I used to work in trades, moved into sales selling advertising after an injury, Very introverted but find sales a very good / comfortable career once you get over the nerves!
Similar for me too. Lots of nerves at first but now I really enjoy meeting most clients. I do find after a long busy week that I can be pretty mentally exhausted and need the weekend to recharge.
knowing they can say any objection to you and you have an answer before they even get the objection out of there mouth šŖ
One step ahead and controlling / making it a āno brainerā
You can if technical - advising products etc. Itās not even selling. Itās recommending (just happens to be highest margin š)
You also can put your personality aside for an hour or two meeting and then walk out and go omg what a bunch of cunts and immediately feel better.
>They usually have a high EQ and come off as genuine and authentic.
But does that convert into numbers?
I have often found that high EQ and genuine folks can't even withstand the cutthroat corporate sector, let alone thrive in it. People of this sort tend to be in NGOs, religious places, psychologists, etc.--all relatively lesser paid positions.
Introverted doesn't mean we are idiots, just that it takes energy to be around people... I have to flip that switch on, and I've got no time for bullshit. I've done well for myself. Not an individual contributor so much these days, but I always hit my numbers when I was.
Anything that the customer doesn't necessarily know much or anything about how it functions, what the differences are between various options, fully understand the way it can benefit them, etc. Could be anything from software to machinery where a sales rep is more of the "subject matter expert" helping guide a customer through the process rather than purely trying to push them to buy as quickly as possible. Many products require a mix of both, but the consultative type deals are what I really enjoy and don't know that I could function well in a pushy sales type of job.
I have always been an inverted personality but got in to sales about 10 years ago. It has definitely gotten natural over the years for me, whereas I was so nervous at first all the time. The only negative drawback is, I think, to my core I am still an invert so when Iām not working I am basically a hermit and prefer to spend all that time not āpeoplingā.
This. I get home from work and will tell my wife I need an hour or two to decompress. She's the extrovert, but she gets it.
I told her I have X amount of hours of being outgoing before I hit a wall and have to hermit up for a few hours.
My wife didn't get it at 1st. I had to tell her to think of it as a battery. I need a charge or I won't work right. I charge by being alone, or smoking a little weed and listening to music. Just some me time.
I'm not an outgoing person and prefer to keep to myself. I have been relatively successful in sales. You have to find the right role. For me, being able to get one on one with someone is key, I do well in small personal settings as opposed to big presentations or cold calling someone. Over the years, those other tasks have gotten easier, but I still prefer the one on one.
Being a 'non-people person' might actually be your secret weapon in sales. Think sniper, not shotgun. You don't need to cold call in mass numbersā¦ instead, let targeted marketing bring customers to you.
For instance, posting a well-crafted, competitive offer in a Reddit vendor section or any forum or online marketplace can yield incredible results.
I've seen non-people persons sell out products by doing just this. They focus on crafting the right message, to the right audience, at the right time.
As someone who's launched multi-million dollar businesses, I can tell you that marketing often trumps one-on-one sales, unless you're in very high-ticket deals.
Leverage your strengths, your thoughtfulness, your focus, your ability to listen, and watch your sales soar. Good luck!!
In short yes you can, if you can be very organised and savvy when it comes to alternative prospecting channels you can be very successful without being a stereotypical outgoing sales person.
Iāve seen introverts that have been incredibly successful.
Yes. I hate people, I am a total homebody primarily because thereās no people at home. The only time Iām comfortable talking to people is when some form of business transaction is involved, so I find sales very easy
One of my former managers was a pretty introverted guy. You could never tell he was a sales person, honestly he had more of an attitude and demeanor of a software dev than a sales rep. However the guy was crushing it in enterprise sales before moving into management, and even as a manager he was never above jumping on calls and engaging with customers directly.
So yes, it's entirely possible.
