Who here sells for a living?

[coronet340]

The oil industry is getting tough these days. And if it doesn't pick up soon I may be looking for work. I'm going to stay in oil until I finish school, but nothing says I can't get laid off tomorrow. If I do get laid off the oil field isn't really an option as there have been tens of thousands of layoffs the past six months. The market is flooded with people.

I am going to school for Business Finance, which requires a ton of selling. But I am about three years from having my degree.

I am thinking about my options, IF I get let go I would like to transition to sales so I can have experience with my degree. The obvious answer is cars (new), which I think wouldn't be a bad gig.

Anyone here sell cars? Appliances? Anything else that doesn't require a degree? I'm interested in where to start and exactly how tough the first year is.

I have read a few books about finance and entrepreneurship. Just started my first book on sales last week, Sell of be Sold by Grant Cardone.


Thanks is advance!!

 

[Richard Cranium]

I became a professional circumciser mainly because the tips are good and it's a chance to get ahead.

 

[Banzaiii67]

I work in the Managed Professional Services space, and I can tell you that in the next seven years A TON of businesses are transitioning a gut of paper records (HR, Accounting, General Business Records, Legal, Retirement Plans, etc) into cloud based information systems.

Many companies do this, Document Management or Digital Imaging Services is what the field is official called.

 

[coronet340]

I became a professional circumciser mainly because the tips are good and it's a chance to get ahead.

That's great but I think it's weird you still use the metzitzah b'peh method.

 

[snakeoil24]

Sell things that reorder, no cars or appliances. I've sold chemicals for 30 years goes down the drain and Tuesday they reorder.. Capital sales suck feast or famine. Hard goods like copiers, cars and refrigerators. any thing like these you need a following of customers who keep reordering.

 

[Banzaiii67]

Sell things that reorder, no cars or appliances. I've sold chemicals for 30 years goes down the drain and Tuesday they reorder.. Capital sales suck feast or famine. Hard goods like copiers, cars and refrigerators. any thing like these you need a following of customers who keep reordering.

Copiers.. Don't get me started... I work for RICOH all anybody want to sell here is copiers the real money is in IT and Cloud Based systems. Monthly service fees come in and you don't have a do a damn thing and they more the put on it the more we charge and can't live without it.

 

[Richard Cranium]

That's great but I think it's weird you still use the metzitzah b'peh method.

I've upgraded.

 

[coronet340]

Sell things that reorder, no cars or appliances. I've sold chemicals for 30 years goes down the drain and Tuesday they reorder.. Capital sales suck feast or famine. Hard goods like copiers, cars and refrigerators. any thing like these you need a following of customers who keep reordering.

I'm definitely not interested in capital sales. That sounds like a tough gig. You sell bulk chemicals or more household?

Copiers aren't my thing either. I know ours is always broke and I suspect we aren't alone.

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I work in the Managed Professional Services space, and I can tell you that in the next seven years A TON of businesses are transitioning a gut of paper records (HR, Accounting, General Business Records, Legal, Retirement Plans, etc) into cloud based information systems.

Many companies do this, Document Management or Digital Imaging Services is what the field is official called.

So you sell cloud space? Do you need to have an IT background for that?

 

[Banzaiii67]

So you sell cloud space? Do you need to have an IT background for that?

It wouldn't hurt but it's not necessary, familiarizing yourself with the product how it integrates is more beneficial.

This is the product we own and sell, http://www.documentmall.com/

this is another one we sell, https://www.docuware.com/

 

[NJRR]

coronet340- I doubt many guys on here have any idea what that is and if they did, would be gagging !!!!!!

That's great but I think it's weird you still use the metzitzah b'peh method.

 

[coronet340]

It wouldn't hurt but it's not necessary, familiarizing yourself with the product how it integrates is more beneficial.

This is the product we own and sell, http://www.documentmall.com/

this is another one we sell, https://www.docuware.com/

I'll check it out, thanks.

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coronet340- I doubt many guys on here have any idea what that is and if they did, would be gagging !!!!!!

