Why It's Hard To Fill Sales Jobs

There's a big difference between professional sales and having to sit on a phone all day telemarketing to people, most of whom are completely annoyed by your call. The biggest reason people shy away from sales jobs is that too many sales jobs are "straight commission". You can starve to death until you get a decent base of customers and that takes time. Nobody has that kind of time and that's why sales jobs are a "revolving door". The other very annoying thing about too many sales jobs is that they expect you to use YOUR car to run all over the countryside looking for money for them. Expense accounts don't cover the wear and tear on your car, insurance and other costs. Most of those expense accounts are mileage reimbursements, hardly enough to pay for gas. As if all that isn't enough negatives, they slap a quota on you, meaning if you don;t meet THEIR sales goals for any given month, you're fired. Try selling anything in this economy. The above are part of the reasons people don't want sales jobs.

"What they do not consider is the flip side..."

Make that "what lenders do not consider" because when a sales pro is looking for a home for their family the lender wants to see a steady income history based on a fixed salary. Mostly or all commission sales people are, effectively, "self employed" and, as such, their borrowing prospects are fairly grim, even before the recession.

What the prospective sales person does or does not consider has relatively little relevance by comparison.

As an employer, you need to "bootstrap" your sales people by paying them a starting salary for a limited time until they get their commission machine running. In the meantime, they have a family to feed, clothe and house and bills to pay.

A big part of the problem is many young people today have limited inter personal skills because they spend 80% of their time in the fanatsy land of internet games, or dweebing on their computer devices in some form. Also, sales requires self motivation and hustle, and the winners can make out very well.......in our recent world of "everybody gets an award" many folks just can't or won't compete.

A large part of the problem is that many sales positions Require a Bachelors degree (usually in marketing or finance) There is no evidence that a degree makes one a better salesman. They also prefer younger workers because the supposedly have the energy to put in ridiculously long hours. The problem is most of them have little or no "product knowledge" of what they're selling and while they may relate well to people their own age they are ill suited to deal with older and younger persons. I could go on but you get the idea.

Its the attitude so many management men have that sales is not 'real' work.
Even the best salesmen know there are dry periods when a base pay is needed to see a family through, to say that people should take a chance when they have families dependent on them is to ask for people without responsibilities, which is why you only get a few responses from people you'd want to hire.

A major stumbling block to the Sales side is. You work hard generate a lot of sales make the company some cash flo. Accountants see the expense of the sales department and reduce commisions or hire more staff. Reduced income leads to quality people going else where, or slowing down. Accounts then say the sales function is defective.

I was always kinda proud that I could talk my way into anything....and given the chance, talk my way OUT of anything,too.....Would you buy it if you could get it for the price you want? Let me make a call....................................

The reason it's hard to fill these jobs is because most are not real career positions. They are "turn and burn" jobs where the company doesn't expect you to succeed. Lack of support, training and compensation that doesn't merit the effort and dedication required to succeed.

A true career sales position affords a livable starting base, guaranteed for the first year. Ongoing product training, freedom to create relationships without interference from management and the ability to adjust pricing when needed to further that long term relationship. True sales professionals do not "sell", they create trusting, consultive relationships. Those relationships lead to solutions supplied by the salesperson.

90% of sales positions posted are bunk. As are 90% of those who call themselves salespersons. You CANNOT create a true sales professional...they are born.

If you'd like a sales job, watch the film "Glengarry Glen Ross."

Sales is at the heart of capitalism. The front line of business, the infantry if you will. If done well you can command the respect of all levels of management and quickly get promoted. Other professions are just as vital but revenue generators will always have a place in business. Always...

A lot of people don't like knowingly taking advantage of others while being told nothing they say for years at a time will be in their words at all but rather all scripted, while having managers berate them and tell them how awful they are.

Many of the highest wage earners of all time have been sales professionals. Eddie J has it right. Don't confuse sales with telemarketing. The problem with sales for most people is that their true contribution to a company appears on a list with their name next to it. This new world where "everyone get's a prize and no one is judged" has created a workforce of youthful individuals bewildered because for the first time in their life they are judged and rewarded or fired based on their true contribution and not their effort. They suffer from both a fear of rejection and a fear of failure (and in some cases a fear of success). In most cases, non-sales people are able to hide their modest contribution to a company because it is clumped in with others. Sales people have their success or failure out there on a daily basis for all to see. It keeps the top performers on their feet while the non-producers bow out.

Nothing happens until someone sells something Peroid! ..... Agreed, telemarketers is not something Professional sales people that visit people face to face consider a Sales position. But it is part of the selling none the less. Some people have very incredible telemarketing abilities and you have to give them credit for that. In the end. I respect anyone that works regardless of the job since I am no better then they are

Hey look...another story about jobs. A clueless writer separated from the real world.

The newbys coming out of college have no interacting skills on top of not wanting to start at the bottom. A salesman has to be a self starter and be self motivated to make the calls and sales. The new age employee first question is. How many hours do I have to work and how much vacation do I get.

Its because applicants these days are weak and lack the guts and the fortitude to beat down a clients door and sell them like their very life depended on it. It takes a special kind of type A to accept that challenge and flourish. Most wont take a straight commission job because they are too chicken s*** to do so, because they do not have faith or confidence in their own ability. I am in sales, I don't have a degree, and I make more than most doctors and lawyers simply because I have the drive and the gift of gab to make it happen. You drive revenue for a company and they in turn share that revenue with you. Simple.

Telephone sales are stressful. Especially if you have a quota to fill. And a commission based salary is not stable income. And in this economy.......no one is buying stuff being sold on the telephone. And people seem to get upset with telemarketers. I know I do. I have a part-time job and am looking for full-time employment and would not even consider a commissioned sales job. They probably have a high turnover rate too.

Nobody has a job until somebody sells somebody something. That is why truly gifted salespeople make so much money.

There are a lot more colleges and universities offering sales courses, degrees and specializations. Michigan State University has a line of course work through the College of Communications and the School of Business that prepares students for professional sales careers. They have won the national sales competition with 75 other universities 3 out of the last 4 years and 100% of their graduates found jobs last year. If you have a great professional sales opportunity, I would suggest recruiting there.

The article did'nt sell me.