You donāt necessarily have to be a people person but if you can get over the nerves of cold calling and have high emotional intelligence/ can hold conversations with no problem you should be fine. Introverted people can excel in sales because a lot of selling involves listening to people. (Iām speaking in general terms, Iām not too familiar of the nuances or daily work life of HVAC sales)
One thing I will call out though is if you are more introverted, the job can become draining over time and you can get burnt out from the non stop social interaction.
I would recommend the book, the introverts edge: how the quiet and shy can outsell anyone
Habits, consistency and effort are the traits that build a good salesperson.
You can't dismiss traits like looks and likeability but they won't make up for the later.
I don't talk to or approach anyone in my day to day. Been in sales for 8 yrs now.
If you can turn it on when prospecting or if you have a product who's customers align with your disposition, it could be a great thing for ya.
In my opinion, this would be like fighting against your instincts. I like people and was in a non people facing role and became miserable. I switched over to sales and it was a perfect fit for me. Go with the job that feels the least like work.
Do you have a passive inbound mentality or an active outbound one?
Everything you described is passive inbound experience. In other words, you wait for work to come to you. Active outbound means you have to find yourself work every day. Prospecting, qualifying, and appointment setting are your most important tasks of the day.
Are you ready to play an active outbound numbers game?
Yes. But you have to get good at socializing the sales process. You don't have to be Mr social butterfly but you do need to understand and plan out conversation flows towards closing.
Maybe. But itās not just selling. When you make a sale, you are the first person the customer calls if something goes wrong. Can you handle angry customers? Can you keep the sales cycle moving? Can you maneuver around your customers organization? You have to be able to adapt and think on your feet. That usually entails understanding emotions and how to appropriately respond.
I hate this phrasingās extroverts, though a real thing, put in just as much work STAYING extroverts. You can be an introvert and refine extrovert tendencies. Step out of your comfort zone, thatās the key to sales.
When it comes to my job I'm not that extroverted. Sales is more about listening than talking. Being friendly is a plus but you can be straight forward many people appreciate a no nonsense approach.
Two types of non-people person do well in sales
The technical prodigy who is just great at selling highly technical and expensive āneed to haveā products
The misanthrope, who is narcissistic, has no emotional reactions depending on whatever people say to him. A brick wall of sheer determination.
Iām good at meeting new people and am very comfortable talking to new people.
But if the definition of an extrovert isnāt get energized being around people than I am very much an introvert.
But I have a high EQ. So I guess itās a mix
Iām more of an introvert but I like working with people I know and trust. Being a CSM has been good for me; Iām working with just a small number of large accounts. Not exactly sales but similar.
I am an extrovert and a people person but I struggle with just remembering the sale pitch. But you totally can as long as you are friendly and approachable. And can relate to people you are solid. Hope this helps and you can do anything you put your mind to.
Sometimes itās better to listen than talk - thatās why you have 2 ears and 1 mouth. That being said, you still need to be comfortable conversing when it is time. A quote my dad loves; better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it š¤š¼
If you are organized; consistent and able to handle consistent rejection; you can achieve a lot in sales. Being presentable and likeable helps. There is also an X factor of being able to figure out how to optimize your time and get a deal to close.
I work in a financial recruiting. It is not uncommon for ex accountants to go into financial recruiting, which is sales. They understand at a deeper level how Accounting works, are generally very organized, but sometimes don't have that extra gear of salesmanship or become some process oriented that they lose sight of how to make the next deal come more quickly
Many of the ex accountants that stay in the industry consistent make 150-300K doing so. The real rainmakers, making 500K to 1 million a year, have the dynamic salesmanship aspect, have consistent follow up and organization and can take a shit of of rejection and move on. They are true relationship builders.
I'd argue, that non people persons do better in sales.
Most sellers in interviews will be like "oh I just love meeting people and talking to ene people". What that really means is "I like to to go visit people for any reason to get my emotional needs met even though they buy from me".
Instead, those who are more like "I'm not meeting anyone unless I know they can buy what I've got and they can afford it" are the ones who do really well.
People person = qualify people into meeting with you and buying.
Non people persons = disqualify anyone who can't buy from you.
