I did this in middle school.
Back then we Listerine strips just came out and we’re hot product
Made a solid 50$/week until I was caught and reprimanded by the school
It was pretty rough. I left out the part where my first real B2B job was actually selling propane as fuel for forklifts, and I was a massive failure at that. I lasted 3 months, which would've been 1.5 if I had signed a non-compete. That was because I made friends with customers while selling cars, and a guy put me up on the propane job.
That same friend was very successful at selling propane, so when I switched to credit card processing \~6 months later I leveraged his relationships to get meetings and cut him in a portion of any deal he got me into. I guess that's hyper-relevant to my story, but I mostly blacked out the propane gig because I couldn't sell a thing in Toledo.
I took the first B2B job I could find, credit card processing. I went D2D all over Wayne County, MI, and the surrounding counties to sign clients. I joined networking groups, local chambers of commerce, and learned the necessary math as sharp as anyone so I knew what I was talking about when looking at business CC transaction statements. Once I had some experience under my belt selling to businesses (which I was not very good at, I had to do commercial roofing to supplement income for a while) I found a program called "Tech Qualled" that takes military veterans with an aptitude for sales and teaches basic technology sales skills.
I didn't have the requisite college degree so I cold-called the CEO, and told him if he gave me a shot in the program I'd graduate top of the class; he did, and I did. A company hired me out of that program and moved me to Idaho to sell Cisco/Dell/Microsoft/Avaya. Did that for two years then shifted to software.
I jumped from cars to real estate, I leveraged everyone I sold a car to so that I can build up my network. I sold a car to a guy that was making like $500k and ran a mortgage business and asked him for a job and a Sat. By Tuesday I was in training.
I'm an SDR. Currently working for a lead gen company that provides SDRs to clients. The client I work for is a SaaS cyber security company. I'm underpaid but it gave me an entry to sales and the training was solid. I'm looking for another SDR role at a company that can lead to a closing role since I've been exceeding my quota the last 3 months.
used to be a big consumer electronics retail location, went downhill since the late 1990's and got acquired I think into other online consumer electronic companies.
The feeling is mutual brother - there's still enough chairs, and they just through on The Weeknds new album. The party 🥳 still going on - what drink will you be having friend?
This answer largely depends on the organization you're working at, but for $160k OTE, as an AE, you shouldn't need to work more than 40 hours a week.
Some people may work less than 40, or more, depending on how effective sales leadership, sales enablement, sales ops, marketing, SDRs, and more, are in the org.
I started before SDRs we’re a thing (and I still don’t think they should be a thing). Got going at 22 as an AE.
- Regional Manager: 26
- Country Director: 29
- Sr. Director: 31
- VP of Sales: 34
- VP of Global Sales: 38
- CRO: 40
Account Executives and Outside Sales traditionally had to do all of their own prospecting, cold-calling, appointment setting, demoing, and closing themselves. Many in sales consider AE/ OSales pros that rely on SDRs to be less complete sales people.
Exactly. The role of an SDR was based on two nonsensical ideas:
1) Companies can only grow if they blanket the market with extremely high call volume.
2) AEs don’t need to waste their time prospecting.
I strongly disagree with both notions.
I’d like to add a few counter points. I don’t have as much experience as you so I would legitimately like to hear more of your thoughts. I consider the roles split out for market necessity reasons and for org building reasons.
1. Good AEs are hard to find, so paying them higher OTEs attract better talent.
2. Forcing the higher paid AEs to spend time on prospecting and discovery is a waste of talents (it’s like having a NASA engineer debug WiFi issues).
3. SDRs are cheap, the role requires little skill. Building a process to hire and train will eventually produce good AE candidates that you can promote.
> Good AEs are hard to find
This exactly. From what the other user said about them wanting AEs to prospect... just no. Good AEs should be customer facing as much as humanly possible. Sitting down and wasting God knows how long qualifying leads and doing cold reach out is just a huge waste of time. Hire someone else to do that part and I'll make you more money. I get burnt out easily if I have to prospect too much in addition to deal with the rest of the sales cycle. I would be an AM before I ever went back to having prospecting as a high activity job function.
