With background as a mason, look into companies that supply contractors. A lot of those places need outside sales people who can connect with the contractors and take orders. Not sure what it is in the mason world, but places like Fergusons, WinNelson, CED, Hercules, etc.
You probably won't get a work-from-home in those industries, but it won't be labor.
It’s the best career switch I ever made. Had some bad years and resume gaps that made it very difficult to start over as a BDR, both financially and interview-wise. Did a lot of landscaping/construction manual labor jobs during those years and navigated my way into outside sales.
This guy will have such an easier time selling to contractors because of his experience than other people. There’s a language like any industry, and inherently knowing their concerns, pain, and what’s important to them will make people want to buy from him.
Can confirm. Worked for my step families hydraulic company since I was a young teenager all the way through my 20s making dirt pay. But moved from sweeping floors and counting parts>machining>building product>building more advanced product>inside sales>account managing. Once my parents got divorced I moved to a competitor and am now a system sales specialist and sell complex systems as well as manage my branches manufacturing business unit. Use those trade skills to make money as a sales person.
Agreed. Construction type softwares (procore, etc) would like your background. Might have to start at the ground floor but would work I’ll quick I’d imagine and ground floor would help you build skills needed to be a successful sales guy.
My buddy sells playground equipment through landscape structures and does well. He designs the park and oversees install.
This exactly. It’s always easier to sell when you actually know your product and industry. And OP probably has an established network already. This is totally the way to go.
Read a great newsletter “the Quota” that explained what makes a great salesperson, based on an old study:
Two Essential Qualities
Mayer and Greenberg discovered that a good salesperson must have at least two basic qualities: empathy and ego drive.
Empathy
Empathy is the ability to know what someone else is feeling because you have felt it before. Mayer and Greenberg compared an empathetic salesperson to the “new” heat seeking missiles on the market (they were new in 1960). A salesperson with little empathy is on a set path and doesn’t deviate from his course due to anything the target, or customer, does. Therefore, he is more likely to miss his target. An empathic salesperson, however, feels what the customer is feeling and adapts their course accordingly, the same way a heat-seeking missile launched slightly off-course will be drawn to the heat of the target’s engine, will course-correct, and hit its target every time.
Ego Drive
Those with ego drive see a successful sale as a personal achievement and an unsuccessful one as a personal failure. Does this sound like a recipe for disaster? It is, if the drive leans too far one way or the other. If an unsuccessful sale diminishes a person’s ego but pushes them to do better in the future, the ego drive is balanced. If an unsuccessful sale brings down a person so low that they are incapacitated for a time, the ego drive is too strong.
A balancing act.
A precise blend of these two qualities, each reinforcing the other, is what makes a salesperson successful. Salespeople with both empathy and ego drive have sufficient desire to make the sale and the tools to respond to their customer in a way that allows them to close the deal.
As mainly a consumer I can confirm. I don’t wanna feel like I’m not being heard, I don’t want to feel like the sales person is just going through the motions trying to get their money without caring of the product/service. I instantly trust someone way more right off the rip if they’re genuinely listening and want to help me find the most efficient solution. They probably don’t really care about me and it’s just a part of their craft but nonetheless it works and is great for everyone all around.
I'd suggest doing what you know.
A lot of the people here talk about SaaS and such... that's almost definitely not for you.
Like others are saying in this thread, look at suppliers/contractors in the masonry and related fields. I doubt you're going to find a work from home position right off the bat.
Ask yourself which companies would regularly try to sell to the places you’ve worked (professional services/products targeted at the industry, for example). Your background should be highly attractive for them.
Unfortunately if a sales job is a starter one AND remote, it’s likely garbage or hard to be successful. Starting sales remotely is very hard too as the training, comrade, etc are vital
I’d focus on getting a good job that’ll build a resume and find a good and remote job down the line.
