Sales positions have been around for centuries to sell products. However, with so many sales positions in so many different industries, it’s hard to know which path to pick. However, if you’re looking for a relatively new industry with many opportunities, going into software sales is a great career.
Since COVID-19, we have been more reliant on software for everything, from conducting team meetings to contacting our loved ones. With more than $487 billion set to be spent on technology in 2021 by Americans, it’s no surprise that software sales are a popular field. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about software sales, so you know more about this popular career.
What Are Software Sales?
Software sales positions are typically comprised of account executives, sales development representatives, sales engineers, or after-sales account managers. In general, the idea is to sell software to people or companies that need it the most to increase revenue for a company. For example, you may be responsible for a specific software tool, such as Google Docs, or an entire software empire, like Google Products.
These positions are trendy and ever-growing. With an average salary of $85,000 and opportunities for advancement, it’s no wonder why so many people love software sales.
What Type Of Sales Positions Are Available In Software?
The software sales industry is very diverse. This means that there are many jobs available that serve different functions. We’ve listed the most popular job titles in software sales that you might find when job searching.
Sales Development Representative
A sales development representative (SDR) is responsible for software lead generation. This means that they are in charge of researching software leads to find companies who need software. They might have to meet with the company’s decision-makers and help them make a purchase decision. Sales development representatives can also send out product demos, and even software trial offers if it fits the company best. The ultimate goal is to get software sold!
This position requires representatives to be creative, friendly, and hardworking as they must find software targets as well as communicate with them to close the deal. It’s also essential that software sales development representatives know software tools very well. They may need to teach decision-makers how it works and why it could be beneficial for their business.
Software Account Executive
A software account executive works closely with clients or customers to close deals on software products. If you have excellent customer service skills or enjoy being an information hub about your company’s software, this might be the position for you. These reps must know their software tool so when dealing with clients, they’re able to answer any questions. The software account executive is also in charge of negotiating price points for software.
They may also be in charge of upselling each current account with software tools that would benefit them most. This requires software account executives to be excellent problem solvers and communicators. They must listen carefully to understand their client’s struggles and how software can help.
Sales Engineer
A software sales engineer is a technical expert that can easily make six figures a year. They are responsible for any software trial conversions or implementations with clients to ensure software works at its peak performance. This professional needs to be knowledgeable about their software. However, they should also understand how other software tools work together like a well-oiled machine. This position can sometimes require you to travel to client sites and help them install or troubleshoot issues.
If you enjoy working on technical issues or have a knack for software troubleshooting, this could be an excellent position for you. This is also a labor-intensive role that requires software sales engineers to be out of the office quite a bit. However, sales engineers can earn some serious dough if they’re successful in their software conversions and implementations.
Outside Sales Representative
A software outside sales representative is in charge of software sales to customers before they purchase. This might require you to research software prospects, give software presentations, and convince decision-makers that software would benefit their business. These reps need excellent communication skills so they can persuade customers with ease.
Software managers are also responsible for creating lead lists for software sales reps, meeting software quotas, and conducting software training. Depending on the specific company you work for, the duties may fluctuate a bit.
After-Sales Account Manager
A software after-sales account manager is in charge of software sales once the sale has been made. They might need to continue converting software prospects into buyers, updating software licenses, and ensuring that the software is running smoothly for customers. This position is similar to that of a software customer success manager. These software managers must have patience with software customers when they may be experiencing software issues or problems since it is their job to resolve them.
Software sales professionals might travel quite a bit depending on where their software prospects are located. Therefore, these representatives must be okay with being on the road quite a bit.
Sales Manager
A software sales manager is in charge of software sales training. Since software is constantly evolving, software sales professionals may need to be trained on the latest software updates or changes relevant to their field. This position requires extensive knowledge about software since you will be teaching others about it instead of selling it yourself.
You won’t necessarily need software experience to get a software sales manager position. However, software companies may want you to have at least some software knowledge or be willing to learn.
Sales Operations Manager
A software sales operations manager is in charge of software and software product development, research and development (R&D), and software quality assurance. It’s one of the most respected positions and requires a wide range of software knowledge. This is because you will be involved with all aspects of software production. You may even need to strategize with your software account managers by identifying their software prospects or determining software strategies.
Software managers should also thrive as team players since they will be supervising software account managers and software representatives. So if you’re looking for a software sales job that doesn’t require much public speaking, this software sales position is for you.
VP Of Sales
A software VP of sales may be in charge of several software account managers and software sales representatives. They will also promote software quality assurance and software product development. In addition, this software sales position could require you to conduct software training or software presentations and give reviews to your software sales reps.
With an average salary of $257,000, this is a highly sought-after position. If you’re passionate about growing a business, this is an excellent option for you.
How To Become A Software Salesperson
Although software sales professionals generally need at least a bachelor’s degree, you don’t necessarily need to have software experience to become a software salesperson. If you’re interested in a career in this field, here are a few ways to get into the industry.
Check Your Credentials
You must check to see if software sales professionals with similar skills are required to have any credentials. For example, some software companies might need their software representatives to have specific software certifications or a bachelor’s degree. Make sure to showcase any accomplishments or credentials you may have to software companies when applying for software sales positions.
Start From The Bottom
If you don’t have much experience, software companies might be okay with that as long as you’re willing to learn. Therefore, the best way to gain software experience is by starting from the bottom and working your way up. For example, you could start as a software representative or software account manager and work your way up to software operations manager or sales manager.
If you have to start at the bottom, look for a company that offers growth. For example, if they provide software training or software workshops, consider it a step in the right direction.
Build Networks
Networking is one of the most effective ways to break into this industry. Since software is constantly evolving, you never know when a job opening might arise within a company you’ve been networking with. Thus, it’s essential that you keep in touch with everyone you’ve ever worked with throughout your career in sales. This includes staying active on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn. You may even want to consider starting a blog to showcase your software knowledge, software strategies, and software tips.
Do Your Homework On The Position
Before accepting any jobs, you must do your homework on the position. Make sure to research software companies and software products before taking the job. Not only will this help you understand the day-to-day role, but you’ll be able to determine if the company is a good fit for you.
Show Your Transferrable Skills
If you’re switching software careers, software companies may be more apt to hire you if you can show that your skills are transferrable. For example, maybe you used Excel software during a previous job, and software companies would be willing to give software training sessions as an entry-level salesperson. This shows that your skills could easily be adapted to other software companies.
If this role is your dream job, you have many options for getting started in the software industry. To get you started on the right foot, consider a software training program or software workshops.
Talk To A Sales Recruiter
If you’re having trouble breaking into this career, some companies may be okay with starting you off as a representative in-training. If this is the case, you must talk to a software recruiter. Not only will they be able to point out software training courses or software workshops available in your area, but they can also match your skills to software companies hiring software representatives.
Check Online Job Postings
If software sales are still your dream job, you can always try finding software sales jobs on job searching websites like Sales Recruiters Chicago, Monster, CareerBuilder. This will help you find companies that are currently recruiting for sales positions.
Conclusion
The software industry has seen considerable growth in both software companies and software products over the past decade. So if you’re interested in software, work with software, or are actively selling software, you’ll want to submit your resume or check our job openings today for your next dream job!
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