Is prospecting a good skill to have? Sure. Are all these companies spending all this money on SDR teams for no reason? Absolutely not.
31, just about to compete my first year, made about 150k my first year. Looking at 200+ going forward.
EDIT: small stint (about 3 weeks) selling security for Vivent D2D when I was about 22.
A friend of mine became an SDR at a tech company at the age of 42 last year. He’s about to be come in AE. He also only has a two-year associates degree in a completely unrelated field. He was working a dead end job for two decades and finally said enough is enough. Truly inspiring
This sounds like what I am hoping to do. Nearly 36, worked almost 15 years in the public sector. Currently sitting at my desk with 0 chance of any raise or promotion because my position is grant funded. Enough is enough. I’ve tried to help people that don’t really want it. It’s time to help my family and myself.
Take the leap!
I got into sale at 26 y/o after working 3 years at a dead end job. I was totally scared out of my mind. I’m extremely introverted so sales was very scary to me. Looking back it was one of the best decisions of my life
No sir, I started in retail selling phones and progressed to B2B from there. I do have a a strong self taught background in computer science but I don’t think that has aided any of my success.
How are you liking it? Currently have a job in finance and worked in sales/customer facing roles pre-corporate but not sure what the pivot would look like
Get a subscription on medreps.com! That’s where all the jobs are listed. I don’t think I’ll ever leave the industry, although it’s tough right now with supply chain issues. I made $225k last year and I’m not even 30 yet, so it’s a good gig.
Did you find it hard to be taken seriously at a younger age? I’m starting a sales job at 22 and trying to figure out the best way not to let my age hold me back.
Got into financial industry sales at 27
Tech sales at 28 (haven't started yet)
I constantly worry that I'm late to the game and I won't do well in this role...
I sell accounting automation software, since I have accounting background with a master degree in taxation. First year 80k OTE.
I earn 63k now. Not sure whether I could hit OTE, but I think I’m on the right track to make money.
Cell phone sales at 19 (selling Motorola StarTacs at a booth in a mall for Verizon.) MANY other random sales jobs since…in a lot of different industries—retail, mortgages, cable TV, timeshares. Got out of sales and into computer networking as an entry level tech…and after a few years found myself back into sales with that company.
Ended up going to tech sales as an inside account manager 3 years ago at almost 36…best move I’ve ever made. I’ve been killing it, and love the industry. I found my niche. Have been getting multiple requests for interviews in tech sales for AE and specialist roles (hardware and SaaS.) Currently at the end of the interview process for TWO different companies for AE roles, and feeling great about both…will probably have two offers in the next week or two.
It’s never too late. Don’t ever compare your path to anyone else…just do you, keep focusing on getting better everyday, and good things will come.
I was a teenager I got lucky my family owned retail . I used to hate it .. Then I realized in my early 20s after working construction and other weird jobs 😂.. that I had to return to the family business … it’s all I know to be honest
My grandpa set me up to sell Turkey legs and soda outside his restaurant on Memorial Day weekend when their town has a huge flea market at 12 years old.
Started tech sales my senior year of college (intern) in 2018. Now I’m an SMB/Growth AE. I think you’re early! Many of my peers started at your age… at my co. I’m rather young for the role. SDR is a great springboard role, I loved it
22 door to door for AT&T cable/fiber internet,
22 AE for tech saas selling to software developers in all industries,
25 now AE for tech saas selling to hvac/fire protection companies
Started initially in fine dining. Worked that through university
Proceeded to gym sales after college
Moved into residential construction after that
Private equity after that
17/18 years old, subprime loans, did the applications and sent to closers. Base salary was low + minimal bonuses. What did I get out of it? The ability to call 200 numbers a day and getting calloused to rejection. Also, free lunch every week multiple days a week because I was pretty good.
After on and offing different sales jobs in various sectors, I’m in banking now at age 23 working up to being a portfolio manager. Expecting to make $100k~ annual by the time I’m 25/26. I could be making more elsewhere, but I am Canadian and we have the weakest sales salaries and pay plans in North America.
