Tech Sales Entry-Level Jobs: What to Expect and How to Succeed

If you want to get into tech sales, targeting entry-level sales positions is one of the easiest ways to enter the industry.

In these roles, you'll have the opportunity to learn the basics, develop essential skills, and begin building a successful career.

However, understanding what to expect and how to succeed in this competitive field is important for long-term growth. This guide will discuss the common tech sales entry-level jobs and provide tips to help you excel.

What Are Tech Sales Jobs?

Before we talk about entry-level positions, it's important to know what tech sales job titles entail.

Tech sales jobs are all about connecting people with the right technology solutions.

A tech sales professional sells software or other tech products to businesses or individuals who need them.

They must understand the product inside out so they can clearly explain its benefits or respond to questions from potential customers.

Their main job is to make sure that people see the product's value and agree to purchase it.

Skills Required in a Career in Tech Sales

Tech sales is a fast-paced, people-oriented field where the following skills are important:

• Communication skills: You must explain complex software or products in a way that a non-technical audience can understand. Clear and persuasive communication skills are a must-have.
• Active listening: Listening to the client's needs helps you suggest the right product that can match their specific requirements.
• Technical aptitude: You must understand the technology you’re selling to build trust with clients.
• Relationship building: You should build strong relationships with customers to ensure ongoing satisfaction. This connection can also encourage them to recommend your products to their friends and network.
• Problem-solving: Every client has unique challenges. Your ability to offer tailored solutions is what will help you succeed in tech sales.
• Time management: Balancing multiple leads and tasks requires excellent time management.

4 Popular Entry-Level Job Opportunities in Tech Sales

After understanding tech sales jobs, you can begin exploring the most common entry-level roles. 

These positions are great starting points to help you discover where you fit best in the industry.

1. Sales Development Representative (SDR)

A sales development representative is among the most popular entry-level tech sales roles.

As an SDR, your main job is to identify and qualify leads for the sales team. You’ll work closely with potential clients to discover their needs and see if your company’s products can help.

This position often involves a lot of outreach, such as cold calling and emailing. You must have excellent communication skills to succeed.

You don't usually close deals with clients, but you play an important role in setting up the success of the sales cycle. 

For example, you might connect with decision-makers and pass those leads to senior salespeople who will handle the final pitch.

2. Inside Sales Representative (ISR)

Inside sales representatives handle the sales process from start to finish, often working entirely from within the office.

Unlike field sales, you won’t be traveling to meet clients face-to-face. Instead, you’ll use phone, email, and video conferencing to close deals.

For instance, if a potential customer expresses interest in your company's software product, you’ll guide them through the purchasing process and close the sale.

3. Junior Sales Engineer (SE)

A junior SE combines technical knowledge with sales skills to help clients understand how technical products work.

You’ll work with both the sales team and customers to explain complex software or hardware solutions. You're the person they'll turn to if they need to understand the value of the product.

This entry-level role is perfect if you enjoy the technical side while still having human interaction with clients.

4. Junior Account Executive (AE)

As a junior account executive, you'll help the senior AE manage client relationships and guarantee customer satisfaction.

You’ll guide clients through the sales process, from the initial contact to the close of the deal. 

This usually involves handling contract negotiations, following up on client inquiries, and upselling additional services or products.

To land this entry-level role, you must prepare for account executive interview questions and showcase excellent relationship-building and time-management skills.

How to Succeed in Tech Sales Entry-Level Jobs

Now that you know the roles available, it’s time to focus on what it takes to succeed in tech sales. Below are the key steps to help you stand out and advance your career.

Develop Necessary Skills

To stand out to employers or clients, you must work on developing and mastering the skills essential to tech sales professionals.

These abilities vary depending on the specific role you're targeting. For example, if you want to become an ISR, you must learn how to use email marketing and video conferencing tools.

However, in general, you must demonstrate strong communication, listening, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills to succeed in entry-level roles.

You can gain these abilities by hands-on practice or enrolling in an online course.

Build Product Knowledge

In tech sales, you must know the product inside and out to sell it successfully.

This is why you should take the time to study product specifications, use cases, and customer testimonials.

You can even read an article about your product or connect with the product development team to gain deeper insights.

The better you understand what you're selling, the easier it will be to convince customers of the product's value.

Set and Track Professional Goals

You must set goals to strive for each day. Doing so helps you become better at your job, which can lead to promotion or other opportunities.

Start by setting realistic short-term goals, like hitting a certain number of cold calls or mastering a new sales technique.

Then, you can build a career development plan for long-term goals to guide you in the future. This plan may include keeping up to date with industry trends or obtaining a certification.

Make sure to track your progress regularly, so you can see how far you've come and adjust your strategies if needed.

For example, if you’ve been focusing on lead generation, set a goal to improve your close rate next month. Every small step you take builds towards long-term success.

Network Within the Industry

Networking is another way to grow your career in tech sales.

You can join relevant LinkedIn groups, attend industry events, or connect with other professionals in your field.

You can also reach out to recruiters or sales leaders to open doors to new opportunities.

Remember, your network can often be just as valuable as your skill set when it comes to advancing your career in the tech sales field.

Seek Feedback and Mentorship

Lastly, don't hesitate to seek feedback from those around you.

You can ask your manager, colleagues, or even clients for honest input on your performance.

Better yet, find a mentor within your company or industry who can provide personalized guidance and support.

Then, use their feedback to improve your skills and grow in your current role.

Let Better Career Help You Land Your Dream Job in Tech Sales

Interested in a tech sales entry-level job? Here's how Better Career can assist you:

• 1-on-1 Career Coaching: Work closely with former tech leaders turned career coaches to land your next Sales or Sales Engineering role, or advance your career. We'll customize the program to meet your unique goals and needs.
• PreSales & Sales Tech Job Board: Connect directly with key people at hiring companies through our curated job board for B2B tech positions. This includes direct LinkedIn profiles and posts for each listing.

Haven't found what you're looking for? Fill out our contact form, and we'll get in touch with you soon!

FAQs About Tech Sales Entry-Level Jobs

Where do you find entry-level jobs in tech sales?

You can find entry-level tech sales opportunities on job boards like Indeed, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. Networking through industry events and connecting with recruiters can also lead to job openings.

What is the average salary for entry-level tech sales positions?

The average salary for entry-level tech sales positions depends on the specific job title, location, industry, and company. For example, the average sales engineer salary for career starters is around $102,000 to $176,000 annually.

Do I need a technical background to get into tech sales?

While a technical background can be helpful, strong communication and sales skills are often more important in securing an entry-level tech sales job.

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