Several online courses and bootcamps provide in-depth instruction on tech sales, including product knowledge development, customer relationship management and industry trends. The time it takes to become a tech sales rep can vary depending on your educational background, technical training, experience and network. Some individuals with minimal experience start in entry-level tech sales positions and work their way up.
These professionals sell cutting-edge products and services, working with a broad spectrum of clients across multiple industries. Speaking of lucrative, the salary is another big draw for many tech sales professionals. While the united states army world war i flight training tech industry is known to pay hefty sums to the people who fill the more technical roles, you can also earn a great living in sales. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and professional. Then, try to find individuals with the tech sales position you’re looking for and ask about their day-to-day. This is a good way to learn about tech sales processes and strategies from the source, and you’ll also be able to build relationships with people from different tech companies.
Highlight your sales experience.
These daily tasks also apply to IT sales, but there are a few key differences between the roles. Remember, networking is more than just a one-and-done activity. Keep building your network, engaging with your connections, and finding groups to join. Yes, networking takes time, but your efforts can open new doors that were otherwise outside of reach. By doing so, you free up more time to research each company, tailor your resume, and prepare for interviews. If you want to work in tech, you have to appear like an industry vet.
Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education
- An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information.
- According to Payscale, the average tech sales rep earns around $65,000 per year.
- But for a lot of us it’s insane compared to how much we earned at one point.
- It can take anywhere from a few months to several years to become a tech sales rep, depending on which route you take.
- I would legitimately get depressed thinking about my finances until I decided to try my luck in tech sales.
But outside of the customary short-term payoffs, there are a few long-term benefits of working in tech sales. While you might be tempted to blindly apply to tech companies and see who bites, there are more effective approaches. But for others, it can quickly lead to stress and even burnout. All this to say, it takes a great deal of dedication and persistence to succeed in this role stock market crashes — but if you can push through, you’ll find many rewarding aspects of the job. Bridge Group’s 2015 SaaS Inside Sales Survey Report shared that the compensation for inside sales roles rose to record highs in 2015. Learn how to set your sales team up for success with key strategies and training.
There’s always new technology to sell
You’ll have connections with a variety of other talented salespeople who can share strategies or lucrative job opportunities. Startups and existing companies are constantly looking to fine-tune an existing product or revolutionize their industry with new ideas. If you manage to land a long-term role with a company, you’ll understand the benefits and uses of different types of advanced technology and stay ahead of the curve. There will always be a need for salespeople in the tech industry because companies are constantly looking for new breakthroughs to solve their buyers’ problems. For traditional salespeople, the main objective is to see if their product or service could solve their client’s problems.
If you’re on LinkedIn, start searching for professionals in positions you’re interested in. Then, send a request to connect along with a thoughtful message. If they accept, you can even ask for a 15-minute Zoom chat to learn more about their work. Even if you have some sales experience, certifications can strengthen key skills such as negotiation or prospecting. Start by scanning your resume for any past sales experience, even if it wasn’t the primary function of your job.
For now, the most important trait to highlight is your sales experience. While tech sales reps are all about selling, IT sales representatives stick around to help clients who have questions or concerns. They also check to see if a company works well with the software or if they need a few more tools to really pick up the pace.
Plus, there are certifications for professionals of all experience levels, including entry-level and more advanced programs. This role requires equal parts tech knowledge and social skills. In other words, knowing the bells and whistles of a product or service is half the battle. You also need to uncover your customers’ needs and communicate how you can alleviate their pain points.
Internships and demos can be great ways to learn the details about each product and prove your motivation toward getting a job in IT sales. Keep in mind that this line of work requires an innate appreciation for technology. So if you’re the kind of person who gets flustered by tech issues easily, IT sales might not be the best trajectory for you. Networking is responsible for 70 percent of all hires in the modern era.
Today, tech sales mostly refers to software sales—specifically, selling SaaS products. Forbes Advisor’s education editors are committed to producing unbiased rankings and informative articles covering online colleges, tech bootcamps and career paths. Our ranking methodologies use data from the National Center for Education Statistics, education providers, and reputable educational and professional organizations. An advisory board of educators and other subject matter experts reviews and verifies our content to bring you trustworthy, up-to-date information. Advertisers do not influence our rankings or editorial content. In a tech sales position, you’ll be responsible for connecting consumers (individuals or other businesses) with technology that can help them solve a specific problem.
Tech sales is the process of selling technology as software, hardware, or an IT service. Tech sales is the process of connecting customers with technology that solves their problems. If you have an interest in tech — and an even greater interest in helping people — a career in tech sales could be a smart move. However, there are a few things you should know before diving in.
A tech sales representative is a professional who sells tech or scientific solutions to organizations. Her ebay stock price quote and news writing expertise extends to brand strategies and driving small business growth through targeted content. In the last three years, she’s primarily produced education-focused content, writing on topics like degree programs, trade schools and career pathways. According to Payscale, the average tech sales rep earns around $65,000 per year.