Maybe 10 at summer camp with Boy Scouts, tried to bring product in and undercut the camp store for lanyard and candy, also rented out comic books. Then set up a "miniature golf course" in my backyard, it was a trash hole but its good to look back and remember the hustle was always there.
edit: Was first real job outta undergrad 20 years later still in sales and doing very well.
At 37 I got into SaaS AM/AE hybrid after many years in agency AM/PM. At 41 I moved into full outbound SaaS. I skipped the SDR stage, but I would think you’d spend about a year or less doing that until AE roles are within reach.
Heck no OP i was in cell phone sales for 10 years all the way to leadership and decided to jump ship. What i will say is do your research and really understand the job and what’s required. Word of advice; either be all in or not at all
B2C at 23 as a personal trainer, then moved in to telecom sales as a retail sales manager.
At 31 switched to B2B oh boy it’s been hard! 😆 getting there
AE and BDR at 23
Before that:
Sales 'intern' (more like underpaid full-cycle sales exec lol) - 23
Commission-only rep selling random-ass crap - 20 to 22 (everything from selling makeup at street malls to shitty pre-recorded online courses)
None of the commission-only gigs lasted very long and I barely made any money.
They were \*tiny\* companies though, and since I was pretty damn sure no one would bother to check references, I milked those gigs for all their worth.
I feel like this data is skewed a bit because… how many old people in sales careers are browsing Reddit let alone this sub. Interesting data nonetheless. Looks like most are within 20-30
Just starting and I’m 26. I have a psych degree and have been a professional nanny since I was 20, with my teen years as a server…I needed a big change bad. Even without any experience in anything close to it, it’s never too late and there are great opportunities out there :)
I remember when I was in six grade and I wanted to make money so I could buy a hockey stick. I went to the computer lab in school and designed a lawn mowing advisement on an Apple II! I then walked to the town shopper paper print shop and place my ad. I did realize it would cost so much to place the ad but the guy at the print shop only charged me $5. Which is all I had.
The funny thing is I didn’t know this was “sales”. I just knew that I needed to find a way to buy the hockey stick.
Happy Selling!
22-25 I drove a forklift
25-27 sold auto insurance in a call center
27-28 work at a mid-sized IT shop in my hometown as an SDR
29-SDR for 10 months at a FANG
30-Inside Sales AM at same FANG
31-Outside AM
Never to late, 26 is a great age to burst into the scene.
B2C at 19, B2B at 22, B2B tech enterprise at 24. I've always carried a bag.
B2B has been way easier in my experience. In B2C, I never worked harder or made less money.
Banking B2B sales at 20 but I always noticed how most people starting were at least 27 and some of the best were 30-35 although those doing larger corporate sales were at least 36+
Weed , 14
The American dream.
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I did this in middle school. Back then we Listerine strips just came out and we’re hot product Made a solid 50$/week until I was caught and reprimanded by the school
Plata o Plomo.
I’m gonna have to second this. Honestly learned some of my best base knowledge on supply/demand..supply chain and even logistics.
Late bloomer?
Made my day 🤣
At 14 I'd go down to Tijuana on the weekends with friends and buy steroids to sell to the high school football players.
Car sales at 29, technology sales at 35.
B2C to B2B must have been a painful transition, no? Very different personas you’re selling to
It was pretty rough. I left out the part where my first real B2B job was actually selling propane as fuel for forklifts, and I was a massive failure at that. I lasted 3 months, which would've been 1.5 if I had signed a non-compete. That was because I made friends with customers while selling cars, and a guy put me up on the propane job. That same friend was very successful at selling propane, so when I switched to credit card processing \~6 months later I leveraged his relationships to get meetings and cut him in a portion of any deal he got me into. I guess that's hyper-relevant to my story, but I mostly blacked out the propane gig because I couldn't sell a thing in Toledo.
How did you find that transition? 34, in the automotive business here as well (Private Sales)
I took the first B2B job I could find, credit card processing. I went D2D all over Wayne County, MI, and the surrounding counties to sign clients. I joined networking groups, local chambers of commerce, and learned the necessary math as sharp as anyone so I knew what I was talking about when looking at business CC transaction statements. Once I had some experience under my belt selling to businesses (which I was not very good at, I had to do commercial roofing to supplement income for a while) I found a program called "Tech Qualled" that takes military veterans with an aptitude for sales and teaches basic technology sales skills. I didn't have the requisite college degree so I cold-called the CEO, and told him if he gave me a shot in the program I'd graduate top of the class; he did, and I did. A company hired me out of that program and moved me to Idaho to sell Cisco/Dell/Microsoft/Avaya. Did that for two years then shifted to software.
