Should I drop out?
I have, potentially, a very good opportunity. I'm doing really good in college (non-target, first year) right now, have all As but I really don't like it, I've already taken tests in all my classes also. I've been exploring careers and looked into sales. I started networking and I might get an offer to work as an SDR but I would need to move. SDR get around $40-50k a year and after 8-12 months can move up and work as an Account Executive where 6 figures are the norm.
If I am good I can be making 6 figures when my friends are just getting out of college. I want to move away from my family also so it's very tempting to just hammer this offer home and just start with my life. I wanted to get the opinions of some users here who are familiar with the industry.
Oh and an SDR basically takes leads, calls them and see's if they're legit. If they are, then I pass them on to my team leader and he does all the work with closing the deal, etc. It's a pretty easy gig and I think I may do very good in sales.
Thoughts?
do it
Hey long time no talk!
like a week bruv seriously though college is for chumps
Cutco?
Software-sales company in a big city.
drop out of WSO? yes
Ebolamonkey was better.
I'm not tryna open checking accounts for 16 years aka manage their portfolio haha
look bro, I'm pretty sure you're my name is goldstein. you've made 9 threads in 5 weeks essentially asking people how to be successful or if you're doing the right things. at some point you need to stop trying to try to make the "perfect" decision and actually fucking go for something. most big decisions in life are a bit of a leap of faith. stop asking what you should do and do something.
What are you studying?
After my 2 years of CC (basic gen-eds) I'm gonna aim to transfer to a higher ranked school and do Finance or Economics. But my chances of getting into a high end school are slim to none.
Totally worth dropping out if you can realistically make $100,000+ within 4 years.
Sounds like the plot to boiler room
Any advice man?
tell me what your favorite show on netflix is right now
You've said that it's "difficult" to find a job out of college.
While this may be somewhat true, most "horror stories" are from people who majored in feminist dance theory, with a 3.0 GPA and no relevant experience.
Hell. Even my uncle with an English degree makes a couple hundred thousand a year at state farm, and he did nothing throughout college except drink.
If you study something relevant (cough finance cough), you do well in school, get internships, and join student orgs, then you can be extremely successful. You can make more than 100k per year.
What if this SDP position falls through like most cold calling positions do?
Are you gonna re-enroll at 20 and be difficult to hire, since you already dropped out and are 24?
You're taking on a lot of risk, while trying to be risk-averse.
Just go to school, and make it how you want it to be.
Let us know when you get an offer.
This is an instant gratification move. Gotta learn to play the long game if you want to maximize your chances to be successful.
But I could possibly become an AE at 21. My peers will be out of college and I can be making at least 100k. But I see your point, thanks for the advice
What % of inside sales people (SDRs as you call it) get promoted to AE and on what timeline?
is this company called herbalife?
nope, small software-sales comapany
I had a friend that worked for a software sales company in a similar capacity. He was miserable and it was virtually impossible for him to make a sale. It was B2B, however, the leads he got were shit and companies were never interested.
Look, if it doesn't work out the rest of us need ditch diggers and servers at restaurants. So you'll always have a place. Go for it.
You're a loser
Man, don't listen to those finance losers, most of them only dream of 100k, chase the dream. Drop out, and did you know that girls love AEs in top NYC lounges thats hotter than being a GS MD, trust me. Don't let your parents and some shit-education stop you
I choked on my coffee at this
The Swington guy probably is still in college and thinks since he's special and adds people on LinkedIn he wil get into IB and make 6 figs
Sacrifice the short term to enjoy the long term. Do not drop out. Stay focused on your education and how you are going to strategically start your career post-undergrad. You can do it.
Thanks bro
You can have one marshmallow now or you can wait five minutes and I will give you two marshmallows. Which do you want?
Ah the delay of gratification. +1
This must be one of those time value of marshmallow calculations.
Just run an Edward jones boiler room
No degree necessary
Wasn't initially going to comment on this but fuck it, maybe it'll benefit you or someone else unsure of the justification behind college. I used to think college was some chore to get through, and that it really didn't matter too much because everyone had a degree, and its not like MOST people walk out, diploma in hand, with a unique skill set. However, not long after this idiotic "epiphany" I realized I wanted to always have options in life. Not necessarily MF PE vs MM HF, but job security in the sense that if my firm closed down, I could work in the same industry or one that is relatively similar. I knew if something awful happened and I couldn't pursue IB/PE, I could always pivot to a different position within finance. Yes, it may have less pay, worse culture, but the hours will likely be better, and I won't go hungry. This is my survival mentality.
Lets go with the best and worst case scenario for you here.
