How to Get Into Tech Sales (And Why You Should)

Here’s the deal—tech sales is one of the best ways to break into tech without needing to write a single line of code. And trust me, if you’re someone who wants to make good money, have career flexibility, and enjoy a fast-paced environment, this is where you need to be.

Let’s get straight into why this could be your golden ticket and how you can make it happen.

Why Tech Sales? 

You’ve probably heard this before—tech is booming, and tech sales is no exception. But what does that actually mean? It means companies everywhere are pumping money into new technology, and they need people who can sell it. That’s where you come in.

1. No Coding Required: You don’t need to be a tech genius to make it in tech sales. You just need to understand the product well enough to sell it. Leave the programming to the engineers.

2. High Pay: Entry-level tech sales reps can easily make $70,000+ in their first year. And that’s before you throw in commissions. With time, you can clear six figures.

3. Career Growth: It’s a high-growth role. You start in sales development, and within 2-3 years, you could be managing a team or closing enterprise deals that earn you serious bonuses.

4. Remote Flexibility: Many companies in this space offer remote options. Want to work from a beach in Bali? As long as you hit your numbers, they don’t care.

So, What Is Tech Sales?

Tech sales is all about selling tech products or services to businesses. It’s a mix of understanding your client’s needs and finding the right solution to help them win. You’re helping people solve problems with technology. That’s it.

The difference between tech sales and something like IT sales? IT sales is more niche—focused on things like cloud computing or IT security. Tech sales covers everything from hardware like laptops to software that companies use to run their business. 

The 4 Key Paths in Tech Sales

1. Sales Development Representative (SDR): Your foot in the door. You’ll be cold-calling, sending emails, and booking meetings for senior reps. It’s the grind, but it teaches you everything.

2. Business Development Representative (BDR): Similar to SDR, but often with a focus on more strategic accounts or existing clients. You’re warming them up for the big sales.

3. Account Executive (AE): This is where you make the big bucks. You’re closing deals—taking all those meetings the SDRs booked and turning them into revenue.

4. Customer Success Manager: After the sale is done, these folks ensure the client is happy, keeps paying, and ideally, spends more. 

The Reality Check: What Makes Tech Sales Tough

Before you dive in, understand that tech sales isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

1. High Pressure: Sales targets are real. If you’re not someone who can handle being measured every month, think twice.

2. Steep Learning Curve: There’s a lot of jargon and new technology you need to wrap your head around quickly. But if you’re coachable, you’ll catch on.

3. Cold Calling: This is the part no one talks about. To succeed in your first few roles, you’ll be dialing and emailing a lot. Get comfortable with rejection, and learn how to push through.

How to Break In

You don’t just wake up and land a tech sales job. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Leverage Transferable Skills: Whether you’ve worked retail, customer service, or in any job where you had to talk to people, you’ve got skills that transfer. Play those up.

2. Learn the Lingo: Tech companies have their own way of talking. Follow some industry blogs, listen to podcasts, and learn the basics of SaaS (Software as a Service). You’ll sound more like you belong.

3. Certifications Help: Look into certifications like Salesforce, HubSpot, or even some entry-level sales courses from Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. They show you’re serious and give you an edge.

4. Network Like Crazy: Join LinkedIn groups, attend tech meetups, and make friends in the industry. People hire people they know, or people their friends know. Relationships matter.

5. Start Applying: Entry-level SDR roles are where most people start. These positions are often available because turnover is high (because it’s hard). Once you get in, focus on learning and hitting your numbers.

Final Thoughts

Tech sales is about getting in, grinding hard, and taking advantage of a lucrative, high-growth industry. You don’t need a fancy degree. You need hunger, hustle, and the ability to sell.

So, are you ready to take control of your career, learn some new skills, and start banking six figures? The path is here. Now it’s on you to walk it.

Let’s get to work.