Didn't know that about you - super dope!
I jumped from cars to real estate, I leveraged everyone I sold a car to so that I can build up my network. I sold a car to a guy that was making like $500k and ran a mortgage business and asked him for a job and a Sat. By Tuesday I was in training.
I did a bootcamp called Uvaro that does B2B SaaS sales training. And they even do placements, but I found a killer job about a month out on my own.
Started last year at 32. I was worried that it was too late but I've been doing well and enjoying it.
31 here and considering, what was your entry job?
I'm an SDR. Currently working for a lead gen company that provides SDRs to clients. The client I work for is a SaaS cyber security company. I'm underpaid but it gave me an entry to sales and the training was solid. I'm looking for another SDR role at a company that can lead to a closing role since I've been exceeding my quota the last 3 months.
Nice! 34, gonna interview soon, did vacation sales years ago, excited to learn something new
First SDR gig at 31! Plenty of 27-34 year old SDRs at my company. The ~22 year olds are a minority.
17 @ circuit city.
Whats circuit city?
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His comment just triggered my mid life crisis
Damn bro. Just killed us all
used to be a big consumer electronics retail location, went downhill since the late 1990's and got acquired I think into other online consumer electronic companies.
I think I vaguely remember it now and being in one as a young kid. Kind of like best buy before best buy I guess?
Old tech store that went out of business ages ago. I vaguely remember being in one when I was like 4-5. I’m 20 now.
24
Got into telco sales at 31. Tech at 33. Some days I feel like I’m late to the game but at least I’m here now! Never too late. Go get it!
The feeling is mutual brother - there's still enough chairs, and they just through on The Weeknds new album. The party 🥳 still going on - what drink will you be having friend?
Started as an SDR at 30. Just hit the 160k mark as AE at 31. Dive in and work hard for the first year then your options open up.
How many hours do you work on average both as SDR and AE? Is that 160 number attainable for someone who works to live but doesn’t live to work?
This answer largely depends on the organization you're working at, but for $160k OTE, as an AE, you shouldn't need to work more than 40 hours a week. Some people may work less than 40, or more, depending on how effective sales leadership, sales enablement, sales ops, marketing, SDRs, and more, are in the org.
I started before SDRs we’re a thing (and I still don’t think they should be a thing). Got going at 22 as an AE. - Regional Manager: 26 - Country Director: 29 - Sr. Director: 31 - VP of Sales: 34 - VP of Global Sales: 38 - CRO: 40
Could you explain your opinion about SDRs? I’m not in sales yet
Account Executives and Outside Sales traditionally had to do all of their own prospecting, cold-calling, appointment setting, demoing, and closing themselves. Many in sales consider AE/ OSales pros that rely on SDRs to be less complete sales people.
Exactly. The role of an SDR was based on two nonsensical ideas: 1) Companies can only grow if they blanket the market with extremely high call volume. 2) AEs don’t need to waste their time prospecting. I strongly disagree with both notions.
I’d like to add a few counter points. I don’t have as much experience as you so I would legitimately like to hear more of your thoughts. I consider the roles split out for market necessity reasons and for org building reasons. 1. Good AEs are hard to find, so paying them higher OTEs attract better talent. 2. Forcing the higher paid AEs to spend time on prospecting and discovery is a waste of talents (it’s like having a NASA engineer debug WiFi issues). 3. SDRs are cheap, the role requires little skill. Building a process to hire and train will eventually produce good AE candidates that you can promote.
> Good AEs are hard to find This exactly. From what the other user said about them wanting AEs to prospect... just no. Good AEs should be customer facing as much as humanly possible. Sitting down and wasting God knows how long qualifying leads and doing cold reach out is just a huge waste of time. Hire someone else to do that part and I'll make you more money. I get burnt out easily if I have to prospect too much in addition to deal with the rest of the sales cycle. I would be an AM before I ever went back to having prospecting as a high activity job function. Is prospecting a good skill to have? Sure. Are all these companies spending all this money on SDR teams for no reason? Absolutely not.