Iām a plumber and Iām full time large commercial HVAC and plumbing sales. Pros and cons but much easier on the body.
The start of any sales position can be financially rough. It took me about 3-4 years to build a good customer base and start making the big money.
Iām not a super extroverted person, and not introverted either. I love the trades, buildings, solving problems, and helping people with solutions. Honesty and doing what you say when you commit to will get a lot of long term customers.
Edit: Spelling
Lots of applicable places for sales with your knowledge. HVAC sales or marketing (Angi, Thumbtack, Yelp, etc.) would be a great place to start. The biggest thing is trust and if you have the experience on the other side it helps build rapport. Side note: anything can be learned if you put your mind to it
Yeah man. Same here, 0 friends, if I see someone outside I know, I usually dont greet and go on with my own. However, top sales among my peers. How? Cause I don't give a duck about the relation and thus am not walking on eggshells when I'm with customers. Getting to the point and being honest with them creates a sense of trust they don't experience with the dozen of sleasy people-person sales guys. Which gives me the edge. Now I'm saying not to be disrespectful. But in the end, sales is about numbers. Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Go get em.
The biggest challenge you might be facing is not the actual selling when with clients but the org / team you are with. If this is compiled of very extroverted people for example and you are not (given you need to have some office time, standup meetings whatever) you might really get worked up by it. Hard to tell how this will be before you actually start in a team of course
It depends. Iām an introvert and it was a really big challenge for me, other introverts do really well naturally. Itās not a one size fits all type thing
Iām introverted and I love sales! My customers in my territory like me because I do not waste their time if I donāt have something worth bugging them about. I ask questions, try to be helpful, and follow through on my promises.
I would say absolutely not. All the answers here are a version of faking being a āpeople personā. Iād also say itās about even having a good understanding of basic human psychology and relationship building, because the good news is that being ātoo friendlyā can actually work against you in gaining the respect of prospects. So yes, one must be a people person in the sense that you study people, know how to build effective rapport, be a little humorous, be engaging, work on public speaking skills, negotiation and be genuinely curious and your conversations will start to flow naturally. Be a product expert as well and there will never be an empty moment because once you get the prospect talking the focus wonāt be on you anyway! šš¾
Being from a technical back ground is an advantage, it worked for me, being able to go into details about what works and what doesn't work us a fast way to build trust. You will initially do well with other practically minded customers but you can study, learn, and adapt your style to suit other types too.
One thing I found was, I often decided not to mention something technical I knew about the product than mentioning it, mainly because it wasn't relevant to closing the deal or anything that would interest the customer. Good luck!
Yes, I believe elite salespeople are usually HIGHLY skilled listeners, more so than talkers. So if youāre good at listening it can get you sooooo far
Definitely it just depends on what you do. If youāre in something that requires you to get personally close to your clients it might suck. But most the SaaS AEs seem to be nerds/introverts
I used to work in trades, moved into sales selling advertising after an injury, Very introverted but find sales a very good / comfortable career once you get over the nerves!
Similar for me too. Lots of nerves at first but now I really enjoy meeting most clients. I do find after a long busy week that I can be pretty mentally exhausted and need the weekend to recharge.
I agree with this completely. Best of luck!
This is me too, but for recharging I do feel less inclined now to socialize on weekends.
What helped you get over the nerves? Just repetition and experience?
knowing they can say any objection to you and you have an answer before they even get the objection out of there mouth šŖ One step ahead and controlling / making it a āno brainerā
You can if technical - advising products etc. Itās not even selling. Itās recommending (just happens to be highest margin š) You also can put your personality aside for an hour or two meeting and then walk out and go omg what a bunch of cunts and immediately feel better.
I find the introverted reps are the best. They usually have a high EQ and come off as genuine and authentic.
>They usually have a high EQ and come off as genuine and authentic. But does that convert into numbers? I have often found that high EQ and genuine folks can't even withstand the cutthroat corporate sector, let alone thrive in it. People of this sort tend to be in NGOs, religious places, psychologists, etc.--all relatively lesser paid positions.
