career in Sales? I am considering changing careers, and got some wonderful advise and suggestions.?

Question

Now I am specifically asking about sales. A woman in late 50's, do not like working in a store or waitressing, but thinking sales. Selling health insurance, cars, jewelry, real estate or matches what works best? What has a good return and how hard is it to get into this type of work. I have a high school degree, extensive computer experience, love riding horses, motor cycles and sewing. Any suggestions from you guys about what worked for you?

Answer 1

You are brave to change careers at the age you are now.
There is too much discrimination in any job where you meet
the public. Companies want younger people to call on
customers, clients and in general, to represent their company.
I experienced it, and my friends have experienced it also.
Many companies encourage retirement early, or demote, or
anything they can think of to give you a back seat position.
As for health insurance, that's pretty much a mans field.
And there are some companies that observe tactics barely
within the law. Taking advantage of seniors with faulty mem-
ories not remembering if they had made their payments al-
ready, for one. My husband was left in the lurch once while thinking he still worked for a company focusing on health insurance.The owner took the money and cleared out. What a shock that was. And the Christmas season was upon us. That put us into a fast spiral downhill fast. Leaving us with a bad outcome. He worked at another insurance place, and sold 'term' insurance. And he barely ecked out a living.
He sold cars for several years as a middle aged man, and
there was one woman who was in sales. She did alright, but
she had a certain look about her, that garnered her sales.
That is generally a mans vocation, and the guys are back
stabbers. Generally they get only minimum wage when cars
aren't selling well. Like this time of the year, through February.
Real estate is bad most everywhere now. Many states had
over building going on, and now homes are being auctioned
off, because they can't be sold. More is owed in payments,
than what they can now get for them. I've read this on line
in news commentary, as well as seeing this subject discussed on the TV news. So real estate and car sales are
fields to avoid for the present. That is, unless you live in
North Carolina, where I've read that is booming right now.
People are moving there for cheaper real estate. That's how
it was here in the northwest not too many years ago. And
builders over built homes and condos' and apartments.
Now many are sitting vacant. And construction workers are
out of work this Christmas season. I know of three different
men who're in this position. One started driving a medical
shuttle car to pick up just enough to live on. Sales won't
be picking up til probably March. Just from my husband
working a lifetime in retail sales, I know this to be true.
I have a friend, who just quit to retire from telephone sales
for a leading manufacturer of in home exercise equipment.
She was one of their top sellers. And she makes enough
in her SS to live comfortably. And that's what it's all about.
Making enough while working to ensure a decent monthly
check with SS later. So few of us don't. As for jewelry sales,
that would be working for independant stores, and without
past experience, those jobs would start you at the bottom
most probably. Since jewelry is a luxury and not a necessity,
it would be 'feast of famine' in that line. So your best bet, is
looking into a job that requires extensive computer experience and then hope you aren't 'over qualified'. You
might try property management. Working in the office of
a rental property community. Our daughter did that line of
work for a few years to learn more computer programs.
It might involve showing vacant apartments also. She
worked for two different properties and excelled enough
to become a property manager. So she got a free apt.
and only had to pay for utilities. And she got a decent salary
each month. But she was very young then. And dressed
well for greeting the public. It's definately about image, when
you represent companies these days.
You might very well be stuck in the line you've been working
for awhile. Retail sales will be nil for the next two months at
least. So you have to consider that.
Only you know what you'd be the most comfortable doing.
And then see what those jobs pay. Real estate, by the way,
requires you go to real estate school. Then you have to pay
to get your license and have to pass the test to get one.
In car or any type of sales, you have to be a good 'closer'.
Someone who can cinch a sale, by persuasive means and
a great personality usually. Here again tho, they want people
with experience in that field. And they want a certain age
bracket. When my husband thought about working in car
sales again before he retired, he applied at two locations
and each manager indicated they were interested in young
men in their 20's or 30's who were 'eager beavers'. And
my husband was in his late 50's then. It didn't matter that he
had alot of car sales experience or that he'd even been in
management. Young ages, make you more hireable.
So I wish you luck and success in finding what you are
looking for in the new year.

Answer 2

Your not asking the correct type of questions. Instead of pondering what industries work/pay the best, you need to consider your own skills and natural traits that may or may not even align with a potential career in sales.

First are you really focused and disciplined? Meaning, can you stick to a schedule even when you do not have to or conversely when all hell is breaking loose? Are you focused enough to have your "professional game face" when facing adversity, uncertainity, lots of cricitism/doubt and no paycheck in sight?

Second, are you truly a people person? This is not the same as being talkative which most ladies are. Possessing a people person trait means you can relate to all types of people, young to old, poor to rich and regardless of ethnicity. More importantly you need to be able to really communicate well which brings me to the third skill.

Third, how well do you communicate? Are you a good writer, public speaker, and/or use active listening skills? Are you good at accepting harsh stinging criticisms without losing your cool and still engage in civil/professional discussions? Can you lead a team by example or inspire others merely by words?

Fourth, are you the type that is comfortable with stability (i.e. steady paychecks you can rely on) or do you like high risk (i.e. no steady paychecks but potential for higher earnings tied to commissions)?

Fifth, how observant are you? Do you notice things about your environment and the people in it that others often overlook? Cultural cues and norms are essential in sales, if you are not observant and respectful of others, odds are you can and will offend your potential customers. Being observant is essential for spotting subtle cues on potential clients communicate indirectly. Also if you are observant you have a much better chance of understanding your field training.

Sixth, are you a proactive lifelong learner? Are you really into learning how to improve your skills and continue to strive for this even when it does not have to do with your own work? Some people dislike reading, going to school and continuing education. If you are one such person, rethink sales b/c you will always be training and learning new skill sets.

These are just some of the basic things you owe to yourself to serious reflect upon to understand whether or not a career in sales is suitable for you. Good luck.

Answer 3

If you have what it takes to be a salesperson, then it really doesn't matter what you sell, you WILL be successful. At this point, it sounds like you have never tried selling so you are unsure if you can sell or not. A great test of your saleswomanship will be if you can sell YOURSELF enough to get the job. As I said before, ageism is alive and well in the job marketplace... so if you can sell yourself in this youth-oriented "climate" then I'd think that you have the ability to sell ice cubes to Eskimos....good luck.....

Answer 4

sa;es if something i could never do -- i may have the bs but i could not try to sale something to some one that i knew either could not afford it our did not need it -- but heck some one has to do it!!! go fo it!!!