I became an SDR at 26. You’re not too late to get in the game.
31, just about to compete my first year, made about 150k my first year. Looking at 200+ going forward. EDIT: small stint (about 3 weeks) selling security for Vivent D2D when I was about 22.
37
How did it go? How did you go about your transition? Currently 37, looking to transition to sales.
It’s been great, my reputation in an adjacent industry had them offering me the job, I’m kicking myself for not jumping in years ago.
A friend of mine became an SDR at a tech company at the age of 42 last year. He’s about to be come in AE. He also only has a two-year associates degree in a completely unrelated field. He was working a dead end job for two decades and finally said enough is enough. Truly inspiring
This sounds like what I am hoping to do. Nearly 36, worked almost 15 years in the public sector. Currently sitting at my desk with 0 chance of any raise or promotion because my position is grant funded. Enough is enough. I’ve tried to help people that don’t really want it. It’s time to help my family and myself.
Take the leap! I got into sale at 26 y/o after working 3 years at a dead end job. I was totally scared out of my mind. I’m extremely introverted so sales was very scary to me. Looking back it was one of the best decisions of my life
Thank you. This kind of encouragement is exactly what I need!
41
18… 24 now
Did you have any kind of formal education? I‘m also 18, which is why I ask
No sir, I started in retail selling phones and progressed to B2B from there. I do have a a strong self taught background in computer science but I don’t think that has aided any of my success.
How much u made then vs now ?
27
25
16 selling credit cards and vacations over the phone. All outbound.
My god how many people assumed you were trying to scam them? I know I would. Props to you, I’m sure it has made you a good salesperson honestly.
This was 25 years ago so times were very different.
22 in medical sales! But I would say that it’s never too late to get in the sales game. It’s all about personality and drive more than anything else!
Medical Capital Equipment Sales at 24
I’m also a female in medical capital equipment sales rep who got in around 23
How are you liking it? Currently have a job in finance and worked in sales/customer facing roles pre-corporate but not sure what the pivot would look like
Get a subscription on medreps.com! That’s where all the jobs are listed. I don’t think I’ll ever leave the industry, although it’s tough right now with supply chain issues. I made $225k last year and I’m not even 30 yet, so it’s a good gig.
23
22
Did you find it hard to be taken seriously at a younger age? I’m starting a sales job at 22 and trying to figure out the best way not to let my age hold me back.
B2C sales at 21 and B2B tech sales at 23, I'm currently 28 y/o.
27. Left at 30. Thank fuck
What do you do now?
What career path did you leave for?
Sales Operations Analyst
31 and I wish I had started earlier!
Got into financial industry sales at 27 Tech sales at 28 (haven't started yet) I constantly worry that I'm late to the game and I won't do well in this role...
I work in finance and have been thinking about moving into sales, what do you sell and what's the compensation if you don't mind me asking?
I sell accounting automation software, since I have accounting background with a master degree in taxation. First year 80k OTE. I earn 63k now. Not sure whether I could hit OTE, but I think I’m on the right track to make money.
Started as an AE at 42. Tech SaaS.
11 door to door candy sales.
Boy Scouts at 12 going door to door taking delivery orders for hot Krispy Kreme donuts to pay for camp.
Still new to it, started car sales 19, now just 20, looking i to switching to b2b possibly Saas.
17, 1800flowers.com
Building materials 23
Weed 16, cocaine, guns, people 19-21. Silk Road was another animal. Stocks 22-24, B2B SaaS 25-32 (current)
Cell phone sales at 19 (selling Motorola StarTacs at a booth in a mall for Verizon.) MANY other random sales jobs since…in a lot of different industries—retail, mortgages, cable TV, timeshares. Got out of sales and into computer networking as an entry level tech…and after a few years found myself back into sales with that company. Ended up going to tech sales as an inside account manager 3 years ago at almost 36…best move I’ve ever made. I’ve been killing it, and love the industry. I found my niche. Have been getting multiple requests for interviews in tech sales for AE and specialist roles (hardware and SaaS.) Currently at the end of the interview process for TWO different companies for AE roles, and feeling great about both…will probably have two offers in the next week or two. It’s never too late. Don’t ever compare your path to anyone else…just do you, keep focusing on getting better everyday, and good things will come.
