REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Bankai · 02-25-2009, 06:40 PM

Im currently working at a collections agency that seems to be a good stable job but i currently got a sales position offer that has way higher potential earnings and some travelling (expo3, MBA, other electronics convention around the world). The maximum earnings where im currently working is at $43,000 while the job offer i have had a salesperson that made over $100,000 in one sale. Im trying to weigh which one would be better but im clueless right now.

its a struggle between a job i have now w/ stability versus a job offer that has a really high potential earnings. (im not sure about the stability cuz i guess it will depend on ur performance in selling).

which one would u choose?

apharmdb · 02-25-2009, 07:13 PM

In addition to $$$ consider which position offers access to career growth. By that I mean attaining more skills and more responsibility. Must also consider which job you simply like doing more. They money isn't worth much if you hate your job because you won't last in the long run. I'd also say check out the median earnings rate if you can for the new job. Lastly stability isn't everything. Sometimes a great opportunity to learn is much more valuable down the road, at least in my experience. Sucks that I answered your question with more questions, but I think these are all fair things to consider before making a decision. Good luck.

johny · 02-25-2009, 08:33 PM

I wouldn't want to be in the sales industry in the next 2 years ... you won't be selling much. but it would depend on what it was, if it was something that people required no matter how broke they were.

Bankai · 02-25-2009, 09:03 PM

well the collection job i have right now deals with finding debtors but the highest earning income that our top collector makes is $43,000 a year and thats if he always makes his target. The other job deals with selling broadcasting equipments, film cameras and other audio/video equipment to film makers, business commercial ads, TV broadcasting and anything related to media. The entry level salesperson they have makes an average of $40,000 on one closing sale. a closing sale could be 2 days or 1 month or however long it will take. The highest commission a salesperson has made there is $100,000 in just one sale. i have a passion for electronics but i do get scared of recession and how it affects selling.

apharmdb · 02-25-2009, 09:09 PM

Well one great thing about sales is the skill is portable so you can move as industry demand moves. But I also think sales requires a specific personality type, definitely not mine, but I do know a lot of folks in sales who are quite good at it and make very healthy livings.

Ask yourself what other options you have down the road in your current job. I'm not familiar with that industry so don't know what opportunities exist. Again not just talking cash as that can come and go, I'm talking more about skills you can learn, take with you, and apply to other related areas. What are the possibilities for you 20 years down the road in your current gig (rhetorical question). Examining that aspect might answer a lot.

Bankai · 02-25-2009, 09:18 PM

^
Thanks for this reply apharmdb. After reading this, it gave me a better sense of what is a better fit and a better choice. Being a collector is not much skills really. its mostly CSR work, maybe a little detective work to find evading debtors but mostly CSR. I have massive experience in CSR already so i think sales might be a more long term skill to have.

RacePace · 02-25-2009, 09:39 PM

Do you think you have the personality to be a salesperson?

johny · 02-25-2009, 09:45 PM

broadcasting / media is going downhill fast... tv stations are closing, news papers are laying off. CBC is crying for bail out money.

happytoro · 02-25-2009, 09:54 PM

You might want to be extra careful right now because of the economic situation. A friend of mine just switched jobs recently but got laid off shortly after. IF they have a need to cut people, they'll usually cut off newly hires. Not to discourage you if you believe this is a really good opportunity for you but as of now you might want to keep in mind that a lot of people are fighting for jobs. Don't really have the flexibility to try jobs out anymore...might just want to stick to what's stable.

Bankai · 02-25-2009, 10:13 PM

^

hmm.... very good point happytoro. With the recession, we do not have the luxury of "trying" out jobs. Now im back to square one. my mind has always been on the stability side of job rather than big money. Dont get me wrong, i love money but what good is money if u lose ur job. ill have to think about this deep tonight. hopefully ill have an answer by tomorrow morning.

Thanks everyone for awesome replies!

apharmdb · 02-26-2009, 09:56 AM

Everyone is laying off and everyone is getting conservative. But I think that also makes it ripe for a career change as you'll have less competition and generally fewer people in the workplace. To me this translates into the opportunity to do more within a company, learn faster, and garner more skills. Not sure about your personal details but doing something like this is much easier when you are younger and have fewer financial responsibilities. My outlook is different as I don't really think a person has stability so planning for the long term by building skills and capitalizing on opportunity is always worth more to me. On top of this I did the same thing you are thinking about when I first started my career. I switched from Finance (working in the Pac Stock Exchange) to developing video games pretty much in the span of 2 weeks, taking a massive pay cut in the process. But I look back now and can definitely say it was 100% the correct decision. Now I'm in an industry I love and am passionate about and have built up relevant skills that can translate to software outside of games. I say go for it if you know sales is something you are passionate about.