r/financialindependence • u/fidgit86 • 9d ago

What do you do that you earn six figures?

It seems like a lot of people make a lot of money and it seems like I’m missing out on something. So those of you that do, whats your occupation that pays so well?

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84

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Sales. Do sales

89

u/Tnghiem 9d ago

Sales is definitely not for everyone.

15

u/Hlca 9d ago

Always. Be. Closing.

20

u/Boredguy32 9d ago

2nd prize : a set of steak knives

3rd prize : you're fired

5

u/MBCnerdcore 9d ago

plot twist: the company is selling the knives and they expect you to do product demos with your prize.

source: worked for vector marketing/cutco

1

u/Quiby 9d ago

Definitely did that and it did help me sell more lol.. But I was in college and didn't need knives so it was fine. After I quit that because it was terrible I had a full set of knives that my wife and I enjoy now.

3

u/san_serifs 9d ago

PUT THAT COFFEE DOWN! COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS ONLY

2

u/goodnewswithgoodman 9d ago

Fuck you, that’s my name.

4

u/WhenIWish 9d ago

SADNESS

1

u/allbeefratty 9d ago

Follow Up Now

10

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

True!

6

u/slughell 9d ago

You definitely do sales

9

u/Osoi_Kuruma 9d ago

Sales is 100% fake it till you make it. Managed to get myself into a management role, all the while barely hitting KPI's and hating actual sales the entire time. Answer your phone and buddy up with other high ranking employees and you're set.

2

u/LastDayOfThe10s 9d ago

You have to put on a mask to sell things. I can’t. Props to the people that can tho

1

u/lateralus65 9d ago

Neither is ops!

8

u/thompssc 9d ago

How would I get into sales from a corporate finance career? Kinda hate all day spreadsheet making and would love something more interpersonal. My comp is tied to progression, which is tied to politics. I'd rather something like sales where it's purely my performance, and I dont have to be concerned about moving up to manage people. I mean, I understand that moving up in sales is still going to be a bigger step in income than just doing better as a salesman, but at least theres more of a correlation between performance and income.

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u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago edited 9d ago

Talk to the higher ups at your company. Sales is kind of weird. It’s politics as well as performance.

Like my position is a senior position but my ceiling is probably 150-180k max. And that’s forever. I’m working on moving into leasing/finance space where ceiling is 500-800k but it takes a long time to get there.

You’ll probably have to gut it out for a while somewhere unless you can get in with people who know you. But once your established the job is very easy. My dad makes 250-300k and basically takes orders all day.

It’s probably better if you’re younger. It wouldn’t be cost efficient to leave a high earning, specialized position for entry level sales

5

u/GardnerDaddyMinshew 9d ago

Do you have recommendations for entry level work? I recently finished my associates and will be pursuing my bachelors. Could part time sales be feasible while in school? If so what industries/positions would you apply?

I’m highly motivated, and I know I have a sales personality. Thanks!

12

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

100%.

Go cut your teeth as an SDR for a highly rated SAAS company. Use Repvue to check companies sales culture.

A year or so of good work you can be an AE making 100-200k a year. A year or two of that and you can be enterprise which is 250k+

3

u/GardnerDaddyMinshew 9d ago

I’m studying humanities/economics. I am tech savvy enough, but would I need a degree in a related field to break into SAAS sales?

5

u/Badgertime 9d ago

Nope, go entry level and just hit the phones, research, and get good at the craft then you can apply based on your performance + phone/crm exp it takes time but once you're good and if you work for a place with a decent product then you can perform well and transition fast

3

u/Hoggerstolemygf 9d ago

I’m an Enterprise Account Executive and am on track to W2 $400,000 this year. Not including consulting work I do on the side or the advisory board I sit on. I didn’t go to college.

1

u/john133435 9d ago

How many years of experience?

1

u/Hoggerstolemygf 9d ago

I started working in sales 5 years ago, right when I would have been leaving college had I gone. Mind you this is all Saas sales. I work 100% remote as well.

1

u/PandaintheParks 8d ago

Wait, that salary AND remote?? What does it take? Was it something you can learn on job or would you recommend studying? Did you have a network for sales or all on job?

1

u/traderjoe22 9d ago

What kind of degrees/qualifications do you have/need?