Best: You accept the job, make solid money, save and invest, and have accrued roughly 150k+ by the time your friends are finishing up college. This is very, very unlikely, and without a lawyer looking over your contract you will most likely get played into being dealt a shitty hand. Sorry, but you're not even 21 and most likely have minimal work experience, and don't know the first thing about what a contract entails. Now, fast forward 5 years. All your friends are starting to make similar salaries, and you find you have no where to pivot to other than similar companies, and zero upward mobility because you focused on the short term gains. Your friends all pass you up, and now, at 25ish, you contemplate going BACK to UNDERGRAD or accepting that you have maxed your potential in life, and have zero cards to play. Does doing sales for 30 - 60 years sound enticing? Do you know of a single guy promoted to a managing position without a degree at any firm that isn't a fast food restaurant or comparable?
Worst: Do I even need to describe it? Broke, no education, working jobs that don't require an undergraduate degree (they aren't pretty). Even my friend in sales has an undergrad degree and will be making roughly 100k after 4 years, so why the fuck would they want someone with zero previous experience and no degree when it comes time to promote? Just for context, my friend also had 4-5 internships and worked numerous other positions at school, do you see what I'm getting at here?
The choice is yours, but for Gods sake, don't think you're smarter than everyone else. There is a reason people don't actively seek out jobs when they have the opportunity to attend college. Stop worrying about money, you're fucking 18. Go to class, work some shitty part time job, and use the motivation from wanting it to get straight As. Join clubs, whatever really, but stop with these absurd threads. PLEASE
This was amazing advice, +1
Everyone will tell you that you won't make it until you do. My friends all laughed at my plan to work in IB/PE, right up until the point where I got the first offer. Some still laugh, tell me I won't make it to a FT role. I just ignore them, they don't understand my drive, work ethic, etc. The people who don't really know me are always the ones doubting me, and the friends who I speak to often always show support. Plenty of people on this site are toxic. You have to ignore everyone, trust in yourself, and just tell yourself that you are capable of making it. Good luck
Always perplexed that why people answer to this dumb shit and make the meaningless thread 30+ comments.
Slow day at work and idk what else to do. Plus, I hope that someone else can benefit from my 2 cents. Definitely see your point though.
Wait, this story makes no sense. How could you possibly have been in college long enough to know if you like it? It's August 30th. Are you just doing summer classes. You know that's different than college, right?
First of all their numbers are lies. Only the top will make 6 figures in a year or two. SDR/BDR is not an easy job. From personal experience probably 85% will either quit or get fired within 3-6 months. While you can make decent money ($35 base plus $30 commission first year) it's a grind man. 150+ cold calls everyday (minimum)just for 1 appointment at best. You will be paid hourly and then $20-40 per appointment with bonuses at certain numbers. Lastly, if you kill it for 2-3 years you might have a chance at working at companies like Salesforce but you'll need a bachelors degree. Work there while still in school, then when you graduate you'll have four years of b2b sales experience which will be a huge leg up against your peers.
Dude idc how hard it is. I am absolutely fucking sick of people telling me I shouldn't do something because it is hard, this is such a loser mentality. I am not directing this towards you though. Also Account Executives are very known for making at least six figures, I mean that's established.
NOW, that is a great idea. I could take my CC classes online (which transfer as regular, in-the-seat, classes) while working. I'm still thinking about this thought.
Never said you shouldn't do it. I'm just explaining its not as easy as you think. Get hired, stay in school and crush your quota. The only person holding you back is yourself. Instead of asking people about different careers try it out while in school and see if you're good at it, you'll never know unless you actually work in the position. I'm actually surprised that you don't need a degree for your sdr position at a software company.
You are the one with the sour attitude. If you want to work in IB/PE/S&T go do it and stop complaining about the hand you were dealt.
Sincerely, A non target monkey
pretty accurate statement tbh
Lol @ people taking this thread seriously.
Lmao Dems always trying to derail threads smh
Think long terms! I could've been the president of this country but I thought long term and let my boy Donald run show. He thinks he calls the shot, never seen such a naive orange
did op drop out yet
Nope, hanging in there.
I don't know if OP is a troll or not, but I want to leave this comment for anyone who might be in the same boat, thinking of dropping out of college for a sales job.
Other users left some fantastic advice about why it's not worth it to go for the short term gains over the long term gains. I agree with them 100%, but my advice takes a different route.
I had two sales jobs during college: One was cutco, the other was an electronics salesman at a national chain. Both were 100% commission based. Cutco sucks, its not a legit job and their whole business model is built on getting that noob salesman to make big "pity sales" to their parents, grand parents, and rich uncle at 10% commission before realizing that cold calling to sell knives simply doesn't work. Then they quit two weeks later, thinking it's their fault and they weren't motivated enough.
My electronics sales job was a "real" job- benefits, PTO, etc. The interviewer sells you a dream and makes it seem like you can be making boat loads of money and that there is no limit to your income. But for some reason, everyone still averages only $40k a year.
Here is my point: In sales, if you are one of the guys making it rain, you are treated like a king. You win competitions, win vacations, get to go to training conferences, etc. If you are one of the average guys, life sucks. The company typically doesn't help you with anything- often you have to get your own supplies, use your own car, pay for your own gas, buy your own uniform, etc. You have a hard time climbing up because the attention is given to the guys who are already performing well.
