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The suits that work in our industry have a stereotypical image of flashy suits, flashy talk, regular binge and smoking sessions with clients and fellow reps and the regular ‘keeping customers sweet’ meals out paid for by the company. And it still exists today. It smacks of the old hat vision of the sales industry. Sleazy, cheesy, stuffy and undesireable.
This might be the generation gap talking, but I think it’s unnecessary. There are a lot of people in this industry who do very little other than drive about the country, talk shite for a couple of hours then go to the local £50 per head resturant and work on getting a hangover. And if you want my personal opinion, most of the networking events and product launches are just an excuse for people to still feel influential and take advantage of a free bar paid for by the organisers. Take the newest networking event. Everytime one is announced there is always over-emphasis on the bar and smoking areas. Such importance placed on drinking facilities just reinforces the old fashioned attitudes most people in our industry still harbour.
I come from the new generation of sales. Personally, I think the way the younger generation sells is much fresher. Less emphasis on getting home and going to the pub and more effort on the customer and the job in general. There is still a sleazy repuation that hangs over salesmen in our industry, and it’s those who could do something to change that image.
>Sorry – we thought about having a heavy metal head banging session, but like you say not enough youngsters to take part.
>That's a shame, I would have been up for that!
>I know what you're saying, but to look at it another way, I think the 50 quid a head meals, taking clients out on the account etc are as much a part of the work hard play hard mentality that drove, and possibly still drives, people to push themselves to the top positions or to start out on their own – I know it motivated me to work when I was younger, the thought of being able to get out on the expenses, or network over a meal, but then I have been called a sleazy so and so more… Read more »
>I can see where your coming from. Some will be motivated by way of meals on account etc. Personally it's not something I aim for. Holidays, better car (because I pay for my own!), nice personal belongings are the things that I work towards. It's nice to wined and dined on occasion, but it's not something I look forward to. Perhaps I'm wired different, I just think it's all a bit 'smoke filled room'.
All opinions valid and welcome though!