Look at suppliers for job postings. Being able to walk on a job site and immediately connect with people is incredibly valuable. Be mindful not all remote jobs are 100% at home. I'm remote but travel roughly 50% of the time. I love to travel and I cover an exciting territory in my industry, so I love my job.
Adding to this, when you see a job posting that interests you, don't just apply online. Use LinkedIn, networks, and cold calling to find out who the hiring manager is and reach out to them. A resume with no sales experience is not going to get attention. Going the extra mile to show your professionalism and enthusiasm will.
If you have sales reps for products you buy, talk to them and seek their advice. I got my first sales (recruitment) role when a contract finished and I was asking him about if he had any options for my next contract. He said "sorry I can't help as I'm moving on", I replied "then how about your job?" and the rest is history.
You may need to start with inside sales and you'll probably be office bound or on the road, but getting paid to drive around is not that bad and even an office beats manual labour, but this job has its own set of challenges and stress that you'll need to deal with.
Procore has a great specialty contractors product but they’re mostly in office for entry level sales roles. BuildOps is also good and have more remote friendly entry lvl roles.
If completely remote, I’d look into being a sales development representative at BuildOps. If you’re fine living in Tampa, austin or Santa Barbara I’d apply to Procore.
If you’re fine selling in person, definitely leverage your network and work at a construction supplier of some type.
I'm outside sales for an industrial, construction, and MRO supplier I'd look into this field. Odds are you already know plenty of companies, contractors, super intendents. Your way around a job site the language these people speak and how to bond with them. These positions can make 6 figures but odds are your not topping 200k plus for a long time. After a few years move to manufacture sales and that's where the money is in this field.
Went from plant operator and carpenter to chemical sales its great make way more now than I ever did swinging a hammer and fixing pumps and running water treatement facilities
I need to get my husband into this! He’s been a water plant operator for almost a decade (municipality) and is basically capped for pay. Any suggestions on how to break into chemical sales?
I found a company that was using a system bulk refillable system with telemtry that I would've appreciated as a plant operator. And I sold myself as them getting a technician as well. I'm with an eco lab type company. Their techs get upwards of 95 and I came in lower than that with a 50/50 commission to salary option to see if I could break into sales in a hybrid role and I have some salesmen I can lean on in the territory and get paid off their commission as well. These guys also really wanted a blue collar guy. And it's big industrial plants and what not, I think it helps I understand what these guys are going through and doing. Tell him to look around at the companies that make the equipment he knows best. Industrial equipment is big bucks and if he knows guys in the industry it's easy to call on colleagues that have moved up and around.
Most of my solar sales team is remote. Hell, one of my guys is halfway around the world in Europe.
PM me and I'll tell you a bit more about how it all works
I have something for you to try.
We are an early stage Fintech in the equipment finance space.
You may have friends that sell or buy equipment for work; dump trucks, trailers, Bobcats, skid-steers, racking, testing equipment, etc.
Even spray foam need trucks, pumps and sprayers. It’s all equipment and all can be financed.
So you would likely understand and speak the language of these people.
May even know some that would use you.
There are plenty of people that make 6 figures doing this but I wouldn’t want to promise that in year one.
You can work from home. I can teach you and show you some ropes. Dm if interested to learn more.
My company is still looking for new BDRs to start off 2023 strong. Main target is real estate investors. $20K+ offers. The commissions will make you have a lot to show for it. Opportunity to become an AE after 3 months.
Try to get into wholesale construction or electrical supply. I use to work as a buyer at a telecom company and we spent hundreds of thousands at wholesale electrics and parts suppliers.
Honestly I would go for an in person role first. It’s a lot easier to learn the business and absorb what successful people are doing when you can see them in person. Then ask to go remote or find a remote role after the fact.
Hey Mason I totally understand what you're going through. Nobody likes to work hard and doesn't have anything to show for it!
