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What is tyhe best pathway to become a successful sales person?

I am in 9th grade and I want to be a sales person, airpods

+25 Karma if successful
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Subject: Career question for you

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Luna’s Answer

A great way to become a sales person is to get a job at a retail store as a sales associate. If you want to sell airpods you might want to work at an apple store. You may need to be 18 to work at an apple store so before then try to apply for another store that sells electronics like best buy or even target or walmart applying for a position in the electronics section.

If you're looking to be in sales as a career the best path would be pursuing higher education and getting a degree in sales, or business.

Lastly you can start your own business to get into sales. Just know it will take a lot of planning, time and potentially money.
Thank you comment icon Thank you! jonathan
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Byron’s Answer

Hi Jonathan -

It's great that you already know what you're interested in! The best way to get started building sales experience is to find an entry level job in sales while building a professional network. Let me address the sales experience first:

Sales Experience - Where to start?
You're going to have to navigate what type of industry you're most passionate about. In my experience, finding entry level jobs in retail, ticket sales, D2D solar sales, are great first steps in gaining selling experience. These entry level jobs will allow you to understand 1) What problem does your solution solve for the customer 2) How to pitch a product 3) How to develop a sales methodology or campaign 4) How to identify your ideal buyer persona 5) How to work with a manager etc.

By doing this, you have started to lay the groundwork for your resume. Skills that you can outline and apply to every sales profession. This will allow you to find your next sales job that you may be interested in.

Building a Professional Network - Where to start?
To do this, I would create a profile on LinkedIn to get started. Connect to different groups online and research professionals in the field that you're trying to get into. I would reach out to those sales professionals on LinkedIn, state that you're looking to get into _____ sales and would like the opportunity to connect for 15-minutes for an informational interview. This will allow you to ask them questions regarding the job they are in. Questions I would ask include: What does their day-to-day look like? What does a typical sales cycle look like? How did they get started? What does the career path look like? How do you work with your manager? How do you prioritize prospects? How do you build a sales campaign? How do you find new leads? How often are you hitting quota?

I'm sure if you look online you can find a list of questions to ask. As always, if you are connecting with other sales professionals, always follow up thanking them for their time.

Hope this helps and best of luck as you take your first step into sales!
Thank you comment icon I am really grateful you took the time to answer this question. jonathan
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Teri’s Answer

Hi Jonathan,
Start working in retail. Many stores will hire students for part-time work. I would suggest getting a retail job wherever you can as soon as your old enough to be hired (will vary by store/state you live in). While I'm gathering from your question (unless it was a typo), you'd like to sell Apple airpods, you likely will need to sell in other retail locations before Apple would hire you as most store associates/sales people tend to be older (at least college-aged).
Try local drugstores, electronic stores, stores like Target or TJ Maxx, even a local family-owned small business like a bakery which may have younger age-limits.

I worked in retail (drugstores, Nordstrom) and all kinds of other jobs (grocery stores, front desk jobs at real estate companies, etc.) starting when I was about 15 years old. I had part-time after school jobs, and full-time (once I was old enough) summer jobs. Experience is what you need to gain at this age. As you get older, you can decide if you want to stay in sales and have professional jobs selling everything from sports equipment at wholesale to companies, to selling software to businesses. You might want to get into pharmaceutical sales, sell cars, real estate, etc. There are unlimited sales job out there as you get older and gain experience.
So for now, focus on getting your first job and excelling at -- be on time, stay late if needed (and allowed based on your age), pick up extra shifts, show up for all your shifts, and provide an excellent customer experience. Be polite and show you care. As you build your reputation for being reliable, courteous, and overall someone people want to work with, you'll be building the important references you'll need to grow in your sales career. Good luck!
Thank you comment icon Thanks for your encouragement! jonathan
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David’s Answer

The answers by other folks are excellent ! Possibly join Toast Masters (public speaking) to improve your presentation skills. I would recommend reading (this old school) book - Selling to VITO. There are many ways to sell - understand and research your craft - need, use and value are key selling elements. Finally, re-read all the other good advice you were given.
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Thuli’s Answer

Education and Training: Begin by obtaining a high school diploma or equivalent. While a college degree is not always required, it can be helpful, especially degrees in business, marketing, or a related field. Enrolling in sales training programs or workshops can also provide valuable skills and knowledge.

Gain Experience: Start by taking entry-level sales positions or internships to gain practical experience. Learning from experienced salespeople and understanding the sales process in a real-world environment is crucial.

Develop Key Skills: To be successful in sales, you need strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills. Additionally, being persuasive, resilient, and having good time management skills are important. Continuously work on developing and improving these skills.
Thank you comment icon Thank you, Thuli! jonathan
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Michael’s Answer

Door to door selling is one of the fastest and most direct paths to becoming a successful salesperson... You will learn very quickly how to overcome rejection and develop a self confidence that most people only wish they had. The summer is prime time for door knocking and plenty of people have made 6 figures in a few short months out of the year with 100% commission. Find a product/service that you are passionate about in the D2D industry and be willing to do whatever it takes to make it. You will develop an entrepreneurial mindset and successful people will respect your experience. This will set you up for the rest of your life. Enjoy
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much for the advice. jonathan
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Katie’s Answer

There are some great answers here. I'm going to add from a relationship perspective. People buy from people they like. Building a relationship of trust is important to long term success. I'm in software sales, and when I meet with my prospects, it's to really understand their needs, the timing of the purchase, why they are making a change, and how can I ensure that they are getting the right software so they are happy customers. When you have built a solid relationship, and they are happy, then they may be a reference for you, and also tell others about you. There is a common statement of "they don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care", so be invested in the relationship, not just closing the sale.
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