{"id":44,"date":"2019-03-23T11:24:35","date_gmt":"2019-03-23T08:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/?page_id=44"},"modified":"2020-03-02T22:22:36","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T19:22:36","slug":"sales","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>Are you the kind of person who loves to travel and has never met a stranger; always willing to start up a conversation wherever and with whomever?\u00a0 If so, then your personality might make you a good match for a job in sales.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Although personality plays a lot in the success of a salesperson, the expertise gained by working in a specific area using specialized equipment throughout the graduate school can make a PhD especially well suited to selling specialty items.\u00a0 That being said, sales is definitely not a one-size-fits-all area of employment, as the responsibilities and interactions can vary wildly depending on the types of items that are being sold. \r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>You may be the bubbly type of person who likes meeting as many people as possible, making you better suited to volume sales of smaller items like chemical reagents, while someone who is more technically oriented would prefer fewer but higher-priced transactions by selling items like confocal microscopes.\u00a0 Either way, you should first determine what kind of salesperson you would rather be because nobody wants to buy something from someone who is miserable and hates their job.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Entry_Points\"><\/span>Entry Points<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_18 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Entry_Points\" title=\"Entry Points\">Entry Points<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Who_are_the_Employers\" title=\"Who are the Employers?\">Who are the Employers?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Application_Process\" title=\"Application Process\">Application Process<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Career_Progression\" title=\"Career Progression\">Career Progression<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Work_Hours\" title=\"Work Hours\">Work Hours<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Compensation\" title=\"Compensation\">Compensation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/sales\/#Exit_Options\" title=\"Exit Options\">Exit Options<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Many PhDs start their journey to sales by first taking a job as a field application scientist (more information about field application scientists can be found in the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/pharma-biotech\/\">Pharma\/Biotech section<\/a>).\u00a0 Working as a field application scientist can serve as a smooth transitional phase from researcher to salesperson as the job involves providing product support to customers instead of jumping right into the practice of selling items.\u00a0 This means that you get a good dose of customer interaction without the pressure to close a deal.\u00a0\u00a0<br \/><br \/>For those transitioning from a field application scientist position or making the plunge directly from graduate school, the initial decision will be what you would like to sell.\u00a0 Typically, positions that involve selling smaller items like chemical reagents, smaller laboratory equipment, and pharmaceuticals are more forgiving of not having any previous sales experience.\u00a0 Once you move up to the larger and more expensive items, the interactions with clients are fewer (fewer people are able to afford your million dollar equipment), so the companies will expect a more polished salesperson to take advantage of each customer interaction.\u00a0 Therefore, if you plan to try for a position selling more expensive tools and equipment, emphasize your unique ability to sell the product (e.g. , if you wanted to sell confocal microscopes, it really helps if you used them often and they played an integral role in your dissertation research).<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_are_the_Employers\"><\/span>Who are the Employers?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Pharmaceutical\/Biotechnology companies listed by state can be found\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/thelabrat.com\/jobs\/companies\/index.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<br \/><\/a>Another very comprehensive list of manufacturers can be found\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.empr.com\/browseby\/manufacturers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>\u00a0<br \/>A database of laboratory equipment companies can be found\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.labequipmentandsupplies.com\/category\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> (for more suitable results you can also filter by company name, products or ratings)<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Application_Process\"><\/span>Application Process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>If you are aiming for a job in sales, you should have some comfort with networking and meeting new people so one of the first steps you should take is to try and set up an informational interview with someone currently in sales (preferably at a place you would like to work). \u00a0Not only will you gain further insights into the inner workings of a life in sales, but you may also be able to steer the conversation towards current opportunities that may be available. \u00a0If you make a good enough impression, your new contact may offer to take your resume directly to the hiring manager.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>For any other opportunities to which you would like to apply, there is most likely a &#8220;Careers&#8221; section on the company website\u00a0from which you can search the openings that are publicly listed. \u00a0Be warned, some online applications, especially in the area of sales, are very particular about the keywords that you use in the application and on your resume\/cover letter. \u00a0Many companies also have a short &#8220;test&#8221; that you will have to take online as a part of your application in order to determine whether or not they feel a job in sales will be a good personality fit for you. \u00a0Most of these personality tests have repetitive questions reworded in different ways to determine whether you are answering honestly, so be wary if you plan on bending the truth to present yourself as what you believe to be the ideal candidate.