Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Hi

Difficult to answer the question without knowing more about you, your aspirations and your local job market.

Taking into account I don't, know you, your market and how business is structured where you live I find the concept of a branding firm using 'sales people' (because that is what it appears the position is) working on commission, somewhat bizarre.

I have no problem in providing incentives to staff to achieve/ exceed objectives but that should not be a major part of the remuneration structure.

I may be a 'traditionalist' and maybe that is the way things are in your market. However, my preference would be to see'account managers' working in both the client and company interests. I wouldn't want 'sales people' very concerned about their month end package overselling or 'forcing' bad ideas on to clients simply because they want to increase their monthly commission.

In my market their is a web agency that has adopted your proposed approach - it is 'good' business for the company. Not sure about the clients or the sales people who work in this way.

My suggestion: think again. Find a company to join where the objectives about servicing client needs are very clear; where you get paid well to do a great job and that any bonus or rewards are provided on some other basis.

If you do accept this position understand exactly what you are getting in to.

What do you want to do? What are your strengths? Where do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, etc.? What are your alternatives? Are you employed now?

We can't answer this question for you. All we can do is hold up a mirror and encourage you to look in it.

The offer might be very fair and attractive to one person and totally unacceptable to another. The answer to your question is more about you than about the job or the offer terms.

Two points: 1) the 72 hour deadline would make me balk, especially if I thought that were a pure pressure tactic. In that case I would say "yes," and try the job out for a week or a month, and then decide whether to stay.

2) That first period I would focus on gathering information about what customers perceive as value. a) You put yourself into a postion to deliver real value, and then can sell easily. b) You realize that, for whatever reasons, delivering real value is not going to be a good fit for you under the given circumstances. You move on.

3) For sales guidance, take a look at Jeffery Gitomer's Sales Bible on amazon. com (among his other books) and also his free weekly E-zine Sales Caffeine.

Regards,
JH

This is probably a training position rather than a career position. If the company had confidence in you as a serious closer, they would never offer you a $30K base.

The real value of a job like this is not the income per se (although obviously it matters), but how much you can learn in 12 to 18 months, how far along you can bring your selling skills, and how well you can parlay that into a much higher paying position elsewhere.

Think of this job as Step One in a longer-term career strategy. If it makes sense and can realistically lead to a meaningful Step Two and Three, then go for it -- really go for it and push yourself to sell as much as you can, learn as much as you can, get some expertise in your industry, and test yourself hard to see if this is the "real" career you.

If that's not how you feel about this offer, then look for a position that can lead you to the sort of career you want to have. In the end, the best job opportunities hearken back to Shakespeare: To thine own self be true.

Good luck to you!