Well they can look it and go home feeling good, knowing they learned something new today. Plus it would make a great dinner table conversation. haha

 

[Coyoteduster]

The key is diversification. I sell oil field equipment, custom structural fabrication, engineering and design services, and refuse handling equipment. No more "oil bust" for me, learned my lesson back in the early 80's. A good salesman can sell anything with the proper product/market knowledge, but I personally would stay away from durable goods and new car sales. (The money is in used cars)

Like snakeoil24 says, consumables is where it's at in sales, but I would certainly look into industries that parallel the oilfield if possible because this should only be a temporary downturn. :icon_thumright:

 

[dryheat]

I'm definitely not interested in capital sales. That sounds like a tough gig. You sell bulk chemicals or more household?

Copiers aren't my thing either. I know ours is always broke and I suspect we aren't alone.

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So you sell cloud space? Do you need to have an IT background for that?

IT and or IT security background would be beneficial but not mandatory. Check out www.steath-soft.com ... this is the future of document archival management.

 

[coronet340]

The key is diversification. I sell oil field equipment, custom structural fabrication, engineering and design services, and refuse handling equipment. No more "oil bust" for me, learned my lesson back in the early 80's. A good salesman can sell anything with the proper product/market knowledge, but I personally would stay away from durable goods and new car sales. (The money is in used cars)

Like snakeoil24 says, consumables is where it's at in sales, but I would certainly look into industries that parallel the oilfield if possible because this should only be a temporary downturn. :icon_thumright:

I hear you on the diversification, that's why I want to go to sales. A person that can sell will never be out of a job.

As far as paralleling the oil field; I do not have much interest in the oil business long term. Don't get me wrong, I am insanely grateful for everything it has given to me over the past three years. But I want to be a personal finance advisor. I love finance, it gives me a chub. lol.

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IT and or IT security background would be beneficial but not mandatory. Check out www.steath-soft.com ... this is the future of document archival management.

Thank you. I'll look into it. I just don't have time to get an IT cert, hence the question. I am already full time in an accelerated program. My school work load is maxed out.

 

[monaco66coupe]

Finance can be decent, lending jobs are usually a monthly check plus small commission, or no monthly stipend and larger commission, It can be up and down though. Personal finance jobs involve working with clients at the personal level. Not much into long term real estate type lending. Those are usually salaried Jobs, and run a more routine schedule. Stay away from new car sales, as coyoteduster says.

 

[Sonny Black]

First things First......1=sell yourself, and 2=network.....and you just hit the first two!....
3?= work your *** off, requires lot of hours...4=follow up.

and never give up!:angel3: and remember Dress for success!...no visible tattoos, piercings,
tongue piercings, Mohawks, .......B.0., smell clean and fresh.....need I go on?

you can do this, and make lots of money, meet people, & be your own boss.


please no jive talk....speak fairly correct English....and complement the client, never down grade...

 

[coronet340]

Finance can be decent, lending jobs are usually a monthly check plus small commission, or no monthly stipend and larger commission, It can be up and down though. Personal finance jobs involve working with clients at the personal level. Not much into long term real estate type lending. Those are usually salaried Jobs, and run a more routine schedule. Stay away from new car sales, as coyoteduster says.

Thanks. I don't plan on working a salaried job. That's part of the reason I'm ready to leave the corporate world, I don't like having a salary cap.

Long term I want to have my own firm and manage all you baby boomers portfolios. The average rate is 1% of assets managed. Good money if I can build up a solid clientele.

 

[monaco66coupe]

You never know, the old fogies on this site may have quite a stash!

 

[coronet340]

You never know, the old fogies on this site may have quite a stash!

Oh I know they do! But for the same reason I pay someone to do my taxes is the same reason most people let someone else manage their money. I don't have enough time to learn the 6 million tax laws just like most boomers don't have time to dig through thousands of mutual or index funds that earn 10% over the long term. Pretty feasible to pay someone 1% if they can bump one up from 5 -6% to 10-12%. Worthy it in the long run.

 

[steve from staten island]

Forget sales and forget personal finance advisor. Finish college become a C.P.A. or take your L-cats in your last year of college and go to law school. Now when you get into a school you can borrow whatever you need for tuition and possibly what you need to live on. From what i know you can Clerk for a firm at some point and make some money then when you graduate, pass the bar and do whatever you desire in the law field as there so many different types of practices. Your young enough to do it all its takes is sacrifice and hard work