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      08-30-2022, 09:08 AM   #1
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Software Sales?

Hey crowd, anyone here do software sales? Where do people start? I have been in sales for a good portion of my professional career, so I know what it takes! 1099 baby, no promised checks here unless I work my butt off

I'm moving to a different state, thinking about trying something new. I heard people make a killing even first years in the field..
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      08-30-2022, 09:46 AM   #2
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What state are you moving to? I know Oracle is always looking for sales people.

Currently have a massive campus in Austin, and should break ground (if they haven't already) on another massive campus in Nashville. Of course, they have people all over the country.
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      08-30-2022, 10:26 AM   #3
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I'm in IT sales. Started as a networking specialist. Then transitioned into a "generalist". I'm the technical resource for the sales team so my title is Sales Engineer. With that said, getting into software sales is extremely broad. There are subsets of software which are very significant. You have security, mobile device management, applications, backup/data assurance, analytics, logging, systems monitoring, etc, etc. You need to pick which area strikes your fancy and which business sector you want to target. Yes, the industry/business sector is extremely important as one sector has specific needs that another won't care about. You have Fortune 500, state and local, Federal, SMB (small/medium business), etc, etc.

Having sales experience is a plus, but don't be surprised if you are slotted for a more junior position as you're just starting off in software sales. But this is with me not knowing what previous sales experience you've had.

The nice thing about software sales is the payout in commissions. With hardware, typically commissions are paid out when the product ships to the customer. And you can imagine that this is a huge challenge in today's climate with supply chain issues. I have sales with an OEM that have lead times/back logs going a year out. Software sales, you have none of that. You pretty much get comp'ed immediately as software is just a download with a license key. There are other nuances with IT sales in general which you'll get to understand such as comp differences on maintenance renewals and now the big battle with subscription models. Also, the push to cloud is affecting how sales are being driven.
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      08-30-2022, 10:54 AM   #4
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Yep, I've been in the space for 10+ years, presently on the exec side. I run a large (100+) team, and I'm still hiring, don't hesitate to pm me.

My current company tends to prize velocity and non-commoditized experience (eg if you're selling something right now that you have to create the need and urgency for, a la mortgage refi or other fs...You should definitely pm me.)

The usual path is to start in a cold calling (bdr) role and work your way up, but this is only really viable in your 20s.
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      08-30-2022, 03:37 PM   #5
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I think that this is not a problem, but you need to understand the specifics of the product. Experience is good even very good, but I think you can look for something similar to what you do now.
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      08-30-2022, 03:56 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox View Post
What state are you moving to? I know Oracle is always looking for sales people.

Currently have a massive campus in Austin, and should break ground (if they haven't already) on another massive campus in Nashville. Of course, they have people all over the country.
Moving to North Carolina, Western part. I go down there a lot and every time I go, there are always projects happening, not Miami level, but new roads/highways, lux apartments, bunch of small local businesses. Looks like the biggest employers there are hospitals, which usually always need new tech.

Quote:
Originally Posted by zx10guy View Post
I'm in IT sales. Started as a networking specialist. Then transitioned into a "generalist". I'm the technical resource for the sales team so my title is Sales Engineer. With that said, getting into software sales is extremely broad. There are subsets of software which are very significant. You have security, mobile device management, applications, backup/data assurance, analytics, logging, systems monitoring, etc, etc. You need to pick which area strikes your fancy and which business sector you want to target. Yes, the industry/business sector is extremely important as one sector has specific needs that another won't care about. You have Fortune 500, state and local, Federal, SMB (small/medium business), etc, etc.

Having sales experience is a plus, but don't be surprised if you are slotted for a more junior position as you're just starting off in software sales. But this is with me not knowing what previous sales experience you've had.

