intj in sales

[rharv]

wondering if an intj would do well in a sales job or sales marketing.

[coffeeloverfreak]

I'm in marketing/advertising and there are aspects of the job that an INTJ is very well suited to, and other aspects that are less of a match.

For instance, I find that in my job, it's helpful that I'm super-organized, catch on to new concepts quickly, can juggle multiple projects and deadlines, and can build up the trust of my clients by being someone they can count on. They also appreciate the strategic insights and advice I can provide to them.

The part I struggle with - not too surprisingly - is the "schmoozing" necessary to build up business, make contacts, and get "ins" with the right people. I'm much better at keeping a client than at getting a new one. Biz dev is fine when it comes to strategy or responding to an RFP, but I'm definitely not the one out on the circuit every night drumming up new leads.

I think there's a "natural salesman" type of person out there, and INTJ isn't it. Extroverts in general are usually better suited to sales jobs. To be a good salesperson, you have to really relate to people, pick up verbal and nonverbal cues, you have to be something of an actor, at ease reassuring or convincing or inspiring others, and, well, there's some truth to the used car salesperson stereotype in that it's often somewhat helpful if you can be manipulative/seductive/charming in a sense. Even if you use it for only good.

Then again, just about any job or career - at a high enough level - essentially comes down to sales. Sell your skills. Sell your ideas. Get clients. Whether you're a contractor or a doctor or a bartender, it's all about sales skills in the end.

And you can always learn to become a better salesperson, even if you're not a natural. Years in various kinds of sales, marketing and advertising-related jobs gave me a sense of how to always put a customer or client first, which is of course the number one thing you have to do to be a good salesperson. I also think that INTJs might be better listeners than many other typical salespeople. We might have more trouble drumming up business, but we probably have an easier time keeping it.

Good luck!

[pavman]

Huh, I often get complimented (or so I interpret it...) that I would make a good lawyer or used car salesman...

Although one of my biggest fears is sales because its so... dependent on two many unknown, uncontrollable variables. I need something that is grounded and dependable for a career.

Trying to get an IT Architect job right now, it seems like its well suited for our long-term planning, strategic vision aspect. Plus there's tons of customer interaction and working w/ sales folks to increase profits and such.

Also think that Law may be another direction I'm headed...depends on if I get so bored at what I'm doing now that I can't stand another minute of it.

[Solaris]

Sales I've done. The tense of that sentence is the key. I think it's just not suited to NTs because the majority of your clients are not going to be NTs. This is my view for selling things that you want people to purchase. Advertising and such, I think NTs are quite suited to. I, myself, am pursuing a public relations degree currently. I understand how people's brains work quite well and get into other's heads, just not while I'm faced with them -- then I get annoyed with their indecision and stupidity.

[1OFMANY]

I cannot stand the "fakeness" and obvious canned smile that accompanies most sales. I can sell you a computer like a motha fuxxa, cause I feel passionately about aspects of them. The moment my paycheck rests on the amount of sales i get..im done.. I stay away from sales lol.

[rwyatt365]

Like Solaris, I have done sales and I know that it's not my thing. Being constantly in front of people all day was draining, to say the least. And while I was consistantly the 2nd-highest grosser in the stores where I worked, I hated it immensly.

I also broke most of the "rules" that were laid down for the sales staff. I felt that honesty and talking to people like they had a brain (which, often was not the case) was the best way to make a sale - I rarely followed "the script".

[Zilal]

I did sales for a couple months, and also found that it was totally unsuited to me personally. It just took too much energy. I'm confident that an INTJ could excel in any aspect of it... but some types of sales are probably going to be too draining to be worth staying in.

[Siegfried]

I have to do sales as part of my job, but even though I can do it somewhat well, I always feel I would rather be doing something different and more fulfilling than making someone sign for something...

I also found the schmoozing part very annoying - just like coffeeloverfreak, I was much more natural in supporting the client and developing the relationship further.

The question is - how did successful INTJs manage to put on that schmoozer-face?

[snoogit]

I have to do sales as part of my job, but even though I can do it somewhat well, I always feel I would rather be doing something different and more fulfilling than making someone sign for something...

I also found the schmoozing part very annoying - just like coffeeloverfreak, I was much more natural in supporting the client and developing the relationship further.

The question is - how did successful INTJs manage to put on that schmoozer-face?

Answer: Prozac

[deicruxified]

i don't like sales... period.

must be because of a 100 temperament on i... and i'm having problems with making eye contact with strangers

[The Rose]

wondering if an intj would do well in a sales job or sales marketing.I have done sales. I like it. As long as there are no quotas, I can do okay. Quotas put too much pressure on me emotionally and it paralyzes me.

I'm going to be getting a part-time job at Radio Shack. I love gadgets and cool electronic stuff, and what I have found is that enthusiasm about your product is the most important thing in selling.

Knowledge about your product is also important.

Then it just comes down to listening to what the customer is asking for and offering them what you have they will fill their need. Or if you have several items that meet their needs, informing them of the pros and cons of each choice.

Some people (SJ type, I think) just want the biggest, baddest, strongest, most powerful whatever you have.

