There’s a myth that sales is for the young, the energetic, the beautiful and the relentless. Although these characteristics can certainly be valuable traits in any profession, or I suppose life in general, the sales profession has no age limits.
Here’s why…
1. Sales experience can be polarizing
You would probably agree that the more experience a Doctor has the better they are at well, being a Doctor. In sales youth has an advantage, such as being malleable or coachable. Many sales organizations like to hire reps right out of College so that they can mold them into “Superstars”. Other sales organizations would prefer to hire reps that are more experienced and require very little management.
It’s not the rep that makes the organization it’s the organization that makes the rep.
At age 73, during his re-election campaign, Ronald Reagan was the oldest presidential candidate in history. When asked by his opponent if he thought he had the energy at his age to serve as President. Reagan responded with, “I want you to know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.”
Presidential candidates make good with their ages and typically use it to their advantage. Basically age is an issue only if you make it.
2. Business relationships have nothing to do with age
Show me a successful sales rep who is 22 and I will show you one that is 50. Regardless of how young or attractive a sales rep may be, when it comes to buying a product or service, customers will always choose what’s in their best interest. This holds true for any industry, vertical or company.
Building trust and rapport with prospects is a learned skill that comes easier to some. In the end, business relationships are built by adding value for the customer.
3. Results are what matter
I have worked with some sales reps that don’t know how to use Twitter. It’s not that they don’t know what Twitter is. It’s that learning to Tweet is a difficult skill for them. To no fault of their own, they did not grow up in an era of Devices. Therefore, spreadsheets, CRM’s and social media, are skills that they may do but don’t utilize to their full capacity in their position.
Reps that have inefficiencies in these areas usually make it up in others. Such as product demos or cold calls, they may be a natural closer. It’s not often that you find a sales rep that excels in all aspects of the sales transaction.
At the end of the day knowing your strengths and using those strengths to your advantage are what makes for a great sales rep. Success in sales has no age.