Death of a Salesman Among Job Seekers

Good salespeople are hard to find. And according to a recent survey by Manpower, they are the hardest jobs to fill. Sales jobs are one of the top two jobs posted on my job boards (the other is Admin Assistant) and companies are desperate to find them. Where have all the salesman gone?

Working in sales means interacting with people. And as we all know, today's generation of young workers is more comfortable at the computer than in person. Personally I think sales is a great job as long as the product you sell is great. Being in sales means making your own hours and forging important relationships with customers. If you can 'schmooze' then consider a career in sales. I would also recommend watching GlenGarry, Glen Ross. A great movie about salesmen.

The money is good, the work is steady, but is sales for you?

By WAYNE SMITH, Times Business Editor

Thinking about a career in sales? The money is good - great for exceptional sales professionals; the work is steady. But is it for you?

Ask yourself a simple question: Can you handle rejection?

"The key is you've got to develop a stomach for it," said Jim Duggan of Huntsville, who owns Telco Specialties. Duggan does sales work for companies that want to outsource that duty. "You've got to be able to digest a lot of nos and simply have to be able to take rejection.

"I make a game of it - the more people who tell me no, the closer I am to a yes."
Welcome to the life of a salesman.

And when it comes to finding a great salesman, most companies will pay dearly. According to Jacques Werth of High Probability Selling, an average salesman will make about $90,000 annually; a reasonably good salesman will earn $140,000; and the sky is the limit for really good sales professionals.

"There is a great shortage of really good salespeople and sales executives," Werth said. "The best ones are in great demand.''

A recent survey by Manpower shows sales representatives at the top of the list of jobs that employers have a hard time filling.

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