[iamnotspock]

Huh, I often get complimented (or so I interpret it...) that I would make a good lawyer or used car salesman...

I hate to break it to ya', kid, but that isn't usually a compliment, at least where I'm from ;-)





iamnotspock added to this post, 10 minutes and 0 seconds later...

class UsedCarSalesman extends Weasel implements SmoothTalk;

class Lawyer extends UsedCarSalesman implements BillingByMinute;

[Solaris]

Having worked in sales, I also want to add this: Sales is constantly focused on NOW. Everything must happen right now, this instant. For NJs, who will get the job done, but on their own time, this is not an ideal situation. Unfortunately, as soon as your customer heads someplace else and meet a salesperson who is SJ/P, and they both get caught up in the now now now now, you lose. Damn S types don't care about what knowledge you have, nor the relationship you can build with them. This is one of the primary reasons I dislike sales. Plus, I like to know what my consistent income will be. I thought, for a time, that I liked that I was in charge of my own income (which is what they want to think in sales), until I realized that this inconsistent cyclic industry does not allow for long-range planning, nor make for stability for a single person.

[coffeeloverfreak]

Solaris, depends what kind of sales. Sales clerk at a store or phone salesperson at a wholesaler, sure. But when you broaden your definition of sales to include the business development portion of any kind of business, long-term relationships are definitely the most valuable. If you think about it, everyone from your hairstylist to your electrician to your accountant is really a salesperson, in that he or she needs to get and keep your loyal business. But it's a different kind of sales than "buy one, get one free, today only!"

[interjerator]

I did sales for many years. I was quite good at selling. However, it wasn't my true calling, and I am more comfortable performing other functions. I believe I did well selling because of the creativity involved in the sales process. Also, I worked with systems people... that I enjoyed.

In my next life, I will do something else.

[iamnotspock]

Yeah, to second coffelover, I's can exceed E's at maintaining relationships, since they tend to focus on depth over breadth and are better listeners. That can really rack up the $$$ in a recurring relationship, such as consulting. They are also better selling to other I's, which you may find in fields like accounting or IT.

[Jgib5328]

I actually did a job where I'd have to go to stranger's houses and give them presentations on cutleries. I sold stuff every time and was pretty good at it, but it is definitely not something natural to the INTJ. I did the experience to help me develop more as a person, because I realized that I'm not a natural salesman. I wouldn't go into sales for a career if you are an INTJ.

[Intuition]

I am an INTJ, and I will say YES. I rank pretty damn close to the extremes of I,N,and T, but more a J than a P (around 54% J, 46% P).

I became the top salesperson at my previous 2 companies, because I fucking worked my ass off. Simple as that. It's scary, but hey, face your fucking fears already! Lol.

Be too stubborn to give in, that's all I can say. Be waaay to fucking stubborn. As an INTJ, you should be used to that!

It's a steeper climb than the more social types, but hey, if you're an INTJ and you can sell, for fucks sake, there's almost nothing you can't do.

It wasn't my calling, but #1 is definitely my calling as an INTJ. Lol

Whatever it is you do, resolve to DO IT until you are the best. No questions.

Otherwise, don't do it at all because it's not efficient and a waste of your time!!

In summary, yes, I am a strong INTJ, but I have been a very strong salesperson because of my unwillingness to quit.

[Traverser]

It depends on the nature of the sales business. If your boss presses you to use shady sales practices to get customers to buy, then it may not be so comfortable for an INTJ who tends to think about the long-term liability implications. Having worked in the car-rental industry for a brief month, I realized that this was the case and preferred the slightly more casual and honest approach that retail stores offered.

I also broke most of the "rules" that were laid down for the sales staff. I felt that honesty and talking to people like they had a brain (which, often was not the case) was the best way to make a sale - I rarely followed "the script".

I did "pretty well" as a car-rental salesman according to my superiors, despite my "weaknesses" in doing precisely that. In truth, I've found that most of "the rules" were designed to place liability on the employees instead of the company through clever tactics; it's little wonder that honesty tends to be so forbidden.

INTJs, being self-confidant as the type suggests, can make great salesmen I think; we just tend to prefer environments where our integrity and patience shine the most. In particular, we make great business owners, since we tend to have a no-nonsense approach to dealing with people in general and enjoy being system-designers.

---------- Post added 11-19-2010 at 12:36 PM ----------

I actually did a job where I'd have to go to stranger's houses and give them presentations on cutleries. I sold stuff every time and was pretty good at it, but it is definitely not something natural to the INTJ. I did the experience to help me develop more as a person, because I realized that I'm not a natural salesman. I wouldn't go into sales for a career if you are an INTJ.

I think the mistake here is taking a job that:

A) Required the use of "scripts" which we INTJs tend to hate
B) Required you to travel excessively
C) Revolved around a single product that few people are passionate about
D) Paid you peanuts for the work done

On the plus-side, you did take the job and learned something valuable about yourself. While virtually every position is going to insist that you sell to some degree (including your own services to an employer), hopefully you'll find something that is more rewarding to your tastes.

---------- Post added 11-19-2010 at 12:52 PM ----------

The question is - how did successful INTJs manage to put on that schmoozer-face?

