Job Responsibilities
I am responsible for keeping the Central region of the United
States' C and D level customers happy. I also support our
outside sales reps in the field. For my customers I quote new
machinery, place orders and solve problems when they arise. I
have nearly 1000 customers in the region, so it keeps me busy.
I also help distribute leads to the field when they come in on
the global lead line.
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Job Requirements
I received a Speech Communications degree and later a Busines
Information Systems degree. No matter where you go to school,
you're always going to have to cut through the bureacratic tape
to get classes, workload, etc. However, some are better than
others. The school where I received my 1st degree was great and
the 2nd was HORRIBLE. I won't name names...
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Uppers
The customers come to me. I don't have to do uncomfortable cold calling at all
ever. However, I did have to put in work in Customer Service to earn this job.
I have to call and check on the customers to make sure things are going alright,
but I don't have to create my own business. My customers were given to me and I
merely maintain them. My boss is very laid back and as long as I sell he doesn't
care what I do or how I do it. The hours are flexible and the stress level is
really low. I am also learning valuable lessons so one day I can get promoted to
an outside salesman.
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Downers
Competition with other salesmen in the company can sometimes
stink. Our equipment is the highest priced, but best quality so
that can be difficult to sell sometimes.
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Lifestyle
I travel about a month out of the year, if that much. I travel for trade shows
and training normally. We don't usually visit our customers from Inside Sales,
we leave that to the outside sales force. I work 40 hours, 8-5, casual dress.
We are in one of the locations that Nordson has and we have about 200 people
working here. There are some clashes with the different departments, with some
worse than others. But nothing horrid. The good guys/gals at the company
outweigh the slackers/a-holes. My company is big in the community and have
events throughout the year.
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Compensation
Man I hate being so personal about this. This better be
anonymous, I was taught never to discuss my salary with anyone.
But if its for the students...My base is $39,000. I have
quarterly bonus structure where i receive at least $2500 a
quarter (and that is if I don't sell hardly anything). I also
have a 401K plan that I put money in every 2 weeks.
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Advice to Jobseekers
You've got to put in the work and work hard. A lot of students
assume they can come out of college and get a $40,000/year job
and that isn't always the case. The first 10 years of working
isn't about the money (although it helps) it is about building a
reputation for yourself. Once you do that, the money will start
coming in. And also, money isn't everything. Take into
consideration time off, the business's history and market
share. If you get in with a great company and are a great
worker, great things are going to happen. But its not going to
happen overnight, you must work your behind off and make the
right contacts in the company. Treat others how you would want
to be treated and work ethically with moral values.
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