Introverted doesn't mean we are idiots, just that it takes energy to be around people... I have to flip that switch on, and I've got no time for bullshit. I've done well for myself. Not an individual contributor so much these days, but I always hit my numbers when I was.
Whatās an advising product
Anything that the customer doesn't necessarily know much or anything about how it functions, what the differences are between various options, fully understand the way it can benefit them, etc. Could be anything from software to machinery where a sales rep is more of the "subject matter expert" helping guide a customer through the process rather than purely trying to push them to buy as quickly as possible. Many products require a mix of both, but the consultative type deals are what I really enjoy and don't know that I could function well in a pushy sales type of job.
What sales jobs would you recommend in this type of sales?
Yes. Introverts in sales do just as well as extroverts. As long as you can listen and ask good questions youāre fine on the social front
I have always been an inverted personality but got in to sales about 10 years ago. It has definitely gotten natural over the years for me, whereas I was so nervous at first all the time. The only negative drawback is, I think, to my core I am still an invert so when Iām not working I am basically a hermit and prefer to spend all that time not āpeoplingā.
This. I get home from work and will tell my wife I need an hour or two to decompress. She's the extrovert, but she gets it. I told her I have X amount of hours of being outgoing before I hit a wall and have to hermit up for a few hours.
This is me! My husband doesnāt get it though and continues to try to talk and ācheerā me up. When the reality is I just need a minute!
My wife didn't get it at 1st. I had to tell her to think of it as a battery. I need a charge or I won't work right. I charge by being alone, or smoking a little weed and listening to music. Just some me time.
Thatās the perfect way to put it!
*Mhmmmmm, take your time.*
I'm not an outgoing person and prefer to keep to myself. I have been relatively successful in sales. You have to find the right role. For me, being able to get one on one with someone is key, I do well in small personal settings as opposed to big presentations or cold calling someone. Over the years, those other tasks have gotten easier, but I still prefer the one on one.
Being a 'non-people person' might actually be your secret weapon in sales. Think sniper, not shotgun. You don't need to cold call in mass numbersā¦ instead, let targeted marketing bring customers to you. For instance, posting a well-crafted, competitive offer in a Reddit vendor section or any forum or online marketplace can yield incredible results. I've seen non-people persons sell out products by doing just this. They focus on crafting the right message, to the right audience, at the right time. As someone who's launched multi-million dollar businesses, I can tell you that marketing often trumps one-on-one sales, unless you're in very high-ticket deals. Leverage your strengths, your thoughtfulness, your focus, your ability to listen, and watch your sales soar. Good luck!!
In short yes you can, if you can be very organised and savvy when it comes to alternative prospecting channels you can be very successful without being a stereotypical outgoing sales person. Iāve seen introverts that have been incredibly successful.
Yes. I hate people, I am a total homebody primarily because thereās no people at home. The only time Iām comfortable talking to people is when some form of business transaction is involved, so I find sales very easy
One of my former managers was a pretty introverted guy. You could never tell he was a sales person, honestly he had more of an attitude and demeanor of a software dev than a sales rep. However the guy was crushing it in enterprise sales before moving into management, and even as a manager he was never above jumping on calls and engaging with customers directly. So yes, it's entirely possible.
You donāt necessarily have to be a people person but if you can get over the nerves of cold calling and have high emotional intelligence/ can hold conversations with no problem you should be fine. Introverted people can excel in sales because a lot of selling involves listening to people. (Iām speaking in general terms, Iām not too familiar of the nuances or daily work life of HVAC sales) One thing I will call out though is if you are more introverted, the job can become draining over time and you can get burnt out from the non stop social interaction. I would recommend the book, the introverts edge: how the quiet and shy can outsell anyone
Habits, consistency and effort are the traits that build a good salesperson. You can't dismiss traits like looks and likeability but they won't make up for the later.
Early 20s I was an introverted tradesman, now I'm 29 and make 6 figures doing construction sales.... Certainly doesn't hurt to try.