The nice thing about software sales is the payout in commissions. With hardware, typically commissions are paid out when the product ships to the customer. And you can imagine that this is a huge challenge in today's climate with supply chain issues. I have sales with an OEM that have lead times/back logs going a year out. Software sales, you have none of that. You pretty much get comp'ed immediately as software is just a download with a license key. There are other nuances with IT sales in general which you'll get to understand such as comp differences on maintenance renewals and now the big battle with subscription models. Also, the push to cloud is affecting how sales are being driven.
Very good info, some things I didn't even think about! I don't know exactly what I would want to sell yet. I guess it depends on what the area is buying, correct? The part of NC I'm moving to has a few big fields, mainly hospitality and health care. Nowadays, I feel like every industry needs some sort of software boost.

My background is in Real Estate sales (before that construction management), since I'm going to a new area, my sphere of influence is obviously smaller, so I'll have to fight my way up again in Real Estate
world (everyone's mom and grandma is a Realtor now ). I'm in a decent position to just do Real Estate sales down there, but tech is obviously taking over and selling itself, so it might be a good idea to get in now. I do Real Estate investing as well, so I can stay in the field by doing the investing part.

The software sales industry is very broad, are there any forums/groups that help you narrow things down? Or get started?

Quote:
Originally Posted by aktif8 View Post
Yep, I've been in the space for 10+ years, presently on the exec side. I run a large (100+) team, and I'm still hiring, don't hesitate to pm me.

My current company tends to prize velocity and non-commoditized experience (eg if you're selling something right now that you have to create the need and urgency for, a la mortgage refi or other fs...You should definitely pm me.)

The usual path is to start in a cold calling (bdr) role and work your way up, but this is only really viable in your 20s.
Will PM. I have done my fair share of cold calling, cold texting, knocking on doors.. I'm pretty sure I'm done with that part of my life for good lol. Got a kid, another one on the way and a wife and cold calling just does not fit into my lifestyle right now.
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      08-30-2022, 04:01 PM   #7
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I think that this is not a problem, but you need to understand the specifics of the product. Experience is good even very good, but I think you can look for something similar to what you do now.
True, I'm in Real Estate... very hard to sell something to a Realtor beside docusign lol. I have been approached multiple times and have yet to see a good product that actually helps.
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      08-30-2022, 05:19 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox View Post
What state are you moving to? I know Oracle is always looking for sales people.

Currently have a massive campus in Austin, and should break ground (if they haven't already) on another massive campus in Nashville. Of course, they have people all over the country.
Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.
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      08-31-2022, 08:12 AM   #9
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Don't do it.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.
Don't do what?
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      08-31-2022, 08:32 AM   #10
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Don't do what?
Work for Oracle!
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      08-31-2022, 08:14 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by P1 View Post
Work for Oracle!
Why not? Do you, or did you, work for Oracle?
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      09-02-2022, 04:43 PM   #12
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Work for Oracle!
Why?

Technically I work for a company that was acquired by Oracle.

My only complaint would be I'm a bit underpaid compared to peers with my level of experience. I'm still paid well, our health insurance for example, is insane.....like almost I work in Congress level insane. Tons of flexibility, I WFH 2-3 days per week even before the pandemic, and now I do permanently.
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      09-02-2022, 04:52 PM   #13
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I used to work in an oil and gas Fortune 500 company and remember working on an Oracle software deal, reading the in force agreement and being like who the fuck would sign off on high risk terms like this, they want our business, went to our GC to ask what's the deal ready to take it to them. He was like, dude it's Oracle, there are no real competitors for the solution we need, you take their terms or pound sand…I was like ooohhh forgot to look at it that way. Only had to negotiate pricing. It was early in my career.
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      09-02-2022, 05:43 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OkieSnuffBox View Post
Why?

Technically I work for a company that was acquired by Oracle.

My only complaint would be I'm a bit underpaid compared to peers with my level of experience. I'm still paid well, our health insurance for example, is insane.....like almost I work in Congress level insane. Tons of flexibility, I WFH 2-3 days per week even before the pandemic, and now I do permanently.
Consider yourself lucky. When they acquired Sun Microsystems, they pretty much flushed a once great company down the toilet. There's a reason I and many of my colleagues refer to Oracle as the Orifice.
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      09-02-2022, 05:46 PM   #15
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Originally Posted by x3sm View Post
Moving to North Carolina, Western part. I go down there a lot and every time I go, there are always projects happening, not Miami level, but new roads/highways, lux apartments, bunch of small local businesses. Looks like the biggest employers there are hospitals, which usually always need new tech.



