Just like Girl Scout cookies come in many different flavors, sales jobs are incredibly varied. While one role might be perfect for your personality and career goals, another might make you miserable or require skills you don’t have.

Rather than learning from direct experience which type of sales job you love — and which ones you’re ill-suited for — use this comprehensive guide. You’ll learn what each position encompasses and how to tell whether it’s right for you.

What to Look for in a Sales Job

Before you can analyze a sales job, you need to know what to look for. Take the following five points into consideration.

Industry and career path: Are you interested in working for Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies? Chances are, you’ll need to start as a business development rep and work your way to an account executive position. On the other hand, if you go into manufacturing sales, you’ll probably be responsible for handling deals from start to finish.

This is to say: The industry you work in will determine the type of sales roles open to you, and vice versa. Before you commit to a certain career path or industry, make sure the positions and focus are compatible with your goals and preferences.

Long-term job outlook: Certain jobs, like BDRs, are steadily growing more popular. Others, like outside sales, are on the decline. Before you commit to a career path, make sure your role will still be necessary in 10 years.

Type of compensation: How do you like to make money? Sales compensation ranges from zero-commission (retail salespeople, for example) to pure commission (your salary is completely determined by performance.) The former offers a greater sense of security, but the latter can be incredibly profitable — assuming you’re good at your job.

It’s even more important to keep in mind the average and median pay of the role. You might discover the position you’re interested doesn’t provide enough income to maintain your desired lifestyle.

Type of leads: If you prefer working inbound leads, a role that asks you to proactively find your opportunities won’t be the best fit.

Personality: You’ll be miserable if you dislike the main activities of

your role. For instance, someone who loves to get to know their customers and help them achieve their goals over an extended period would likely be best in account management.

Source - Read More at: blog.hubspot.com