<br \/><br \/>If the company that has caught your eye is smaller and perhaps doesn&#8217;t have a &#8220;Careers&#8221; section on their website, put those networking skills to work by sending emails to any appropriate contact listed (usually someone in human resources or operations) in order to express your interest. \u00a0If there aren&#8217;t any specific contacts listed, search for a &#8220;Contact Us&#8221; page that will at least let you send in an inquiry, and don&#8217;t be afraid to Google your way to an email address if the name of the person you want to contact is listed on the website (showing that you are resourceful and motivated is usually a good way to make a positive first impression).\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Career_Progression\"><\/span>Career Progression<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>For those who are successful, there is usually the opportunity to move up into management positions. \u00a0Some may choose not to enter management positions since that means giving up lucrative commission bonuses, but the salary increase upon promotion is usually significant enough to convince most to move up when given the chance. \u00a0Management positions can come in the form of becoming a district manager, director, and eventually vice president of sales. \u00a0The common thread upon promotion is that travel requirements will be significantly reduced, but an initial relocation may be required depending on the needs of the organization.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Work_Hours\"><\/span>Work Hours<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Since most of your work as a salesperson is out in the field covering \u00a0your territory, the hours can be variable depending on the size of your territory and how willing your customers are to meet with you. \u00a0If you are a medical device sales representative and need to meet with physicians, you may spend a significant amount of time in waiting rooms before you are able to meet with your customers, which will reduce your productivity, thereby increasing the amount of time you need to spend in the field. \u00a0Workdays are flexible, but you can expect to put in some long hours if you want to be a top performer (more than 40 hours\/week). \u00a0It is also important to remember that your work hours are limited by the work hours of your customers if they have a rigid schedule (i.e., if your customer works from 9am-6pm, you won&#8217;t have many opportunities to meet before 9 am or after 6 pm). \u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Compensation\"><\/span>Compensation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>In addition to salary and commission, you will likely receive either a company car or an allowance to spend on a car since travel is so integral to the job. \u00a0Specific salaries will depend on the types of items being sold, with a general trend of higher pay going to those who sell higher-priced and more specialized items. \u00a0A reasonable salary expectation would be in the range of $60-90K, and bonuses in the form of commission will depend on performance, but can sometimes exceed 100% of base salary for top performers.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Exit_Options\"><\/span>Exit Options<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Experience in dealing directly with customers can be a very valuable commodity, making for opportunities across many different departments within most organizations. \u00a0Positions that are especially well suited for a smooth transition from sales include those within general management, operations, marketing, communications, and investor relations.<\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you the kind of person who loves to travel and has never met a stranger; always willing to start up a conversation wherever and with whomever?\u00a0 If so, then your personality might make you a good match for a job in sales.\u00a0 Although personality plays a lot in the success of a salesperson, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":27,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"spay_email":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53,"url":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/pharma-biotech\/","url_meta":{"origin":44,"position":0},"title":"Pharma\/Biotech","date":"23.03.2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Once upon a time for PhDs in technical fields if someone wanted to know about your career aspirations, they would ask if you were interested in academia or industry, and \u201cindustry\u201d usually meant bench work at a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company. 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These terms and conditions outline the rules and regulations for the use of PhDCareerGuide.com's Website, located at phdcareerguide.com. By accessing this website we assume you accept these terms and conditions. Do not continue to use PhDCareerGuide.com if you do not agree to take all\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":65,"url":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/career-information\/finance\/","url_meta":{"origin":44,"position":5},"title":"Finance","date":"23.03.2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Do you like math and Microsoft Excel? If so, then a job in finance may be for you.\u00a0 Of course, that\u2019s a gross oversimplification, but you should be comfortable working with numbers if you want to be successful in the field of finance.\u00a0 Coming into the industry with a PhD,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/44\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/27"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/phdcareerguide.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}