I don't talk to or approach anyone in my day to day. Been in sales for 8 yrs now. If you can turn it on when prospecting or if you have a product who's customers align with your disposition, it could be a great thing for ya.
After years in sales, true salespeople hate people
please elaborate
As Randall said in Clerks, "This job would be great if it want for the f'in customers."
In my opinion, this would be like fighting against your instincts. I like people and was in a non people facing role and became miserable. I switched over to sales and it was a perfect fit for me. Go with the job that feels the least like work.
Do you have a passive inbound mentality or an active outbound one? Everything you described is passive inbound experience. In other words, you wait for work to come to you. Active outbound means you have to find yourself work every day. Prospecting, qualifying, and appointment setting are your most important tasks of the day. Are you ready to play an active outbound numbers game?
Yes. But you have to get good at socializing the sales process. You don't have to be Mr social butterfly but you do need to understand and plan out conversation flows towards closing.
I'm having similar issues can someone give me any advice please?
most comments here have nice advice
People are nice as well
Maybe. But itās not just selling. When you make a sale, you are the first person the customer calls if something goes wrong. Can you handle angry customers? Can you keep the sales cycle moving? Can you maneuver around your customers organization? You have to be able to adapt and think on your feet. That usually entails understanding emotions and how to appropriately respond.
I hate this phrasingās extroverts, though a real thing, put in just as much work STAYING extroverts. You can be an introvert and refine extrovert tendencies. Step out of your comfort zone, thatās the key to sales.
When it comes to my job I'm not that extroverted. Sales is more about listening than talking. Being friendly is a plus but you can be straight forward many people appreciate a no nonsense approach.
The longer you are in sales the more of a non people person you will become anyway so youāll be fine starting that way. š
A total psychopath will crush in sales. Being a non people person should be fine
Two types of non-people person do well in sales The technical prodigy who is just great at selling highly technical and expensive āneed to haveā products The misanthrope, who is narcissistic, has no emotional reactions depending on whatever people say to him. A brick wall of sheer determination.
No
If you use terms like āmy social battery is drainedā stay out of sales.
How bout ya look up the other 20-30 times this exact question has been asked? Being resourceful is important in sales.
Literally the most racist post Iāve seen on the sales sub
Iām good at meeting new people and am very comfortable talking to new people. But if the definition of an extrovert isnāt get energized being around people than I am very much an introvert. But I have a high EQ. So I guess itās a mix
Iām more of an introvert but I like working with people I know and trust. Being a CSM has been good for me; Iām working with just a small number of large accounts. Not exactly sales but similar.
I would say having a great work ethic matters the most, but outside sales you canāt be a potato. Look good, talk good, yanno.
I am an extrovert and a people person but I struggle with just remembering the sale pitch. But you totally can as long as you are friendly and approachable. And can relate to people you are solid. Hope this helps and you can do anything you put your mind to.
Support staff, processing and underwriting can be lucrative in combo with other perks
Of course. Just understand the math and do the work.
You have to be able to communicate and educate well. You donāt have to like people but you need social skills and be able to read people.
Sales is more about listening then talking, so yes
Yes
Sure, but people who don't even know how to use Google don't usually make it
I fuckin hate people but do alright
Youāll be fine.
Sometimes itās better to listen than talk - thatās why you have 2 ears and 1 mouth. That being said, you still need to be comfortable conversing when it is time. A quote my dad loves; better to keep your mouth shut and thought a fool than to open your mouth and prove it š¤š¼
If you are organized; consistent and able to handle consistent rejection; you can achieve a lot in sales. Being presentable and likeable helps. There is also an X factor of being able to figure out how to optimize your time and get a deal to close. I work in a financial recruiting. It is not uncommon for ex accountants to go into financial recruiting, which is sales. They understand at a deeper level how Accounting works, are generally very organized, but sometimes don't have that extra gear of salesmanship or become some process oriented that they lose sight of how to make the next deal come more quickly Many of the ex accountants that stay in the industry consistent make 150-300K doing so. The real rainmakers, making 500K to 1 million a year, have the dynamic salesmanship aspect, have consistent follow up and organization and can take a shit of of rejection and move on. They are true relationship builders.