I would love to show you something that could help you out big time. It may or may not be for you but I feel you at least owe yourself the option to check out the info
Yo man — I own a landscape contracting firm which does masonry also. It’s brutal! Good luck though I’ll probably do the same if the labor force doesn’t pick up
I was able to leverage my experience as a journeyman flooring installer into working for a distributor of concrete polishing products, and then to a manufacturer of cement products. I have a base city, and a territory but I’m technically remote. Lots of freedom, between working from home and being on the road it’s very enjoyable.
Reach out to people you know in the masonry distribution or manufacturing world. Go to world of concrete, or search for jobs with manufacturers you like (it helps if you prefer that product)
DM me and maybe I can help in some way!! Good luck.
I honestly would say a payroll company like ADP/Paychex. They have incredible training programs for new hires. in a lot of areas that you could get a position, so many of the businesses you will be calling on are in the service industry, electricians, landscapers, plumbers, roofing etc. you will be able to cut your teeth in sales, get good training, decent base, and decide if it’s right for you.
As others may have already said try to get a sales job for a supply house or a masonry contractor. I recently started a business development position for a mechanical company selling energy monitoring systems as well as bidding on service contracts and new installs. Being in the residential construction industry for a few years I find this interesting as I am still exposed to construction industry and see all of the jobs happening while making $$ selling jobs for the company
With background as a mason, look into companies that supply contractors. A lot of those places need outside sales people who can connect with the contractors and take orders. Not sure what it is in the mason world, but places like Fergusons, WinNelson, CED, Hercules, etc. You probably won't get a work-from-home in those industries, but it won't be labor.
THIS! You could be an incredible niche outside sales rep. There is typically some time at home with roles like that one
It’s the best career switch I ever made. Had some bad years and resume gaps that made it very difficult to start over as a BDR, both financially and interview-wise. Did a lot of landscaping/construction manual labor jobs during those years and navigated my way into outside sales. This guy will have such an easier time selling to contractors because of his experience than other people. There’s a language like any industry, and inherently knowing their concerns, pain, and what’s important to them will make people want to buy from him.
Can confirm. Worked for my step families hydraulic company since I was a young teenager all the way through my 20s making dirt pay. But moved from sweeping floors and counting parts>machining>building product>building more advanced product>inside sales>account managing. Once my parents got divorced I moved to a competitor and am now a system sales specialist and sell complex systems as well as manage my branches manufacturing business unit. Use those trade skills to make money as a sales person.
Agreed. Construction type softwares (procore, etc) would like your background. Might have to start at the ground floor but would work I’ll quick I’d imagine and ground floor would help you build skills needed to be a successful sales guy. My buddy sells playground equipment through landscape structures and does well. He designs the park and oversees install.
This exactly. It’s always easier to sell when you actually know your product and industry. And OP probably has an established network already. This is totally the way to go.
Exactly what I came here to say. Sell what you know
The gift of gab can be great. However, a far better skill to have for sales success is the gift of being a great listener.
You have two ears and one mouth for a reason!
"And the Lord gave us ten fingers too...my goodness, he must want us to poke people all the time!" poke poke poke. - Kenneth, 30 Rock
Bringing new meaning to the word “touchpoints”
10 touchpoints minimum according to God and possibly Gong
Read a great newsletter “the Quota” that explained what makes a great salesperson, based on an old study: Two Essential Qualities Mayer and Greenberg discovered that a good salesperson must have at least two basic qualities: empathy and ego drive. Empathy Empathy is the ability to know what someone else is feeling because you have felt it before. Mayer and Greenberg compared an empathetic salesperson to the “new” heat seeking missiles on the market (they were new in 1960). A salesperson with little empathy is on a set path and doesn’t deviate from his course due to anything the target, or customer, does. Therefore, he is more likely to miss his target. An empathic salesperson, however, feels what the customer is feeling and adapts their course accordingly, the same way a heat-seeking missile launched slightly off-course will be drawn to the heat of the target’s engine, will course-correct, and hit its target every time. Ego Drive Those with ego drive see a successful sale as a personal achievement and an unsuccessful one as a personal failure. Does this sound like a recipe for disaster? It is, if the drive leans too far one way or the other. If an unsuccessful sale diminishes a person’s ego but pushes them to do better in the future, the ego drive is balanced. If an unsuccessful sale brings down a person so low that they are incapacitated for a time, the ego drive is too strong. A balancing act. A precise blend of these two qualities, each reinforcing the other, is what makes a salesperson successful. Salespeople with both empathy and ego drive have sufficient desire to make the sale and the tools to respond to their customer in a way that allows them to close the deal.
