| In a previous article I told you all of the wonderful | | | | the situation before the company is showing you the |
| reasons why you should consider a career as an | | | | door. |
| account executive in the copier industry. By now you | | | | 3. You must be able to survive on a meager base |
| might be thinking that there are no disadvantages to a | | | | salary for at least six months to two years until your |
| career in copier sales. But, you would be wrong. Allow | | | | commissions start rolling in. Most base salaries in this |
| me to play devil's advocate and provide you with the | | | | industry are $20,000-$30,000 plus benefits. |
| following caveats: | | | | 4. It could seriously take you two years to build a |
| 1. There is not much social status afforded to a copier | | | | territory that rewards you with a total compensation of |
| sales rep. You are ranked somewhere between a | | | | $60,000-$80,000 annually. This salary range assumes |
| used car salesman and a telecommunications rep. | | | | that you are really good at what you do and are at |
| Your friends won't think your job is cool. But, that's O.K. | | | | least at 100% of your annual sales quota. This leads us |
| When they are still eating Top Ramen for dinner you | | | | to our last point: |
| can roll up in your brand new BMW and offer to take | | | | 5. The company might not give you two years to get it |
| them to dinner and pick up the tab since you have | | | | all together. Generally, after your first year in sales, if |
| achieved the financial stability that probably still eludes | | | | you are not at 100% of your annual sales quota your |
| your friends three years after college graduation. | | | | sales manager "will free you up to pursue other |
| 2. The job is hard. Really, really hard. But, not for the | | | | opportunities". In other words, "you're fired"! Make no |
| reasons you think. The combination of an awful lot of | | | | mistake about it, your sales quota is not your goal, it is |
| freedom coupled with the absolute necessity of a | | | | your minimal requirement. Actually, you are expected |
| disciplined mindset can be a dangerous combination for | | | | to exceed your annual sales quota. |
| most people. I knew a manager that used to say, "we | | | | All in all, the copy equipment industry offers more |
| give you just enough rope to hang yourself around | | | | advantages than disadvantages. If you consider |
| here". This meant that no one is watching your every | | | | yourself ambitious, energetic and in possession of |
| move, but, by the time it shows up in poor sales | | | | superior people skills and exceptional communication |
| performance, you don't have enough time to improve | | | | abilities, this just might be the career for you. |
