Sales jobs to avoid if you’re new

Hey folks. I work in cybersecurity, and wanted to address something I’m quite passionate about.

When starting out in sales, there are many, many too good to be true roles that you should know about. This is a list of what I know to be Sales jobs to avoid (or at least know the risks of)

1.) MLMs (Multi Level Marketing)

MLMs are sometimes hard to catch, using words like ‘network marketing’ or ‘direct sales’. MLMs are bad because most revenue comes from recruiting, not sales. Something like 95% of people in MLMs lose money, only those at the top win. Most target stay at home moms but a few to watch for in the sales space are Primerica and other life insurance players. Stay far far away.

2.) High Ticket Closers

Also known as ‘Remote Closers’. This is mainly pushed by influencers showing off wealth and the lack of skills needed to make a fantastic income. The influencers make their money selling courses. Dont buy the course. The very name ‘Remote Closers’ is specifically made to appeal to their audience. Plenty people here work remotely and ‘close’ deals, but they don’t call themselves Remote Closers. Thats a name made to appeal to those looking for easy money. They want you to think: “Oh look, a job that’s clearly remote, makes money, and I can ‘close’ - that sounds easy.” Stay away.

3.) Representing Charities

This is specific to the US, there’s a group of companies that hire people en masse to sit outside Walmart and other grocery stores to promote charities. Almost none of that money goes to the charity, and they’ll work you to the bone. Promises of owning your own business will string you along until you realize you never started making more money. Stay far away.

4.) Most D2D

Good place to get fast experience, extremely difficult. Props to those who made it work, but there are a great many better entry level roles to learn the ropes. There are still plenty of reputable companies that sell D2D, but there are also many that sell bad products and practice unethical tactics. Almost no sales strategies you learn in D2D will be applicable to corporate or professional sales roles. Be informed.

If anyone thinks of more, please share.