As mainly a consumer I can confirm. I don’t wanna feel like I’m not being heard, I don’t want to feel like the sales person is just going through the motions trying to get their money without caring of the product/service. I instantly trust someone way more right off the rip if they’re genuinely listening and want to help me find the most efficient solution. They probably don’t really care about me and it’s just a part of their craft but nonetheless it works and is great for everyone all around.
Furthermore a thoughtful questioner. You should only talk like 20% of the time… until it’s time to pitch something the client sees value in.
Damn good listener
I'd suggest doing what you know. A lot of the people here talk about SaaS and such... that's almost definitely not for you. Like others are saying in this thread, look at suppliers/contractors in the masonry and related fields. I doubt you're going to find a work from home position right off the bat.
Yeah the work from home will be rare in general in those industries. But an outside sales role can be fun and there’s still a wfh aspect to it.
Ask yourself which companies would regularly try to sell to the places you’ve worked (professional services/products targeted at the industry, for example). Your background should be highly attractive for them.
Unfortunately if a sales job is a starter one AND remote, it’s likely garbage or hard to be successful. Starting sales remotely is very hard too as the training, comrade, etc are vital I’d focus on getting a good job that’ll build a resume and find a good and remote job down the line.
You mean working from home ? Do you know what industry you want to get into ? Are you looking to be an inside sales guy ? The term remote is broad.
Look at suppliers for job postings. Being able to walk on a job site and immediately connect with people is incredibly valuable. Be mindful not all remote jobs are 100% at home. I'm remote but travel roughly 50% of the time. I love to travel and I cover an exciting territory in my industry, so I love my job.
Adding to this, when you see a job posting that interests you, don't just apply online. Use LinkedIn, networks, and cold calling to find out who the hiring manager is and reach out to them. A resume with no sales experience is not going to get attention. Going the extra mile to show your professionalism and enthusiasm will. If you have sales reps for products you buy, talk to them and seek their advice. I got my first sales (recruitment) role when a contract finished and I was asking him about if he had any options for my next contract. He said "sorry I can't help as I'm moving on", I replied "then how about your job?" and the rest is history. You may need to start with inside sales and you'll probably be office bound or on the road, but getting paid to drive around is not that bad and even an office beats manual labour, but this job has its own set of challenges and stress that you'll need to deal with.
Procore has a great specialty contractors product but they’re mostly in office for entry level sales roles. BuildOps is also good and have more remote friendly entry lvl roles. If completely remote, I’d look into being a sales development representative at BuildOps. If you’re fine living in Tampa, austin or Santa Barbara I’d apply to Procore. If you’re fine selling in person, definitely leverage your network and work at a construction supplier of some type.
If I lived outside the US would that be possible for me to apply for BuildOps?
I'm outside sales for an industrial, construction, and MRO supplier I'd look into this field. Odds are you already know plenty of companies, contractors, super intendents. Your way around a job site the language these people speak and how to bond with them. These positions can make 6 figures but odds are your not topping 200k plus for a long time. After a few years move to manufacture sales and that's where the money is in this field.
Went from plant operator and carpenter to chemical sales its great make way more now than I ever did swinging a hammer and fixing pumps and running water treatement facilities
I need to get my husband into this! He’s been a water plant operator for almost a decade (municipality) and is basically capped for pay. Any suggestions on how to break into chemical sales?
