Should I do a Sales Job Freshman Year Summer I Hate?

Career Opportunities & Internships
1

Hi all,

I recently applied and interviewed for a sales job going business to business looking for buyers of a certain cellular product. When I applied, I didn’t realize it was going business to business; part of the interview process involved a job shadow where I went along with two salespeople, and I absolutely hated it. I felt as though I was pushing people too much, and this simply isn’t something I’m comfortable with.

However, it does pay relatively well, and I was unable to get any finance/accounting internships this freshman year summer. I think it would be a good experience, and it would definitely help my communication skills develop.

My question for you: is it worth it doing something I hate 5 days a week full time? I am in a great business school (Notre Dame Mendoza), so I think I would have opportunities for internships in the coming summers. However, I would think this experience would look good on a resume and, as I said, build good skills relevant to any career.

2

I had a VERY similar experience before my senior year of college, and I also hated it…to the point that I quit after two weeks. If you know you won’t like it, then you probably won’t like yourself while you’re doing it. I would keep applying for other types of jobs and see what you can find.

To be honest, I loved - absolutely LOVED - waiting tables during my college summers; wouldn’t trade it for the world. Restaurant work was so interesting that I very nearly wound up working full-time as a restaurant manager after school, and I came out no worse for wear at a time when the market for fresh college grads was not exactly great (2010-11).

Are there any pros to working the sales job that you know about, aside from the money it promises?

3

Thank you for your response, @chrisw ! I called the boss back and said I would not be doing it. The money was pretty much the only pro about it. I don’t think it is worth doing some I hate day in and day out.

I will follow your advice and continue applying for jobs; I think that I would enjoy catering/waiting tables. I like to interact with people, and I’d much rather do this than trying to push something in a sale I do not believe in.

Thanks again!