Correct me if I'm wrong, but I see nothing but Sales, is that pretty much right?
Nothing but sales since my first "real job" in 2012. I was 22 at that time. Before that it had been just low level jobs in high school.
So right now you want to be a Travel Agent and sell products/services in relation to that industry? But they want XYZ amount of experience? Are there all commission options available?
I really balk at ALL commission because my bills are in excess of $1,500 a month. Now, sacrificing a normal salary is a big leap, but I'm not saying I'd NEVER do it. However, the only circumstances under which I could see myself forfeiting a regular salary is if the working conditions were ideal (like that job with Bootsnall) - which is to say flexible schedule, little equipment required, and REMOTE (I can work while I travel.) With THAT job, I could sacrifice familiarity, take a risk, and commit to 50 hour weeks because I enjoy doing it.
I could PROBABLY NOT do an all commission job if I were required to be at a call center, or if I were trapped in my own home with a headset and a landline. If I'm working in sh*t conditions, I better at least have a paycheck. (BTW, there is a huge difference between work from home {not ideal} and work remote {ideal})
- The First 3 to 7 Years: You have to prove yourself. So the only jobs available will either be 100% commission or the brutal inside sales jobs that you have been rotating between. You have to take "chicken shyt" and turn it into "chicken salad", by taking the shyt position(s) and turning them into some sort of ALL STAR sales performance. This builds a resume, builds sales ability, and gives you professional references. On the side of this, complete a bachelor's (and if you could, a master's) in something related to business, marketing, management, or even finance.
I already have some of these resume boosters you're talking about. For instance, in September 2014 I closed an outstanding deal - a 19 line tablet account (and it was B2B, not a consumer account). I made $550 on that sale and had a 250% attainment to quota that month because of it.
Also, with Verizon, I won $200 in incentives just during the 90 day probation period. I do advertise these accomplishments on my resume and that's why I could give the wireless interview in my sleep nowadays. But with travel applications it hasn't done the trick.
This might be where the lying and exaggerating comes in. I think the problem is the job market is SO bad right now that you have to. There are jobs I've applied to on Indeed that show 1,100 applicants to an entry level position.
I also have a Bachelors Degree in Communications. It's not money (finance, business) but it can sometimes fall under the category of "related field". A lot of employers only demand a Bachelors degree absent experience. Sometimes they don't even clarify a specific kind of B.A., only that you completed one if you don't have the experience.
- The Second Phase: After you have turned chicken shyt into chicken salad, now you have an ALL STAR sales resume with at least a bachelor's degree, so you can go out and find what I call "premium sales positions" that pay you a good base pay ($40k - $60k a year at least) with benefits and perks like travel, company car or company car allowance, corporate travel card, etc., and a commission plan based on your sales volume. You want to do VERY WELL here for at least 2 - 3 years.
I feel that I reached this phase at AT&T back in 2013. I flew to Dallas, stayed in an executive furnished apartment for 3 weeks, got a prepaid mail card worth $42 a day, accrued airline miles, the works. I also had a union rep to settle my problems for me, and I made $45k that year in my first year with the company. I really regret burning that bridge and have regressed so drastically professionally since then.
But you have to pass the First Phase first buddy.
After reading this, you'd probably agree I already have and might have even broached the 2nd phase, but lost ground since then. So knowing what you know about my experience in phases 1 and 2, what would you do to my resume and what are my next steps?
Also remember to try to stay in a low or average cost of living area OR....if you must move somewhere with a higher cost of living, MAKE SURE the monies paid out makes up for the loss of purchasing power. So if you have to live in high a.ss NYC, make sure you are making at least $175,000 a year as that's about equivalent to making about $100,000 a year in Sterling Heights, MI due to the loss of purchasing power.
I live in Tampa, a slightly above average cost of living. I have a very nice 2-BR loft I share with roommate. My half is $809, but that includes rent, utilities, cable, internet, laundry, and a gym. We get a nice value for our payment. Other than that, my bills are minimal - student loan, phone, car insurance, and credit card payment all totaling about $600. There you have it. When you add in miscellaneous costs, the BARE MINIMUM I need to break even at the end of the year is about $31,000 a year, which isn't outrageous money. As you can tell, on that AT&T salary of $45,100 I would be putting away about $10,000 a year after taxes.