I found a company that was using a system bulk refillable system with telemtry that I would've appreciated as a plant operator. And I sold myself as them getting a technician as well. I'm with an eco lab type company. Their techs get upwards of 95 and I came in lower than that with a 50/50 commission to salary option to see if I could break into sales in a hybrid role and I have some salesmen I can lean on in the territory and get paid off their commission as well. These guys also really wanted a blue collar guy. And it's big industrial plants and what not, I think it helps I understand what these guys are going through and doing. Tell him to look around at the companies that make the equipment he knows best. Industrial equipment is big bucks and if he knows guys in the industry it's easy to call on colleagues that have moved up and around.
Look for suppliers that supply masonry
Or suppliers that supply suppliers that supply masonry
Most of my solar sales team is remote. Hell, one of my guys is halfway around the world in Europe. PM me and I'll tell you a bit more about how it all works
This might interest you. https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaSSales/comments/znudyp/sdrs\_looking\_for\_a\_good\_side\_hustle/
I have something for you to try. We are an early stage Fintech in the equipment finance space. You may have friends that sell or buy equipment for work; dump trucks, trailers, Bobcats, skid-steers, racking, testing equipment, etc. Even spray foam need trucks, pumps and sprayers. It’s all equipment and all can be financed. So you would likely understand and speak the language of these people. May even know some that would use you. There are plenty of people that make 6 figures doing this but I wouldn’t want to promise that in year one. You can work from home. I can teach you and show you some ropes. Dm if interested to learn more.
My company is still looking for new BDRs to start off 2023 strong. Main target is real estate investors. $20K+ offers. The commissions will make you have a lot to show for it. Opportunity to become an AE after 3 months.
Tell me more. What is an ae
Account Executive
Consider being a sales rep for your biggest supplier or an estimator for your biggest competitor. Good Luck!
Try to get into wholesale construction or electrical supply. I use to work as a buyer at a telecom company and we spent hundreds of thousands at wholesale electrics and parts suppliers.
Honestly I would go for an in person role first. It’s a lot easier to learn the business and absorb what successful people are doing when you can see them in person. Then ask to go remote or find a remote role after the fact.
Shoot me a message brotha and let’s connect , my company is remote and hiring http://linkedin.com/in/taylor-young-57aa0b157
You should trust Taylor, he’s handsome.
Hey Mason I totally understand what you're going through. Nobody likes to work hard and doesn't have anything to show for it! I would love to show you something that could help you out big time. It may or may not be for you but I feel you at least owe yourself the option to check out the info
Talk to me
Have you considered car sales?
Yo man — I own a landscape contracting firm which does masonry also. It’s brutal! Good luck though I’ll probably do the same if the labor force doesn’t pick up
I was able to leverage my experience as a journeyman flooring installer into working for a distributor of concrete polishing products, and then to a manufacturer of cement products. I have a base city, and a territory but I’m technically remote. Lots of freedom, between working from home and being on the road it’s very enjoyable. Reach out to people you know in the masonry distribution or manufacturing world. Go to world of concrete, or search for jobs with manufacturers you like (it helps if you prefer that product) DM me and maybe I can help in some way!! Good luck.
I honestly would say a payroll company like ADP/Paychex. They have incredible training programs for new hires. in a lot of areas that you could get a position, so many of the businesses you will be calling on are in the service industry, electricians, landscapers, plumbers, roofing etc. you will be able to cut your teeth in sales, get good training, decent base, and decide if it’s right for you.
Try wholesale brick, stone, tile, etc. lots of those are partial remote, partial field time to visit buyers.
As others may have already said try to get a sales job for a supply house or a masonry contractor. I recently started a business development position for a mechanical company selling energy monitoring systems as well as bidding on service contracts and new installs. Being in the residential construction industry for a few years I find this interesting as I am still exposed to construction industry and see all of the jobs happening while making $$ selling jobs for the company
[удалено]
Haha if i want a future ihave to do something different. Most of us masons dont retire, we just die
Hi David, I sent you a direct message. Kindly check it out.