2

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Bachelors helps for most industry but it’s not 100% necessary

1

u/jeevesdgk 9d ago

For me I don’t have any degrees per se. But. In order to legally originate mortgage loans you need to pass something called the SAFE test. Once you do that you need to submit to be licensed in whatever state you want to be licensed in and wait for approval. Once you get approved, the sky is the limit. There are people at my company making 100-150k a month consistently. I’m not quite at that level yet since I’m still in incubation training. But the biggest check for me so far was 45k. 5 months ago I knew nothing about mortgages and now I know more than 99% of people lol.

1

u/staggerleemcgee 9d ago

is the position Mortgage Loan Originator or Mortgage loan officer, or are they the same position? This sounds super interesting, is it a mostly sales job or also somewhat accounting as well?

1

u/jeevesdgk 9d ago

It’s mostly sales and then looking into their credit and trying to help them out. MLO = mortgage loan officer or originator. Same thing.

6

u/igotdatoots 9d ago

B2B sales is less icky for those who think they aren’t cut out for it. B2C takes a certain type of person, but with B2B and established customers, you’re just making friends and telling them what you have to offer.

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u/fuccccccccu 9d ago

I’ve done both and I’ve found that B2B is easier and more lucrative solely based on the fact that the buyer is spending someone else’s money. It’s not as much of an emotional decision, even though emotion is always in play.

3

u/[deleted] 9d ago

[deleted]

1

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Did you start as BDR? I’ve been applying EVERYWHERE for an AE spot and have gotten one interview. One interview out of like 100 applications because I don’t have software experience.

It’s insane to me.

2

u/omggreddit 9d ago

How much do you clear?

7

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Low six figures but my industry ceiling is low. Moving to SAAS or finance soon with a much higher ceiling

2

u/johnsue30 9d ago

for what industry

13

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

SAAS, fintech, real estate, finance

1

u/HipHopGrandpa 9d ago

I had never heard of Fintech a few years ago. Now it’s every goddamn vendor. They’re taking off like a rocket ship.

1

u/johnsue30 5d ago

yall hiring?

2

u/nickellme 9d ago

How? I can't get a part time job in the evenings and I took a sales training class.. 🤷🏽‍♀️

6

u/Toomuchgovt 9d ago

Sales is 100% on the job teaching. Usually through cold calling first. Business development (bdr if you’re searching). Pay is low to start, burn out is high. But if you can handle the ‘no’s’ you’re an account manager in not time, and the salaries range from 50k-900k. Tech and Saas is definitely the hot market now. especially security products. Honestly once you get the hang of talking to people sales is easy. Even for an introvert.

3

u/AgoraRises 9d ago

This, handling rejection is the hardest part but you get used to it.

2

u/radioactiveb 9d ago

Sales of what?

2

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Construction equipment

1

u/radioactiveb 9d ago

Did you work on construction first, or is that something you can learn about on the job?

1

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

No. It was a job I got right out of college and now I have a high level of equipment knowledge. Took some time but you figure it out

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u/TheBigShrimp 9d ago

How start sales, me no sales now

1

u/Resourceful_Human 9d ago

Feel free to shoot me a PM! Started in sales about a year ago fresh outta college. Starting my promotion in Monday to a position where I’ll likely earn six figures in my very first year.

2

u/YogurtSocks 9d ago

What even is sales? Like what does that mean? How do you go about starting, etc

2

u/Resourceful_Human 9d ago

Feel free to shoot me a PM! Started in sales about a year ago fresh outta college. Starting my promotion in Monday to a position where I’ll likely earn six figures in my very first year.

1

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

What?

Sales is selling products for businesses. That is your job.

2

u/Partytang 9d ago

Well I’m sold.

1

u/Hungboy6969420 9d ago

Technical sales over here for a PaaS company

1

u/The_Foxy_King 9d ago

What do you mean by sales exactly? I'll be scrolling through indeed seeing all kinds of sales positions but it always seems super sketchy to me.

1

u/Resourceful_Human 9d ago

I’ve copied this to a couple other people: Feel free to shoot me a PM! Started in sales about a year ago fresh outta college. Starting my promotion on Monday to a position where I’ll likely earn six figures in my very first year.

1

u/HaywoodJablowmiii 9d ago

Really any kind of B2B sales has solid earning potential

1

u/Ppalgans 5d ago

Do you happen to know anything about sales in medical laboratory equipment…? Very specific sorry