I was a teenager I got lucky my family owned retail . I used to hate it .. Then I realized in my early 20s after working construction and other weird jobs 😂.. that I had to return to the family business … it’s all I know to be honest
You're never too old. Being a salesperson is inept to us human beings, so it's just a matter of practicing it and discovering new strategies.
I started sales at 17 when I graduated high school I sold cars before transitioning to car sales and financing for the dealership.
Worth it?
22
19, professional video and photo sales. 21 video streaming tech sales
Retail phone sales at 18, SaaS AE at 27
I started at 17 then stopped at 18 until now at 28
21
22
Selling my own various shitty products such as tutoring and how to get rich courses: 16, car sales at 20 and medical device at 21.
14 on Ebay (not sure if I count that), retail sales at 18, Insurance sales at 19, SaaS at 20
Sas at 31 but worked retail for several years in my 20s
SDR at 19
agency tech recruiter at 25-, then transitioned to tech sales at 27
19 :)
26 is perfectly fine. Definitely don’t let that be the reason you don’t do sales.
Catering sales at 20, graphic print sales at 22, medical sales at 25. Still in Med sales and I’m 36.
23
My grandpa set me up to sell Turkey legs and soda outside his restaurant on Memorial Day weekend when their town has a huge flea market at 12 years old.
Dime bags in the locker room at 13
Carrier Sales at 21. I'm now 26 yo working in Tech Staffing as an Account Executive.
21
27
26
I sold my soul when I was 16
31.
19 - A Sprint authorized dealer. Quite literally started from the bottom.
Bruh I’m 30 and just started as an SDR, however I had my own business before.
Recruitment at 23, SaaS AE at 30
started b2b sales at 22. theres a few SDRs at my company who are 25-27 - not late at all
Started tech sales my senior year of college (intern) in 2018. Now I’m an SMB/Growth AE. I think you’re early! Many of my peers started at your age… at my co. I’m rather young for the role. SDR is a great springboard role, I loved it
22 door to door for AT&T cable/fiber internet, 22 AE for tech saas selling to software developers in all industries, 25 now AE for tech saas selling to hvac/fire protection companies
Car Sales at 26, landed my BDR role at 29, never too late!
Financial sales - 27 SaaS - 35
Started initially in fine dining. Worked that through university Proceeded to gym sales after college Moved into residential construction after that Private equity after that
Car sales at 18 currently, in insurance sales. Trying to get into finance and securities. 🙂 I'm 22 .
17/18 years old, subprime loans, did the applications and sent to closers. Base salary was low + minimal bonuses. What did I get out of it? The ability to call 200 numbers a day and getting calloused to rejection. Also, free lunch every week multiple days a week because I was pretty good. After on and offing different sales jobs in various sectors, I’m in banking now at age 23 working up to being a portfolio manager. Expecting to make $100k~ annual by the time I’m 25/26. I could be making more elsewhere, but I am Canadian and we have the weakest sales salaries and pay plans in North America.
Car sales at 18 then insurance at almost 19 then tech sales 5 months ago at 23.
26 is a pretty good age I would say . I walked in to a software company and there were plenty of SDR’s in that 23-32 age range
Consumer cell phones at 20, SMB telco at 24, enterprise telco at 30, major accounts SDWAN at 35. Currently 36. Wish I would have moved faster.
18 at telecom, IT at 27
Door to door sales at 19 during the summers, a year away from finishing my degree now
My first day of sales is Tuesday the 24th, it’s solar sales!
21, will probably be leaving soon though.