In commission sales you are 100% expendable. They don't give you a substantial base, so therefore they are taking no risk on you. They don't need to fire you if you don't perform: you simply don't get paid and you quit. If you do well, they don't mind trying to keep you happy because you bring in far more than they pay you. It's a vicious game: Your relationship with your co-workers is nothing but jealousy and backstabbing, and management doesn't care about you.
The last thing is that the mental state you're thrown into is awful. You can never stop thinking about selling. At vacations, family gatherings, weddings. In the back of your mind there is always a nagging voice saying "ooooh, does this person I just met at this wedding maybe want to buy from me?" It's toxic, you stop being a real person.
There is a reason these companies take people with no degree: It's because they want quantity, not quality. If you throw enough shit at a wall, some will eventually stick. My sales jobs lit a fire under my ass because I was so scared that if I couldn't find a job after school, I would end up back in sales. I can't imagine how depressed I would be to be in one of those jobs and feel like there is no way out since I have no degree.
Sales will be around forever. Get your degree, try out sales, and thank me 3 months later when you want to quit and actually have the ability to get another job.
Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it. But SDR
Think about it this way- if this sales job were a viable route to riches, wouldn't it be a lot more competitive? Think of IB- its been proven as a pretty sure way to put you on the path to wealth. As such, it is incredibly competitive. Same thing with medicine: Med schools only take the very top applicants, and charge insane money because they are able to be exclusive and expensive since they have so many people interested. But those who make it though are guaranteed a good salary.
If this sales job is willing to take someone who doesn't have a college degree and/or amazing work experience, could it really be that sure of a path to 6 figures in a few years? Because if it were that sure of a path, then why aren't a ton of people all over it? How are there not so many applicants that the company is able to raise the requirements to a degree from an Ivy league school and an internship at an elite company? How is there not a "B2BOasis" for people desperately trying to break into this guaranteed, $100k at 21 years old job?
If it were a sure path, a ton of people would be all over it. Because a ton of people are not all over it, you can be assured that this job is not a sure path to wealth. Those figures you talked about (8-12 mos til you make 6 figs) are the top 2% of employees.
SO, if we take it as a given that you are a "top 2%" kinda guy, wouldn't it be better to be a "top 2% guy" in a more lucrative pool? If you can achieve those heights, then might as well be a top 2% college graduate and make hundreds of thousands.
You have the right idea. Get the internship, and get an insider look into how the average employee does. What % make it from SDR to AE? What is the average income of an AE? I can guarantee you that the answers will be disappointing. And if they aren't, and this job is an easy and sure path to riches, let me know and I'll jump ship too before everyone learns about this best kept secret.
also you and other users are just throwing around "find another path" isn't very right.
This is the next best thing for me since investment banking is near impossible to get into. Just my .02. Investment banking isn't just "cold call, network, cold call" like this forums claims it is. It's your school OCR and connections (real connections not LinkedIn messaging).
There are infinitely more jobs out there in the world beyond investment banking and SDR sales. Stop looking for instant gratification. Take the time in college you desperately need to grow up, and learn to listen to people who have been through it before.
I can throw in a few different data points from what's been mentioned above. I have zero experience in sales, but two close relatives went into B2B software sales at the height of the dot-com era. One dropped out of college after 1 semester, the other didn't go at all.
They worked their way up from smaller software companies and are both now wildly successful. Both are making high six figures at major F500 tech companies, work mostly from home, play golf 3-4 times a week, etc.
One still wishes that he had gone to college (and mentions this frequently). He wants to move to a unicorn/later stage startup--something that his colleagues have done, but he is having a lot of difficulty making that move despite his track record. Incredible salesman, great track record, insane technical knowledge of his software area (literally guest lectured to Yale graduate CS class last year)--but he has a lot of trouble explaining why he never went to college. And he has absolutely no way of moving to non-sales roles.
This is one data point--I have no idea if this is the norm. But I really recommend talking to an experienced sales guy (at a different company ideally) who doesn't have a degree and hearing their thoughts.
Haha that's fucking awesome. Working in B2B during the tech bubble must've been amazing honestly. Thanks for the advice.
Same actually, a close relative of mine went into sales for Oracle out of college in the 80's. He worked for 10 years, got really rich, and retired on his yacht. Got bored sailing the pacific for 2 years, then went into sales for SAP during a really great period in their history. I don't know exactly how rich he is, but I'd imagine its in the 8 figures area, judging by what he has and the jobs he held after SAP.
B2B can be lucrative if you are in the right place at the right time, but no one really knows exactly what's about to explode next.
The only reason I would go to school is to get a job and if you can get that job and make 6 figures and you are not happy right now, there is no reason for you to stay. People now a days have this preconceived notion that you have to go to a 4 year college to make good money and that is false you have to network, be smart, and work hard. You seem to have that don't waste your time or money do whats best for you and don't take your parents or fiends opinion in consideration, just consider money, time, and happiness.
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