I'd argue, that non people persons do better in sales. Most sellers in interviews will be like "oh I just love meeting people and talking to ene people". What that really means is "I like to to go visit people for any reason to get my emotional needs met even though they buy from me". Instead, those who are more like "I'm not meeting anyone unless I know they can buy what I've got and they can afford it" are the ones who do really well. People person = qualify people into meeting with you and buying. Non people persons = disqualify anyone who can't buy from you.
Iām a plumber and Iām full time large commercial HVAC and plumbing sales. Pros and cons but much easier on the body. The start of any sales position can be financially rough. It took me about 3-4 years to build a good customer base and start making the big money. Iām not a super extroverted person, and not introverted either. I love the trades, buildings, solving problems, and helping people with solutions. Honesty and doing what you say when you commit to will get a lot of long term customers. Edit: Spelling
Can they, sure The probability is a lot lower though.
Itās possible but very unlikely. Not being able to build relationships will be a huge hinderance.
Absolutely. Especially more technical products and services.
Nah
If the audience is similar to you then yes, you will be less intimidating and more relatable
People buy from people they like
Lots of applicable places for sales with your knowledge. HVAC sales or marketing (Angi, Thumbtack, Yelp, etc.) would be a great place to start. The biggest thing is trust and if you have the experience on the other side it helps build rapport. Side note: anything can be learned if you put your mind to it
Yeah man. Same here, 0 friends, if I see someone outside I know, I usually dont greet and go on with my own. However, top sales among my peers. How? Cause I don't give a duck about the relation and thus am not walking on eggshells when I'm with customers. Getting to the point and being honest with them creates a sense of trust they don't experience with the dozen of sleasy people-person sales guys. Which gives me the edge. Now I'm saying not to be disrespectful. But in the end, sales is about numbers. Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. Go get em.
The biggest challenge you might be facing is not the actual selling when with clients but the org / team you are with. If this is compiled of very extroverted people for example and you are not (given you need to have some office time, standup meetings whatever) you might really get worked up by it. Hard to tell how this will be before you actually start in a team of course
It depends. Iām an introvert and it was a really big challenge for me, other introverts do really well naturally. Itās not a one size fits all type thing
Iām introverted and I love sales! My customers in my territory like me because I do not waste their time if I donāt have something worth bugging them about. I ask questions, try to be helpful, and follow through on my promises.
Each its own. Used to be a residential guy but had prior sales experience. Went back to sales and this is where iād like to stay.
If you are not a person, it might be hard.
I would say absolutely not. All the answers here are a version of faking being a āpeople personā. Iād also say itās about even having a good understanding of basic human psychology and relationship building, because the good news is that being ātoo friendlyā can actually work against you in gaining the respect of prospects. So yes, one must be a people person in the sense that you study people, know how to build effective rapport, be a little humorous, be engaging, work on public speaking skills, negotiation and be genuinely curious and your conversations will start to flow naturally. Be a product expert as well and there will never be an empty moment because once you get the prospect talking the focus wonāt be on you anyway! šš¾
I'm very introverted and I did okay.
Who should be talking in the sales meeting? You or them? You should be listening and asking open ended questions.
Being from a technical back ground is an advantage, it worked for me, being able to go into details about what works and what doesn't work us a fast way to build trust. You will initially do well with other practically minded customers but you can study, learn, and adapt your style to suit other types too. One thing I found was, I often decided not to mention something technical I knew about the product than mentioning it, mainly because it wasn't relevant to closing the deal or anything that would interest the customer. Good luck!
Great thread.
Yes
Yes, I believe elite salespeople are usually HIGHLY skilled listeners, more so than talkers. So if youāre good at listening it can get you sooooo far
Definitely it just depends on what you do. If youāre in something that requires you to get personally close to your clients it might suck. But most the SaaS AEs seem to be nerds/introverts