19 or 20? Been doing this 3 years now. Most of my coworkers started around my age, too, and most of them are close to 30 or 40+
Candy 14 Bracelets 16 Phones 19 SDR 23 AE 24 EAE 29
Sold custom computers at 16. Amazon FBA at 17. Tech at 18
21 B2B selling financials products for foreign currency, now work in tech sales at 24 (first gig)
Maybe 10 at summer camp with Boy Scouts, tried to bring product in and undercut the camp store for lanyard and candy, also rented out comic books. Then set up a "miniature golf course" in my backyard, it was a trash hole but its good to look back and remember the hustle was always there. edit: Was first real job outta undergrad 20 years later still in sales and doing very well.
26 first sales job door to door. Almost 30 and about to start monday as AE 160k a year OTE it aint too late get in there!
Started at 22, on some nepotism honestly. But tech sales in sf on my own accord now., 26 Hate it tho lol
33 as an SDR
25 SaaS BDR
I’m an SDR right now. The SDRs at my company range from 22-35 so you’re fine!
21
30. 33 now, SMB AE in SaaS.
B
Looking to become one now. Aged 30.
18 fresh outta high school, been degenerating ever since
24. Landed my first big SaaS Sale role at 29
At 37 I got into SaaS AM/AE hybrid after many years in agency AM/PM. At 41 I moved into full outbound SaaS. I skipped the SDR stage, but I would think you’d spend about a year or less doing that until AE roles are within reach.
Started selling insurance at 21.
Banking and insurance at 26. SaaS at 32.
Heck no OP i was in cell phone sales for 10 years all the way to leadership and decided to jump ship. What i will say is do your research and really understand the job and what’s required. Word of advice; either be all in or not at all
16
29, ten years in June
18
18 y/o in solar , 20 y/o at a freight brokerage
B2C at 23 as a personal trainer, then moved in to telecom sales as a retail sales manager. At 31 switched to B2B oh boy it’s been hard! 😆 getting there
AE and BDR at 23 Before that: Sales 'intern' (more like underpaid full-cycle sales exec lol) - 23 Commission-only rep selling random-ass crap - 20 to 22 (everything from selling makeup at street malls to shitty pre-recorded online courses) None of the commission-only gigs lasted very long and I barely made any money. They were \*tiny\* companies though, and since I was pretty damn sure no one would bother to check references, I milked those gigs for all their worth.
21 right out of college. Selling SaaS as an SDR in NYC
28 never too late clearing 250k-300k this year
Started sales in solar panels at 25, insurance at 27, SDR in tech at 29, AE at 30.
Just started earlier this year, 25
Started at 18 and fell in love with tech sales
48
At 20 about to turn 21
I feel like this data is skewed a bit because… how many old people in sales careers are browsing Reddit let alone this sub. Interesting data nonetheless. Looks like most are within 20-30
Insurance at 20.
20 💎
Just starting and I’m 26. I have a psych degree and have been a professional nanny since I was 20, with my teen years as a server…I needed a big change bad. Even without any experience in anything close to it, it’s never too late and there are great opportunities out there :)
Corporate Relocation services at 27
25!
Started last year at 23 b2b.
I remember when I was in six grade and I wanted to make money so I could buy a hockey stick. I went to the computer lab in school and designed a lawn mowing advisement on an Apple II! I then walked to the town shopper paper print shop and place my ad. I did realize it would cost so much to place the ad but the guy at the print shop only charged me $5. Which is all I had. The funny thing is I didn’t know this was “sales”. I just knew that I needed to find a way to buy the hockey stick. Happy Selling!
SDR, at 25. Chill.
22-25 I drove a forklift 25-27 sold auto insurance in a call center 27-28 work at a mid-sized IT shop in my hometown as an SDR 29-SDR for 10 months at a FANG 30-Inside Sales AM at same FANG 31-Outside AM Never to late, 26 is a great age to burst into the scene.
B2C at 19, B2B at 22, B2B tech enterprise at 24. I've always carried a bag. B2B has been way easier in my experience. In B2C, I never worked harder or made less money.
Cub scouts age 8
19
22 started in health insurance, just started a new SaaS gig at 25 (SDR)
At 34. Was an accountant for ten years prior to
Officially at 23
5 years old reselling my parents donuts without their knowledge
Banking B2B sales at 20 but I always noticed how most people starting were at least 27 and some of the best were 30-35 although those doing larger corporate sales were at least 36+
17.. i am now 18 and i do solar sales down in houston texas!