I've never put on a "schmoozer-face" in all my experiences in sales. For one, I hate being dishonest about who I am. Two, it insults the customer when they pick up on it. In fact, many businesses understand this and readily point this out in training.

I've found that simply being polite in offering your services tends to be enough:

"I don't suppose I could interest you in.....seeing how you need....?"

[ZerroDefex]

I've been in sales before, and would rather dig ditches than do it again. I hated how it seemed that the only way to be successful at it was to be a professional liar.

[miche001]

I went into sales. I hated the schmoozing, manipulation and frankly, if they didn't want to buy it, I really didn't care--it's their choice. The part I did like was I could plan my own day, writing proposals, I enjoyed the presentations, but I did not like the hard close. It was more of a hustle.

Some would argue schmoozing is relationship building. The more I tried, the more exhausted I was at the end of the day. Glad I got out of that. My favorite job was as a marketing coordinator: developing strategies, writing copy, brochures and campaigns. I look for a percentage of 70/30 to 60/40 introversion:extroversion activities. Sales is more 90/10. If the work has a cause,I don't mind the higher ratio.

To answer your question, it depends on how much of an introvert you are. If you don't have a problem with making friends or at least giving the impression that you're a trustworthy, all around great person, then you'd be okay.

[weezerbob]

I've had quite a few sales jobs and I was always pretty good at them because I wasn't afraid to talk to people. I'm a definite NTJ but my i is pretty small. The cients usually liked me because I was always genuine and told them the truth. I however didn't like these jobs very much, if at all, and only did it for the money. If you're an INTJ and you're looking for a career, I wouldn't recommend sales because you'll eventually hate it but if it's just a job you can do it. You know you can do anything. Sales jobs are easy because generally all you have to do is learn everything about your products (easy), find a good match between product and customer (easy), and show them how they need what you're selling (pretty easy). There's no need to follow scripts as an INTJ because we're smart enough to know what the customer wants to know and doesn't, and we are quick learners. It's hard for anybody to argue with pure logic so if you can accurately convey your message to others, it'll be a walk in the park. I'd encourage any INTJ to give it a try just to see if they're good enough at it to make enough money to counteract the monotony of dealing with sheeple all day long. If you're making bank, maybe that's enough for you to put up with them.

[Traverser]

Sales jobs are easy because generally all you have to do is learn everything about your products (easy), find a good match between product and customer (easy), and show them how they need what you're selling (pretty easy). There's no need to follow scripts as an INTJ because we're smart enough to know what the customer wants to know and doesn't, and we are quick learners. It's hard for anybody to argue with pure logic so if you can accurately convey your message to others, it'll be a walk in the park. I'd encourage any INTJ to give it a try just to see if they're good enough at it to make enough money to counteract the monotony of dealing with sheeple all day long. If you're making bank, maybe that's enough for you to put up with them.

I agree with this. Not all sales jobs are the same; I'm thankful mine is both part-time and somewhat varied in its responsibilities. When I'm socially exhausted, I just focus on cleaning up the store. Otherwise, I'd be driven insane with all the hustle and bustle (like my last one, which was in the car-rental industry).

Of course, I plan to get out of sales eventually. But it is a job I can do, and sometimes beggars can't be choosers.

[Pinnacle]

I cannot stand the "fakeness" and obvious canned smile that accompanies most sales. I can sell you a computer like a motha fuxxa, cause I feel passionately about aspects of them. The moment my paycheck rests on the amount of sales i get..im done.. I stay away from sales lol.


I second that. I hate the hipocrasy ive seen in many many sales people. Most of the sales people ive met are sinister liars and hipocrates, only interested in bankrupting you out of your money as much as they can. profit sucking parasites. Now I can agree with what you said about selling computers. I personally fix computers. but the way I "Sell" is "educating the customer" . Let me explain.... Im basically a problem solver for the customer, I help him thru asking questions. "hey mr.customer what can i do for you today, what seems to be the problem" "customer goes: hey! my problem is so and so and so." "Me : oh ok , well I got great news for you , I can solve that problem for you... basically these are the things im going to do yadda yadda yadaaa and I guarantee it will be solved, or you pay me nothing. how about that?" "customer : ok great! lets do it!" . <---- Well there you go, thats an oversimplified example, customers allways ask questions to understand. I dont know if thats considered true sales, or not but its the way I close deals. Its just basically solving a customer a problem for a profit. but when it comes to overhyping and taking advantage of people, and manipulating people like ive seen many of the sales types do , Im not into that and dont think i'd ever be good at it honestly. Anyways thats how i've been doing things, I mean if any INTJ here has any better suggestions on forms of doing business then please share. For now , I know that sales as the lying, hipocrasy, smiling even tho i dont mean it kind of sales , is not for me. I want to be myself.

[titi monkey]

From my experience, if you do decide to go into sales, be sure it's a product you believe in from a company you trust. You will be the "face" of the company. If you are betrayed by someone in the company -- not providing the quality or service that you told the customer/client they would -- the anger and frustration will land on you. Are you capable of absorbing the vitriol and then calming, soothing, and compensating the customer/client for something that wasn't your fault? It ain't easy!