Sales Reps Sales reps and office workers often have trouble working as a team. More often than not, there us an "us versus them" attitude. Sales reps are often a different breed from the "average" person. They seem to be motivated by one thing-money, and they continually strive for more and more. The need for lots of money seems to be part of their identity. They don't seem to be happy unless they have huge paychecks rolling in. Many people that are looking to change careers from office workers to sales reps have many things to consider. There are many positive and negative aspects for sales reps. First, lets assume that you actually posses the drive previously mentioned and have the desire that most sales reps seem to have. What is not understood on the surface is the actual time commitment that is required from sales reps in some companies. Some companies expect you to be part of the "family". They have already formed a network of a company family. If your beliefs or values are different from what the company family standard seems to be, you may not be considered as a candidate to be a part of their sales reps. Many people think they have what it takes to join the ranks with all the other sales reps until they actually feel the pressure to perform. The competition can be fierce. This can really be the true test of a person's ability. Many people prefer the role of sales reps over an office job that requires you to be in the same office over 40 hours per week. They desire the autonomy that goes with the job as a sales rep. They see others they know that are sales reps, playing lots of golf in the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday, and automatically assume that this is the right job for them because it seems so easy. They have no understanding of the strategic planning and time it takes to manage your sales strategy. Much research time needs to be dedicated to a sales plan prior to executing it. Not having the correct information in a sales presentation can be devastating for sales reps. Many sales reps actually have home offices in which they work. This has many benefits including working in a quiet environment. Many times, sales reps can be much more productive working in a quiet environment. Also, do not discount the huge benefit of going to work in your pajamas. For the same reason that many offices have chosen to move to business casual dress, the ability to work in comfortable clothing make for a much more productive employee. Another benefit for sales reps is the fact that many sales reps are given a company car since a sales rep must travel to see their customers. This can result in a huge savings annually on gas, insurance and routine maintenance on one's own vehicle. Most of the time, the vehicle issued is a very nice car, since customers will be seeing it and could be driving in it. Related Articles Sales Representative Sales Representative Jobs