This article may contain links from our partners.
Tech sales jobs are the hottest jobs in tech. Why? These positions are high-paying with a low barrier to entry and one of the least competitive tech jobs available. Win-win-win, right?
Here’s why you want to land a tech sales job…
What is tech sales?
First, what is tech sales?
The tech sales industry refers to the business of selling technology products and services to other businesses or consumers. This industry encompasses a wide range of companies that produce hardware, software, and services that are used in various industries and sectors.
Tech sales professionals are responsible for building relationships with customers and identifying their needs, providing product demonstrations and presentations, negotiating contracts, and closing deals. They work closely with technical teams to understand the products and services they are selling and communicate their value to customers.
The tech sales industry has become increasingly important in recent years as technology continues to play a crucial role in many businesses and industries. Companies in this industry range from large corporations to small startups, and job opportunities can be found in a variety of fields, including software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and many others.
What kinds of products do you sell in tech sales?
The tech sales industry offers a wide range of products, including hardware, software, and services. Here are some examples:
- Hardware: This includes devices like computers, laptops, servers, printers, scanners, and other peripherals.
- Software: This includes operating systems, productivity software, enterprise software, database management systems, and security software.
- Cloud services: This includes services such as cloud storage, cloud computing, and cloud-based applications.
- Networking and telecommunications equipment: This includes routers, switches, modems, and other networking equipment.
- Consumer electronics: This includes products like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and other personal devices.
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices: This includes smart home devices, wearables, and other devices that are connected to the internet.
- Cybersecurity products: This includes products such as firewalls, antivirus software, and other security solutions to protect against cyber attacks.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) products: This includes products that use AI and ML to automate processes, make predictions, and improve decision-making.
These are just a few examples of the products and services that are sold in the tech sales industry. The industry is constantly evolving, and new products and services are introduced regularly.
What does tech sales NOT include?
While the tech sales industry includes a wide range of products and services related to technology, there are some products and services that are not typically included in this industry. Here are some examples:
- Non-technology products: The tech sales industry is focused on selling technology products and services, so products that are not technology-related are generally not included. For example, food, clothing, and household items are not typically sold through tech sales channels.
- Physical services: While technology services are a significant part of the tech sales industry, physical services such as plumbing, cleaning, or home repair services are not typically sold through tech sales channels.
- Retail products: Retail products, such as those sold in brick-and-mortar stores or online marketplaces like Amazon, are not typically sold through tech sales channels. While some tech products may be sold through these channels, the focus of tech sales is primarily on selling to businesses and organizations.
- Financial products: While technology can be used in the financial industry, financial products such as stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments are not typically sold through tech sales channels.
These are just a few examples of products and services that are not typically included in the tech sales industry. While the industry is constantly evolving, it remains focused on selling technology products and services to businesses and organizations.
Why work in tech sales?
Tech sales is good because it’s one of the few tech careers you can pursue without a college degree. College degrees can be beneficial, don’t get me wrong, but, they’re expensive and they take a long time to get.
They say it takes 4 years, maybe 3 years if you hustle and don’t balance a job or other responsibilities. It took me about 5.5 years and it was one of the biggest struggles of my life.
After busting my butt for nearly 6 years to get a bachelor’s degree, I landed a job shortly after graduation. And, at almost 10K less than my dream offer.
I wasn’t hoping for much, just $40,000/year yet, my offer was $32,000/year and the company was firm. I tried to negotiate but failed. And, that’s my college to first job story.
Is tech sales a good career?
Tech sales can be a rewarding and lucrative career path for people who enjoy working with technology and have strong communication and interpersonal skills. Here are some of the benefits of pursuing a career in tech sales:
High earning potential: Tech sales jobs often come with high base salaries, commission, and bonuses. Top salespeople can earn significant amounts of money, especially if they are selling high-value products or services.
Career growth: Sales is a key revenue-generating function of any company, so there is often room for career growth and advancement within the organization. Salespeople who consistently meet or exceed their targets can move up to management roles or other positions within the company.
Variety and challenge: Tech sales can be a dynamic and fast-paced field, with different challenges and opportunities emerging regularly. Salespeople are constantly learning about new products, services, and technologies, and are challenged to find creative solutions to meet customer needs.
Flexibility: Tech sales can be a flexible career path, with many companies offering remote work options or flexible schedules. This can be a good option for people who value work-life balance or need to work around other commitments.
However, it’s important to note that tech sales can also be a highly competitive field, with long hours and high-pressure targets.
Salespeople need to be able to handle rejection and stay motivated and focused on their goals. It’s also important to have a strong understanding of the products and services being sold, as well as the industry and market trends.
Ultimately, whether tech sales is a good career path for you will depend on your interests, skills, and career goals.
If you enjoy working with people and technology, and are motivated by the potential for high earnings and career growth, tech sales could be a good fit for you.
What skills do you need to work in tech sales?
To work in tech sales, there are several skills that are typically required or desirable. Here are some of the key skills:
- Communication skills: Tech sales professionals must be excellent communicators, both verbally and in writing. They must be able to explain technical concepts to non-technical people in a way that is easy to understand and persuasive.
