were my fault. It breaks my heart that I worked my ass off to bring in companies like SPX Corp, Carabou Coffee, Burger King and 8 other large companies only to have nothing to show for it. These relationships take months to get some decent sales but things have just not performed smoothly on our side. Its embarrasing.
Anyhow, Im still determined to sell but these guys have to get their act together. Hell even my manager said Im doing the right things and Ive gotten more prospects in the door than ANYONE else in the company!
Ugggggg.... I dont want to look for a new company. I just want my work to produce a damn sale. :snow2_smi:
 
Deadly Sushi said:
If they arent going to give me at least $40k/year pay for the next 4 months then I have to say my life is going to be mighty stressful paying the bills.
Click to expand...

I don't mean to sound hard, but were you not just recently getting unemployment?

I didn't know not having a job payed so well.

You mentioned the company "isn't the worst by far".

Well, if you aren't getting intentionally dicked over because your new, particularly since your in sales, I'd say you're ahead of the game and you don't even know it.
 
Sushi, read Dargo's post 3-4 more times as well. Things to think about in the future. Hey Dargo.....:thumb::respect:


As far as this forum....I love to spend time here. So many good stories and experiences to learn from.
Many of you will never know how much I respect you and your advice.
Remember, everybody has a story, this might be the perfect time to start adding a few chapters to yours!:beer:
 
Oh man, after 7 months unemployed (my choice, I walked out of the job) I can feel for you. Getting employed is tough at best, keeping employed is worse. If you love sales, then you MUST build trust and make YOUR customers feel you give them 110% or they will not buy from you. Treat those that install or provide after sales service well, after all they know the next guy you can sell too, you just dont know it yet. I have at times gave the sales dud I worked with leads that meant big sales to him, since I was the one people trusted. He never treated me right, and I could have made an impact on his income by starting my own business. I've (been there done that). When I left my company, mostly due to having gotten as far as I was going to, I could have went back to my customers and become their computer consultant in a heartbeat. I was the service tech, they did not like the sales person and many times I was the reason they bought. Know what you are selling and how it can help the customer. My sales guy blew it and started my leaving with a phone call to me about the diff between a switch and router...............he did not know his stuff. That was when I decided I was leaving.

I dont care for sales people as a general rule. My rules are this, if you embellish, make up, hide, or sound like you are bs'ing...........you loose. I will never ask a question I dont already know the answer to, so dont try to hogwash me, and if I ever feel like you are not welcome at my home.........you dont need to come back. On the other side, if I like you, your product is sold with YOUR backing, and I can trust it...........No one can take me from you. Car sales people hate it when I come to them. Yes I know the value of my trade, and no I wont take less for it. I also know the value of your used car, and I wont pay more for it than you will for mine...............in other words, you tell me wholesale for mine, my offer is wholesale for yours.............period, and I can walk away...........as a sales person you should be able to also.

My main point is, make them feel like you deserve them as a customer. Build trust with them, know their business, second only to yours. If you dont know something, never go in bs style, you will loose.

as for income, my job is more than what you are and I dont have to sell, except my talents to do the job, and my willingness to work. I dont work hard, I work smart. Technology is tough, no doubt. But it can be done well. If you really dont like selling, or dont have the desire to rely on what you do every morning..........like get out of bed, then you are in the wrong line of business. I dont want to be in sales....period! I am going on 50, started a new job 3 weeks ago, and have plans to stay here if the op works out. I am much better off as I am now then where I was 7 months ago, and after 5 years here, I will be much better off $$ wise, but I am going to work to get there.

good luck and God Bless
 
I am an electrician, and do many aspects of that job. I do all the electrical aspects of high end remodeling jobs. The only selling I do is my of skills and a few select, proven products that I know I can install well, will work well, and are worth the cost they add in functionality. Many of my clients are doctor's, investment bankers. And pharmaceutical salesman. You vaguely described what you sell, and I don’t need to know exactly what it is, but is it truly useful? They sell medicine. Many people don’t necessarily want it but they need it, and it is useful. If you are trying to sell electric back scratchers, maybe you should look at what your market really is, not just how wealthy they are. Not their ability to buy, but their reason to buy.

Just my 2 cents. It works for me.
 
Referring to what you have to say about your job, don't you yourself realize that you are no longer enjoying or probably loving your sales job. And there is the answer to all your worries: You believe you are good at Creativity - Why not try your hands at it? The worst that could happen would be you don't end up making good fortune for the first few months but if you love it, you'll eventually succeed. There is no point trying to dig into a job thats always on your nerves, makes you feel low & doesn't pay you well ever. :thumb:

Check out websites for [BFreelancing opportunities & rewarding activities start making some income & register & while you get your hands upon a job of your choice. Here, you might consider from people around you on job & career change related issues or learn from their personal experiences.

Wish u a great :applause:New Year!


Deadly Sushi said:
Folks Im nervous as hell. My job that I started 2.5 months ago is going as planned but thats not too good.
Let me explain. I get $60K/year pay for the 1st 4 months. Then the pay goes down to $30K/year pay for the next 4 months but with a much higher commission structure. Then after the $30K is over its $0.00 with 100% commission.
Well I sell to LARGE clients. Clients like McDonalds, Burger King, Ebay, Toyota, AT&T ..... etc.... etc... etc...
What I sell is technology solutions. If it plugs in and isnt food related, chances are I can sell it. Thing is..... these very large clients take about 6 months to a year for them to start purchasing. (its called the Sales Cycle)
Well, I have sold a few things to a few smaller fish, but nothing to even note. I have till the end of December until my pay drops by 50%!!
Im very very worried.
I need advice. Maybe I should just get out of sales? Im creative and want to help people. What job does that fall under without going back to school ANNNND pays atleast over $30K????
I really need advice. AND if you know someone in a company that has the power to purchase from me PLLLLLLEASE tell them about what I do!
Click to expand...
 
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