Are you a self-motivated individual interested in the fast-paced world of sales? Check out these home sale jobs!
Gone are the days of extensive travel or mandatory office jobs for sales representatives. Modern sales roles can be filled 100% remotely. In fact, it is becoming the norm!
These work-from-home roles are essential for getting better work flexibility and work-life balance – whatever your position.
Today we’re taking a deep dive into work from home salespeople, exploring roles for all experience levels and skills needed, and ten companies currently hiring.
What is a remote sales job?
Simply put, a sales job means you’ll be involved in part of the sales pipeline, whether you’re pitching leads to a team, maintaining relationships, or selling directly to consumers.
Work from home sales are no different; the only change is that your role will be completed remotely via the internet and phone. In other words, you will rely heavily on technology.
Sales positions are unique in that they defy industry boundaries. As a sales professional, you can move across industries such as technology, education, travel… you name it!
These jobs can also be a great stepping stone into a new field, using transferable skills to catapult you into a whole new role.
Types of remote selling jobs
Working in sales is usually synonymous with being part of a larger sales team, working with your colleagues to sell and maintain relationships with clients.
Here are four important roles in the distance sales industry (although there are many more where they come from!).
Internal sales representative
Inside Sales Representative is a common position in high demand. As a sales representative, you are at the front line of the sales team. The “inside” component simply means that you will solve your tasks remotely.
These tasks may include:
- Cold calling potential customers to pitch a product or service
- Receiving sales calls (inbound calls and outbound sales calls)
- Identifying and emailing new potential customers
- Holding sales presentations or webinars for potential customers
- Tracking leads and offering customer support
- Negotiating and closing deals
This can be a lucrative role with the potential for high commissions and a substantial salary. Glass door reports an average base salary of $50,000 per year, with an additional $32,000 in commissions and bonuses.
sales development representative (SDR)
A sales development representative is at the base of the sales pipeline, providing sales representatives with leads and helping to maintain their existing customer base.
Their main tasks include:
- Generating leads through social media, cold calling and email
- Establishing initial contact with potential customers
- Identifying the needs of potential customers and how your product (or service) can help
- Forwarding of qualified candidates
- Scheduling meetings with sales representatives and/or account managers
Glass door reports an average base salary of $50,000 per year, with an additional $29,000 in commissions and bonuses.
Account Manager
An account manager, also called a sales manager, is a customer-facing sales role that offers quality customer service that helps maintain and build relationships.
Common tasks include:
- Finding opportunities for up-selling or cross-selling
- Coordination and/or management of a small sales team
- Regular meetings with clients and other communications
- Performance monitoring to maintain customer satisfaction
- Retention and renewal of contracts
Glass door reports an average base salary of $67,000 per year, with an additional $52,000 in commissions and bonuses.
Direct sales representative
Direct sales representatives work in business-to-business sales. In other words, there is no middleman. While it is common for direct selling to have a face-to-face aspect, there are also opportunities to work entirely remotely.
Direct sales roles vary, although common tasks include:
- Communication with potential customers through social networks
- Cold calling
- Sales samples
- Sales negotiations
- Order management and customer support
If you’re interested in learning more about direct selling and how to get into the industry, check out these helpful posts:
Skills needed for work from home sales
Before taking on one of these home selling jobs, it is essential to have the right skills to thrive in the field.
In sales, it is common for a large portion of your annual purchase to come from commissions and bonuses. In other words, if you have high-income goals, you need to excel in your role.
Here are some essential skills that all remote sales professionals need:
- Exceptional communication: The root of every sale is conversation. To sell products or services, you need exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong self-motivation: Cold calling is a common practice in the sales industry, and it’s not easy. You need the discipline to stay on top of potential leads, stick to a schedule, and make those tough calls.
- Unwavering Endurance: With endless competitors and disinterested leads, it can be easy to become discouraged in your sales role. You’ll probably hear “no” a lot more than “yes.” It takes developing a thick skin and a persistent mindset to succeed.
- Sales Skills: Sales skills are important and allow you to confidently explain why a customer needs your product. You will develop some of these skills on the job, such as negotiation and persuasion.
- Technical Proficiency: As a remote salesperson, you’ll need knowledge of a variety of tools built for lead tracking, sales analytics, virtual communication, and more.
- Customer Focused: Sales roles are all about identifying and meeting customer needs. Remembering this goal and prioritizing it above all else will ultimately lead to more sales.
What level of experience is required?
Sales is one profession where if you have the right personality, many companies will train you if they see your potential. Some remote sales positions may require an associate or bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, economics, or communications. But in general, if you have customer service, telemarketing or sales experience and the right soft skills, companies don’t care about applicants having a degree. They are more interested in how you will perform in the role and these attributes (excellent communication, high energy and enthusiasm) can come through in your interview.
Work from home Employment: Hiring 10 companies
Are you ready to find the remote sales position of your dreams? Use this list to start your home sales job search.
Pro tip: Set desktop notifications as FlexJobs; will notify you when new job positions in your chosen field become available.
1. Buffer memory
Buffer is a comprehensive social media tool built to streamline your social media posting, improve communication with your followers, and analyze your current performance.
They hire completely remote positions, offer their employees competitive salaries, a 4-day work week, home office setup, health insurance and other attractive benefits.
2. Perform test preparation
Achieve exam preparation works to streamline a student’s career goals and offers exam preparation that pushes you to “test out” college courses.
They offer their sales reps 100% remote work, a significant amount of leads and high earning potential.
3. Pearson
Pearson sales representatives work with schools and educators and provide study materials, textbooks and e-books.
Pearson offers global hybrid and remote positions, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom.
4. Cloudflare
An example of a business-to-business sale, A flash of clouds sells software that collects and protects your data.
They are hiring for remote sales positions in the Americas, Asia and Europe. One year of related sales experience preferred.
5. SailPoint
Also, SailPoint sells a data security program that helps reduce the risk of fraud.
Their remote sales positions include opportunities for career growth, extended benefits, paid vacation and a 401(k).
6. Cruise.com
Cruise.com hires remote travel agents to sell incredible cruise vacations, earning a commission on each sale.
As an employee, you also get access to a range of travel benefits and personalized coaching to help you advance your career.
7. GrubHub
GrubHub is a popular delivery service that delivers delicious meals to customers by partnering with local restaurants and drivers.
You can be a part of this partnership and help build and maintain relationships between GrubHub and restaurant owners.
8. Dollar Flight Club
Dollar Flying Club provides consumers with deeply discounted flights when purchasing an annual membership.
The company offers its sales representatives unlimited PTO, regular team building trips, extended benefits and more.
9. HubSpot
HubSpot develops software products for sales, customer service and marketing. They have an impressive resume, holding major accounts with Reddit, DoorDash, eBay and more.
This company is hiring for remote sales positions worldwide. Their benefits include unlimited vacation days, extended health insurance, parental benefits, leadership development and a telecommuting model.
10. CVS Health
CVS Health is hiring for a variety of remote sales positions, including inside sales representatives, medicare telesales and pharmacy account managers.
Their employee benefits include health, dental, vision, PTO and CVS pharmacy discounts.
Final Thoughts: Working from home sales
Working from home offers a number of rewarding and potentially lucrative opportunities for professionals. These remote positions are also great for career advancement and help you build skills that transfer across industries.
And while the roles can be very demanding, the opportunity to work remotely can help you maintain a healthy work-life balance. So you’ll actually have time to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Not sure if these sales positions are right for you? Check out this huge list work from home jobs for reliable income. There is sure to be something that suits your interests and skills.