- Interpersonal skills: Building relationships is a key part of tech sales. Sales professionals must be able to develop rapport with customers and establish trust.
- Technical knowledge: While tech sales professionals don’t need to be engineers or developers, they do need to have a basic understanding of the technology they are selling. This includes knowledge of hardware, software, and technical processes.
- Problem-solving skills: Tech sales professionals must be able to identify customer needs and find solutions that meet those needs. They must be able to think creatively and develop solutions that meet customer requirements.
- Sales skills: Of course, sales skills are essential to working in tech sales. This includes the ability to persuade customers, negotiate contracts, and close deals.
- Time management and organizational skills: Tech sales professionals must be able to manage their time effectively and stay organized while working on multiple deals at the same time.
- Adaptability: The tech industry is constantly changing, and tech sales professionals must be able to adapt to new products, new technologies, and new ways of selling.
These are just a few of the key skills that are important for success in tech sales. Depending on the specific role and company, there may be additional skills that are required or desirable.
What companies are hiring jobs in technology sales?
There are many companies that are hiring for technology sales jobs. Some of the top technology companies that frequently hire for sales positions include:
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- IBM
- Oracle
- Salesforce
- Cisco Systems
- Dell Technologies
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- SAP
In addition to these large technology companies, there are also many smaller companies that specialize in software or hardware products and services that require sales professionals to promote and sell their offerings. Some examples of these companies include:
- Zoom Video Communications
- Slack
- DocuSign
- Dropbox
- Okta
- Twilio
- Qualtrics
- Snowflake
- HubSpot
- Splunk
It’s important to note that these lists are not exhaustive and that there are many other companies out there that are hiring for technology sales jobs.
Job seekers interested in pursuing a career in technology sales should research companies that align with their interests and skills and check their careers page or job boards regularly for available positions.
What are the various tech sales roles available?
Tech sales job titles can vary from role to role. They can include account executive, business development representative, business development manager, among others.
Here’s how you can break into a tech sales job with no experience and no degree.
Meet CourseCareers
CourseCareers is a training program teaches you how to work in tech sales.
You’ll go through their curriculum to get trained on tech sales then, work in a paid internship before moving on to work in your tech sales career.
CourseCareers is a paid training program but, it costs a fraction of the price of going to college for 4 years.
Four year college $10,ooo to $15,000 vs CourseCareers $500 (one-time or monthly payments)
How does CourseCareers work?
Here’s how it works:
- Take the free introductory course: This teaches you about the tech sales industry. It’ll tell you what to expect working in this industry and really shine light on if this is the career path for you.
- Take the CourseCareers paid training: This is the paid training course that teaches you how to work as a tech sales representative.
- Paid internship: This pays around $7,000 on average and it’s a way to get your feet wet, getting some experience under your belt, working in tech sales.
- Tech sales career: Get your job offer and accept, starting your career as a tech sales rep!
After completing this short training program, graduates earn an average starting salary of $60,000/year. Many are getting offers for up to $85,000/year.
Here’s a rundown of all the benefits of tech sales jobs:
- Lucrative salary
- Remote work options
- Work benefits
- Work-life balance
- Low competition
This is one of the best careers to jump by up to 20% in salary within a few years.
If you dream about working in tech but, don’t feel up to going back to school for four years for a new degree, rest assured that you don’t have to.
Click here to take CourseCareers’ free introductory course so you can see if a tech sales career is right for you.
Where to find tech sales jobs
There are several online resources for help in finding technology sales jobs. Here are some popular ones:
- LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a professional social networking site that has a dedicated job board. You can search for technology sales jobs and also create job alerts to be notified when new jobs are posted.
- Indeed: Indeed is a popular job search site that aggregates job listings from various sources, including company websites and job boards. You can search for technology sales jobs by location and other filters, and also set up job alerts.
- Glassdoor: Glassdoor is a job search and career community site that provides company reviews, salary information, and interview questions from current and former employees. You can search for technology sales jobs and also research companies before applying.
- SimplyHired: SimplyHired is another job search site that aggregates job listings from various sources, including company websites and job boards. You can search for technology sales jobs by location and other filters, and also set up job alerts.
- TechCareers: TechCareers is a job search site dedicated to technology jobs. You can search for technology sales jobs and also research companies before applying.
- Salesjobs.com: Salesjobs.com is a job search site dedicated to sales jobs. You can search for technology sales jobs and also create job alerts to be notified when new jobs are posted.
- Monster: Monster is a job search site that lists a wide range of job openings, including technology sales jobs. You can search for jobs by location and other filters, and also set up job alerts.
In addition to these resources, it’s also a good idea to check the careers pages of specific companies you are interested in working for, as they may have job listings that are not job boards.
One of the best places for help where to find tech sales jobs is CourseCareers. They offer help to students to land a tech sales role:
- You’ll get insider knowledge and help with resume prep, applying for jobs, setting up,your LinkedIn page, and more
- You’ll be added to CourseCareers’ database of students they recommend for hiring
- Joining the student community Discord channel for the tech sales course is a place where students help each other with interview prep and giving pointers on how to get interviews and do well in the interview
What are you waiting for?
Get started today with CourseCareers’ free introductory course to see if tech sales jobs are really all that amazing that people paint them out to be.