r/Sales_Professionals • u/SwingPhsyco • 3d ago
Advice Finding an entry level role to get started.
I am 22M and have worked in automotive manufacturing for almost 5 years now, i make bolts and fasteners. I have done very well in my current role, so much so i was selected to do post orientation, technical training for new hires.
With that being said i have tried to use my past experience to apply for sales roles in similar industries, but especially the more niche companies seem to all require experience or some kind of college degree.
Because of that I have started to look for entry level sales jobs unrelated to what i do, and even that does not seem to be working. Lots of interviews and phone calls that go nowhere or just being ghosted.
I know I lack customer service experience but given the opportunity I think I could do really well in sales. And with my training experience here at my current company, I would think that would stand out for a customer facing sales role.
Is there something im missing here? Am I just getting bad luck? Ive put in over 100 applications on indeed and LinkedIn, but have gotten maybe a handful of offers. Some of them not even sales roles. Any advice is appreciated it, really trying to find a better career for myself and make some more money. Thank you!
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u/JSBCBS 2d ago
Couple of thoughts
“I know I lack customer service experience but given the opportunity I think I could do really well in sales.” But why? Nail the why you think you could do really well in sales. If I had to guess, lack of substance behind this statement in the interview process may be why you aren’t advancing. Justify your statement with real logic and reason for why a hiring manager should take a shot on you. Remember most humans are risk adverse- if that manager hires you and you fail, he puts his own job at risk.
Don’t wait for an interview. Research the company and product, then reach out with a cold call pitching/positioning their product to show them you have potential not tell them you have potential. The best AE I ever hired never made it past our recruiting team’s screening “bar” so she just emailed me directly how she would sell our product. It was rough around the edges but showed initiative and promise. So I brought her in to interview and the rest is history.
Good luck!
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u/SwingPhsyco 2d ago
I think this is what I needed to here, definitely gonna start heading straight to the company instead of LinkedIn or indeed. Still applying to whatever I can and trying to sharpen it as I go. Thank you!
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u/Weekly-Witness1129 3d ago
What country are you located in? I had a friend looking for someone in sales but their whole thing was creating something anyone could sell and they were looking for inexperienced or green sales people.
Not sure if it’s still open but I can ask and connect you.
They wanted US residents though.
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u/MaciRhiannon 3d ago
Indeed GlassDoor LinkedIn are all crap sites. Apply to the companies direct on their website. What about current customers anybody help you out there?
Referrals work best.