Looking to thrive in the world of Technology Sales but worried about the time it will take to learn? This article delves into the functionalities of tech sales, highlighting the process of becoming a technology sales representative, and the promising career opportunities in the industry.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Tech Sales?
Like many aspiringTechnology Sales Representatives, you might want to learn tech sales but worry that it will take too much time. Tech sales are not particularly difficult to learn, especially if you have some previous sales experience are familiar with technology, and Of course, this depends on several factors. Keep reading to learn about how you can learn tech sales and some resources to help speed the process along.
What is Tech Sales?
Tech sales is exactly that: selling technology. Technology Sales Representatives work for companies that make hardware and software or provide services like cybersecurity or financial services, but tech sales are focused more on solving a problem than on selling a product. Building a relationship with customers based on meeting their needs is the foundation of tech sales.
Tech sales is a business-to-business sales model, also known as “B2B.” Sales Reps spend a lot of time reaching out to potential clients through cold calling or emails. Once they’ve made a connection, Tech Sales Reps often pass the clients on to an Account Executive to complete the sale, but the Rep usually stays in contact with clients after the sale to make sure they are satisfied.
Because businesses continue to embrace technological solutions, the field of tech sales is easy to get into. There are many opportunities available, and the pay is very good. As long as technology is booming, tech sales will be a solid career.
Read more about what tech sales is and why you should learn it.
What Can You Do with Tech Sales?
Do you have a passion for technology? Are you always reading about new devices and what they can do, but you don’t know how to code and aren’t really interested in learning? You can turn that passion into a new career in tech sales. Selling software as a product relies less on the development of the software and more on what problems it can solve. If you are outgoing and enjoy talking about what software products can do for people, you can use those skills in tech sales. This is a rapidly growing field that offers numerous opportunities for advancement and lucrative pay.
When you work in tech sales, you can find a job in different kinds of companies. Some sales reps work for firms that sell hardware products, others develop and sell software, and others sell services. If you want to change to a different type of product down the road, that won’t be a problem in the high-demand field of tech sales. It is easy to get into and jobs are plentiful. Most businesses use some type of technology product, so tech sales is likely to remain strong far into the future.
Average Time it Takes to Learn Tech Sales
The amount of time it takes to learn tech sales depends on the route you choose. Many companies prefer to hire Tech Sales Reps with a college degree, so if that is the path you choose, it will take four to five years to earn a bachelor’s degree. But some companies are more interested in sales abilities than education, so you can also learn tech sales by signing up for business and marketing classes and bootcamps. If you go that route, it will take two to four months to learn tech sales.
Other Factors
While the type of education you choose has a major effect on how long it takes to learn tech sales, other factors come into play, too. If you have previous sales experience, it won’t take as long for you to learn tech sales. Familiarity with technology will also speed up the process. Knowledge of similar skills like project management, web design, data analytics, or digital marketing can help you learn more quickly, and your personal learning speed has an impact, too.
Previous Sales Experience
Whether it’s a paper route or a summer job at the local mall, previous sales experience will cut down on the amount of time it will take you to learn tech sales. Selling is a frame of mind, and if you already think like a salesperson, you will be further ahead. Successful retail selling depends on good communication skills and listening ability, which is also true for tech sales.
Familiarity with Technology
Most people who decide to learn tech sales are drawn to the field because they love all things technological. If you spend a lot of time reading about new devices that are on the way or take tutorials to learn new software for fun, that will give you a head start on learning tech sales.
Similar Skills
If you have experience or training in comparable fields, it might lessen the amount of time it takes for you to learn tech sales. For example, project management involves overseeing a process to accomplish a goal and requires organization, strategic planning, and the ability to solve problems. Web design involves learning design software, and when you learn one software tool, it is often easier to learn from others. Data analytics is a skill that is shared with many fields, including tech sales. Digital marketing is another area that is similar to tech sales because it relies on data to create campaigns and communication skills to connect with followers on social media.
Learning Speed
Your personal learning speed will also affect how long it will take for you to learn tech sales. If you pick up new information easily, you will learn tech sales faster. But don’t worry if it takes more time to master tech sales. Some people learn better on the job than from a tutorial or class, and new Tech Sales Reps get a lot of training.
Level of Difficulty, Prerequisites, & Cost
Once you’ve made the decision to learn tech sales, you may be wondering how difficult it is to learn, if there are any prerequisites, and how much it will cost. In terms of difficulty, that will depend upon how easily you pick up new skills and how much time you have to study. The most difficult part about learning tech sales is mastering the data analytics tools, and if you have an interest in technology already, that probably won’t be that hard.
While there are no formal prerequisites that you have to have before learning tech sales, acquiring some skills beforehand can be helpful. If you have experience or training in business and marketing, data analytics, project management, or web development, learning tech sales will be easier for you.
You can learn tech sales for free from seminars and tutorials, although many people prefer to take a class. In-person or live online classes can run hundreds to thousands of dollars, while a subscription to an on-demand platform service runs around $30-$40 a month.
Read about how difficult it is to learn tech sales.
Watch a Free Tech Sales Online Course
If you’re not sure if you are ready to tackle tech sales classes, there are free seminars you can watch to get an idea if the subject is for you. Noble Desktop has a number of free video introductions to topics like Excel, Python, and PowerPoint. HubSpot Academy also offers free training courses. You can choose from Sales Rep Training, Sales Enablement Training, and Sales Software Training. Udemy has free courses on sales including How to Sell Anything in 3 Simple Steps and Starting Your Sales Career. Coursera offers a free introductory tech sales course.
Read about more free tech sales videos and online tutorials.
Learn Business & Marketing Skills with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop
You can learn project management and digital marketing through Noble Desktop. Noble’s Project Management Bootcamp covers methods for running projects effectively and managing scope, time, and resources. Noble’s Digital Marketing Certificate covers creating internet marketing campaigns, including SEO, social media marketing, paid and unpaid search, and analytics. Noble also offers classes in Excel, Python, and SQL if you want to take your business practices further.
Classes are taught by industry professionals who have real-world experience in their subjects. Class sizes are small, and you can choose between in-person training and live online sessions. Each class offers a free retake option within a year, and upon completion, you will receive a digital certificate that you can attach to your resume or LinkedIn profile.
Key Takeaways
- Tech sales is a good career for someone who loves technology but isn’t interested in learning to code.
- It’s a great way to make a good living doing something you love.
- Tech sales are not difficult to learn. If you go to college, it will take four to five years to learn. If you choose a bootcamp program, it will take two to four months.
- Some factors can make learning tech sales go faster.
- Previous experience
- Familiarity with tech
- Similar skills
- Personal learning speed
- You can receive comprehensive tech sales training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.