If you’re ever looking for a job— you can almost always find a sales job. However, sifting through thousands of online listings to find one that pays well and is both fulfilling and motivating is entirely different.
Add the chaos of a global pandemic, and recent Sales and Marketing grads are finding themselves in entry-level positions with high turnover, recycled leads, and deceptive earning potential.
“Sales is an industry full of broken promises,” said recent grad Britt Jackson. “I realized that even though I loved to sell and was ready to work hard, there were a lot of obstacles at many companies that get in the way of me creating the success I want.”
Why Most Sales Departments Create Under-Achievers
The first thing to investigate is why most sales departments create under-achievers, and why making good money in an entry-level position is rare. The biggest and most common problem in sales roles is the considerable discrepancy between the advertised ‘OTE’ pay, and what you take home. According to Jackson, “at my first two sales jobs, the base pay was much lower than the on-target earnings, which is pretty common, and not surprising. The problem is— they’ll tell you that everyone hits their OTE, but after running the numbers, it didn’t seem possible unless I worked 24-hour days.”
On top of limited earning potential, many sales departments prioritize tenure over performance. “Your success in a sales role depends on your advancement opportunities. Are you able to move up based on the work you put in? Or are they going to take tenure over performance for the next promotion?” said Jackson. “Because I know I can outwork most people, but I can’t control the amount of time I’ve been with a company.” This tendency to create distance between performance and promotions can significantly impact the motivation of a sales team.
Besides the glaring issues of pay and career advancement, selling a bad product with bad leads can make even the most ambitious person sluggish. Cold leads, or worse— recycled leads, and a long sales cycle make every sale a long and challenging task. Internal red tape and crossover between business units only magnify the problem. It is not uncommon to lose a deal after months of work because another department or salesperson was awarded credit after much debate.
With sky-high turnover rates, these large corporate sales departments essentially become a revolving door for people who are trying to find something better. “A lot of places treat people like a numbers game. If you’re not hitting your quota, you're gone. There is no coaching, no opportunity to grow.”
Most people who seek out a sales role are self-motivated, high achievers who want to show up and work hard. So it is surprising to see how many sales departments are actually hindering their own success by creating and tolerating dysfunction. Most salespeople are eager to be efficient, impact revenue, and grow over time. But the same people often struggle to find “something better.”
Why Is It So Hard to Find a ‘Good’ Sales Job?
“Most people are uncertain of the alternatives, and unaware that smaller companies can match the pay of large corporations. Everyone knows about the big-name companies, but people are less aware of the smaller, niche companies. I think a common misconception among salespeople is that larger companies provide safety and security that a smaller option might not. Which is not the case, especially in sales.” Companies with 1,000+ employees dominate college job fairs and recruit hundreds of grads each season. They’re easy to find and safe to stay with for a while. But to Jackson, the limitations and hurdles are not worth the safety.
“For example, if you’re in real estate, everyone wants to work for CBRE and Keller Williams, but they don’t realize the value of getting in at the ground level at a place like AptAmigo. You’re not just a number; you’re actively building an incredible team. It might seem like the big-name companies can help you get somewhere better, but at the end of the day, you’re not given the opportunity to build the skills you need to actually land something better. You’re just doing the same thing, getting the same results, day after day. Finding a job where you feel like you can stay for 4 to 5 years is rare, and will give you the chance to grow and expand your skill set.”
How She Made More at a Startup Than a Large Corporation
“AptAmigo was the perfect package for me,” she said. “Warm inbound leads, no cold calls, selling something people need - Atlanta apartments - making six figures, building a career... I was trying to figure out what the catch was; it was just too good to be true.”
“The company’s innovative approach to real estate is what initially got me interested.” she said, “I’d never heard of anything like this. The service that we offer from start to finish is unheard of in this industry. And on top of selling something I truly believe in, they’ve successfully eliminated the problems I’ve experienced in previous roles. After hearing stories from the other sales reps in my first two weeks, I realized how rare that is.”
Unlimited Promotion Potential
A significant reason why Jackson became a sales representative at AptAmigo was the promotion potential. “What drew me in was hearing about how they wanted to be in 10-15 cities in the next few years. What drew me in more than the sales or the pay was the possibility of being two years into my career, opening new markets, and having experience that most of my peers can’t even fathom.”
Earnings Based on Actual Effort, With No Cap
“I also love that your earnings are directly tied to the effort you put in. Regardless of your experience, if you’re a top performer, it’s appreciated, and you’re rewarded accordingly. It’s gratifying for me to see that and to know that the best salespeople in the game are there coaching you. There’s no internal competition based on tenure, and everyone is invested in your success.”
A Product You Believe in Will Sell Itself
Making a difference in her clients’ lives is Jackson’s favorite part of being an AptAmigo sales representative. “It could be a 1 to 20-day process from the first call to the close, but in the end, that person has entrusted you with one of the biggest decisions they’ve made all year. The impact that you make on people's lives in such a short time is not only incredibly motivating but just amazing to be a part of. It makes coming to work that much better. I guarantee if you talk to anyone else in rental real estate, they’ve never experienced anything like it. I've got people sending me pictures of food they're eating the first night in their new apartment. I've got one woman sending me a painting because she's so thankful for my help. Another client is taking me to dinner next week for helping him with an urgent out-of-state move.” As a people-person, this added benefit makes a massive difference to Jackson.
Her Advice to People in Sales Roles
After years of working in the corporate sales industry, Jackson was finally ready for a change of pace. “I've worked for two corporate companies, and I’ve never even heard of anything like AptAmigo. If I could give any advice, it would be: don’t do it. Don’t take the corporate job. Look for something new and innovative where you’ll show up every day ready and able to do your job well.”
Don’t Pass Up This Opportunity to Join a Winning Team
If you’re looking for a sales job with a supportive team, great pay, and warm leads— you’re in luck— AptAmigo is hiring. With top-of-the-line resources and an ability to grow within the company, this is the perfect role for recent grads or anyone looking for a change—no more cold-calling, no more internal red tape, and no more dreading your day-to-day. At AptAmigo, you’re helping clients find their dream apartment at absolutely no cost to them. Visit AptAmigo.com/careers to learn more about working at AptAmigo, and see all open positions.