Very good info, some things I didn't even think about! I don't know exactly what I would want to sell yet. I guess it depends on what the area is buying, correct? The part of NC I'm moving to has a few big fields, mainly hospitality and health care. Nowadays, I feel like every industry needs some sort of software boost.

My background is in Real Estate sales (before that construction management), since I'm going to a new area, my sphere of influence is obviously smaller, so I'll have to fight my way up again in Real Estate
world (everyone's mom and grandma is a Realtor now ). I'm in a decent position to just do Real Estate sales down there, but tech is obviously taking over and selling itself, so it might be a good idea to get in now. I do Real Estate investing as well, so I can stay in the field by doing the investing part.

The software sales industry is very broad, are there any forums/groups that help you narrow things down? Or get started?



Will PM. I have done my fair share of cold calling, cold texting, knocking on doors.. I'm pretty sure I'm done with that part of my life for good lol. Got a kid, another one on the way and a wife and cold calling just does not fit into my lifestyle right now.
There is a growing tech sector over in the Raleigh area. Cisco has a huge campus down there.

As to what forums/groups to consult/join, I don't know. You really have to pick an area where you have some interest. It's not always the rule but for me I find myself being a better salesperson when I actually have an interest in the product I'm selling. I also lucked into my first sales position as it was via a refer from a friend. Never in a million years would I think I'd end up in sales as I have a disdain towards sales people. But here I am. And I've been at it since 2011.
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      09-02-2022, 05:51 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by e90335e36m3 View Post
I used to work in an oil and gas Fortune 500 company and remember working on an Oracle software deal, reading the in force agreement and being like who the fuck would sign off on high risk terms like this, they want our business, went to our GC to ask what's the deal ready to take it to them. He was like, dude it's Oracle, there are no real competitors for the solution we need, you take their terms or pound sand…I was like ooohhh forgot to look at it that way. Only had to negotiate pricing. It was early in my career.
If you want to see a royal screw in how much Oracle charges customers, take a look at how much it costs to run an Exadata environment. Just to maintenance costs are in the 7 figures per year.
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      09-03-2022, 10:29 AM   #17
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Consider yourself lucky. When they acquired Sun Microsystems, they pretty much flushed a once great company down the toilet. There's a reason I and many of my colleagues refer to Oracle as the Orifice.
Interesting. I work for NetSuite and our business is continuing to grow like crazy and Oracle keeps investing significant money into us.

Just as an example, I started in Dec 2016 when we were still NetSuite. Jan 1 2017, we became Oracle | NetSuite.

When I started we had 32 Tech Writers. Now we have 125.
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      09-05-2022, 03:53 AM   #18
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Cloud $oftware.

$aa$
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      09-05-2022, 09:30 PM   #19
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Cloud $oftware.

$aa$
I like that! Any suggestions at what companies to look at for employment?
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      09-08-2022, 03:09 AM   #20
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Cloud $oftware.

$aa$
I like that! Any suggestions at what companies to look at for employment?
Tons out there. I'd look at the Gartner quadrant and find an up and coming startup.
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      09-08-2022, 06:51 AM   #21
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Recently since that IG blogger who asks rando's on the streets (mostly in Miami and other big cities) what they do for a living and many of the top earners responded "software sales" I was waiting for this thread to start. Good luck!
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Sounds pizzagatey.
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      09-08-2022, 02:48 PM   #22
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Recently since that IG blogger who asks rando's on the streets (mostly in Miami and other big cities) what they do for a living and many of the top earners responded "software sales" I was waiting for this thread to start. Good luck!
Good call. I usually go with what an IG influencer says also.
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