How can an MBA student get a sales job?

AWESOME that you're seeking out sales experience.  You're right, it's an invaluable skill set to have in any size company. On to your answer: You're MBA has little to no value in helping you be a better sales person, so don't get hung up on the fact that you have one.  More over, <1 year of sales experience doesn't really add much if you want to get into enterprise sales akin to IBM or http://Salesforce.com because in those environments, it takes over a year to close enough business to get the "hang of it".  So, consider positioning your MBA as a proof point of your raw talent, future potential, etc. and your current sales experience as an indicator of your interest in the field. If you accept this, then your question is really just, "How do I get a sales job".  That's worth it's own quora post but I urge you to focus on companies that offer training or structured mentoring-- IBM has amazing sales training. And you should set your sights on companies in the industry you want to be in.  Selling ads is miles away from selling software which is a different world from selling medical devices.  The industry also matters because you're biggest long term value is your professional client network. For an MBA student, your best bet to find sales jobs is to work through your career services department.  Companies like IBM like hiring MBAs and putting them through training.  If you have your heart set on sales at a small business and willing to forgo training, then your best bet there is to "act the part".  Get an intro to the top person at the company (Founder, CEO, etc), learn about their business, and sell yourself. Finally, realize that entry level sales positions are unlikely to have the same compensation or prestige as most typical post-MBA jobs.  Luckily this changes quickly if you're good. Good luck.

In my opinion, sales is a core competency and the kind of experience is important. The best foundation for sales experience is a mix of retail and enterprise. Many sales positions rely on a candidate's past track record for achieving a consistent "book of business", sales quotas, and rolodex. If you have any of those three and can demonstrate its currency, then you can be an attractive candidate. Because sales doesn't require an MBA, the competition for a position will be broader. Lastly, vertical market or industry knowledge can be helpful. I interviewed for a sales position once and discovered that you can be offered a position if you're willing to "bet" on your ability to sell and you have industry or vertical market experience. That usually means commission with a draw or some base salary is the usual means of compensation.

First let me say Thanks for realizing the importance of sales in running a business. I have an issue with the MBA programs that overlook this obvious key step in developing business.  Sales is not a science by any means, but training and experience definitely help you do it well.  If you can show some commitment and do a low cost sales training seminar or on-line tutorial that would be great. Also, read a few books about sales so you can get down the nomenclature, always a key in a new field. You should try informational interviews with sales professionals too, that would help you get educated about what it takes. Doors that can open - Retail - Best Buy has a great training program.  Yes this might feel beneath you but it is a good basis to build on - Domain or Vertical - As an MBA I am guessing you worked in a field before.  A Bio major could sell lab supplies.  Or if you worked in restaurants during college you could sell to bars and restaurants.  Think about fields you know, there are opportunities. Consider all the things that get sold to consumers and businesses and pick something you LOVE. Always best to have a bit of passion if you are selling. Inside Sales - Large enterprise sales forces often start people selling on the phone.  Sounds bad, but is a great basis to build on.  - Friends - As always you might know someone that is in a position to help you out with an entry level sales job as a business owner or manager.

Locate the decision maker at the firm(s) at which you want to work and "sell" yourself to them. You are a product, so show the sales manager you know sales techniques, are assertive without being annoying, are knowledgable, likable, trustworthy and can be creative, can package and sell intangibles, solve problems, can listen well and read between the lines, are well-spoken, present well, are persuasive, courageous and persistent. No matter what your position in life, you are always selling something. When 2 (or more) people get together and talk, one always walks away with a sale of some sort,  whether you sold them or they sold you (I took that from 'Boiler Room'.)

While it wasn't exactly sales, I learn a lot while soliciting interviews in my management consulting job. We had to cold call potential interviewees (who were sometimes very busy people) and ask them to spend their precious time answering our questions (sometimes for free). I was a recent college graduate then and MBAs in my firm were at the managerial level so didn't have to make the cold calls. However, you could consider joining such a firm and giving company to your analysts when they are required to cold-call. You won't regret it.

We have a current PRN sales position that is work from home, visit this link: http://aworldofmouth.com/prn-work-from-home-sales-opportunity/ I feel you would be a good fit, we are actually looking for a business major.

Firstly, decide what type of sales job you'd like. A suggestion if you're looking for a job is to jump onto our site, http://jobmatch.co.In a nutshell, our site will match you with a job through our matching algorithm, which then allows employers to invite you to an interview directly, doing away with the need for middle-people. Our site also doesn't require a resume, cover letter or job applications, so you'll save yourself a hell of a lot of time and stress right there.Your qualification won't make much difference, not in the sales industry. That's the beauty of it, sales is not about academia, it's about personality and work ethic.Make sure you prepare for your interviews properly. Research the company, their industry, their competitors and so on. Then work out a brief plan on what you can bring to the table to set them on track to be #1, or maintain their #1 position within the market.Check out sales tools. Prospecting tools to find leads. CRM systems to manage leads. Email automation tools to reach out to leads. Read sales book on the art of selling. Watch videos on selling techniques. Automate everything you can.Once you've secured your job, have ambition to be the best one there. Find the best, learn from the best, then become the best. Work hard and smart, and don't let rejection get you down. A natural trait of great sales people is simply excessive optimism. Even a lack of realism can be a bonus at times as well. Good luck with it and hope that helps.

Sell your interviewer a pen. See if he's impressed.