Many aspiring professionals wonder if it’s possible to break into the industry without prior experience. The good news: tech sales offers a unique opportunity for self-starters, even if they’re starting from scratch. That's because landing a job in tech sales isn’t solely determined by what's on your resume, but by the resourcefulness and persistence you bring to the table. With a workhorse mindset, training, and a willingness to learn, it’s possible to forge a path in this lucrative career. In this article, we’ll explore the steps you can take to enter tech sales without experience and how tech sales training programs can prepare you for one of your first entry level tech sales jobs.
You do not need a specific degree to succeed in technology sales. In fact, any degree can be beneficial if you can demonstrate strong communication skills and a high level of accountability. While degrees in fields like economics or business administration might help you stand out, there’s no such thing as a "technology sales degree." The value of a degree for tech sales mainly lies in its ability to help you land interviews for entry level tech sales jobs. But once you're in the room, it’s about how well you can sell yourself. Since tech sales is not a technical role, your performance in the interview will carry much more weight than your educational background.
While having a degree can be beneficial, it’s still very possible to break into tech sales without one. Many tech companies prioritize hustle, creativity, and persistence over formal education. For those without a degree, breaking into tech sales entry level roles requires standing out, as you’ll be competing with degree holders looking for the same opportunities. Consider taking a tech sales bootcamp or earning a certification to add something to your resume. You can use this as a talking point instead of highlighting a college education.
In addition to earning a certification, be sure to think outside the box during the application process. Cold call the hiring manager, hand-deliver your resume with donuts, or find another way to show that you’re willing to go the extra mile. In tech sales, demonstrating hustle and resourcefulness is what will get you a shot, degree or no degree.
Frankly, yes. It can be difficult to get into tech sales without experience, especially in today’s incredibly tough labor market. The competition is flooded with candidates who already have experience, which puts those without it behind the eight ball. However while it’s hard, it’s not impossible to start earning a tech sales salary. You need to do everything previously mentioned to stand out.
In addition to going above and beyond to stand out in the application process, when asked about your experience, never simply admit that you lack it. Instead, spin your past roles or activities as relevant experience. Whether you’ve worked in retail, customer service, or even volunteered in any capacity, there are transferable skills like communication, problem-solving, and organization that can be framed as sales-related experience. This is where certifications and bootcamps can be especially beneficial, as they give you a concrete foundation to talk about during an interview. The key is to sell yourself and highlight your ability to hustle, learn quickly, and bring value to the role.
If you googled or researched should I get into tech sales Reddit users would encourage you to pursue the high-earning job, but is it that easy? The truth is, no. It's not easy to get hired in sales right now. The market is flooded with experienced sales reps, making the competition fierce, especially for someone without experience. To break into tech sales, you’ll need to treat job hunting like a full-time job. If you’re not ready to grind and go above and beyond, you probably won’t have much luck in landing a role.
Breaking into tech sales without experience is challenging but achievable through persistence and the right training. With the right approach, you can overcome the experience gap. Check out Ravenue’s tech sales training program, the N.E.S.T. Academy, to place you in your first entry level tech sales job.