Job Description
Vacation 1) You get 3 weeks of vacation to start.
Sales Perks 2) They pay for your cellphone, auto mileage, parking, and basically everything you need to close a deal. Very helpful in the sales process when you don't have to ask to take a client to lunch.
Upward Mobility 3) Make your number then this will take care of itself. 4) This was an outside sales job and was not the technical job known as a FTSS role. This was a Sales Specialist role.
Pros
Flexibility 1) What is so great about this job is your ability to literally work at home everyday all day. You are completely mobile and don't have an office but check into different offices around California and in any city. You should spend a majority of your time at your clients' office and usualy they will offer you a cube to work from.
2) Pay is always timely and correct. Your commission check has no hassle at all. With some small companies you might get a delayed paycheck sometimes, no problems with IBM.
a) Quota - you are on a quarterly quota but are held to a yearly quota. This means you have quarterly number but you will still get a commission check and have job security if you meet your yearly number. Your yearly number is attainable yet very hard as well.
3) Job Security - you have a 1 year grace period. This means they won't fire you if you don't make your yearly number. In year 2 you are fair game, but what is nice about IBM is most likely they will reassign you to a different department rather than fire you.
4) Really Qualified People - most of your co-workers will either have an MBA or just will be very very competent.
5) Resume Booster, You are with IBM - this makes getting another job really easy afterwards. It's notoriously hard to get into IBM though. Best bet is trying to get a friend to refer you.
6) On the Job Experience - IBM will teach you to sell, and that's a fact. You will be more advanced and much more prepared for any other job you take in sales. They teach you consultative selling and those values will stay with you. Your business morals and ethics will also be on point, and that's important.
Cons
Cons are the same with every sales job with a twist.
1) Quota - if you aren't the hunter-gatherer type. Don't take an IBM Sales job in the SMB. Rather if you are more into the account management type, try to get an IBM Sector job (ie only in the Financial Sector) at a big company like AMEX or something.
2) STRESS!!!! - this job is very stressful. Because you are responsible for revenue (and we are talking millions, my quota was over $10M). Not only your manager, but the VP of Sales, and just about everyone and their mother except the CEO himself will be in your face asking you when something will close. When it comes down to it, if you aren't making your number you can fully expect your bosses, bosses, bosses, boss to be asking you when something will close, on a conference call. So like they say, if you can't take the heat don't get in the kitchen!
3)No Office Environment - if you need to go into the office to be productive, like getting lunch with co-workers, this job is not for you.
Company Size
10,000 or greater employees
Pay Range
$100,001-$120,000
Years in Job
2
Education
B.S. Electrical Engineering (not-req. but helpful)
City
San Francisco
State
CA
