What Type Of Person Thrives In Tech Sales According To A Sales Trainer At Salesforce
Salesforce Sales Onboarding Trainer-Manager Ryan identifies two key traits for success: in tech sales, "self-starters" who are "resilient" and "good listeners," and in training, individuals who are "organized," comfortable with "public speaking," and adept at managing "multiple stakeholders." This reflects Ryan's own career progression from tech sales to a training and enablement role, highlighting the transferable skills valued in both.
Resilience, Communication, Problem-Solving, Public Speaking, Relationship Building
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ryan Avolese
Sales Onboarding Trainer - Manager
Salesforce
University of Colorado
n/a
Business Management & Admin
Technology
Sales and Client Management
Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Self-starters and creative thinkers thrive in tech sales, as the role involves resilience in the face of frequent rejection and requires strong listening skills to understand customer needs and offer solutions.
2. Success in sales training and enablement requires organization, public speaking skills, relationship management abilities with multiple stakeholders, and a collaborative work style.
3. The ability to handle rejection and maintain a positive attitude is crucial for success in tech sales, while strong listening skills are key to understanding customer needs and providing effective solutions
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in your industry?
I'd say I'll go through two buckets here. The first is tech sales, which is what I started my career in as a seller and account executive myself.
People who are typically successful in those roles are self-starters, creative thinkers, and positive. They're not afraid to fail and they're resilient, especially in sales. More often than not, you're told no.
On a day where you're reaching out to 50 to 60 clients, you might only get one or two who are open to a conversation. When you multiply that out weekly or monthly, it's a lot of "no." So, being resilient is really important.
I think in tech sales, people believe they need to love talking to people and building relationships. While that's somewhat true, the best sellers are good listeners. They can understand what the customer is saying and then help them find a solution.
If I think about my current role in training and enablement, some of the skills I mentioned apply. People who are organized, comfortable with public speaking, and able to build and manage relationships with multiple stakeholders often thrive. Overall, those who are easy to work with tend to do well in training positions.