Early-in-Career Sales in the Tech Industry

Starting a sales career isn’t easy for anyone, especially as an early-in-career. After graduating from Western University with a degree in Media Information & Technology, Mae Coulson joined Microsoft Canada’s Aspire (New Grad) community in 2019, and is now an Enterprise Security Executive.

As a university student, Mae didn’t always know she wanted to go into tech. She was interested in marketing, but after a few internships, she realized that she enjoyed the people side more than the analytics and numbers side of the business world. She was also an athlete, which drove her competitive spirit—a key attribute for success in sales.

One of the things that Mae enjoys the most about sales is the direct impact. In sales, your efforts translate into results much more immediately than with other functions.

Mae’s Best Advice for People Interested in Sales

  1. Find an area where you can be a leader. Take initiative to lead your student club and find ways to go above and beyond as a leader. It really comes down to if you are good at something, whether you like doing it, and how can you amplify your impact.
  2. Expand your network. First, identify an industry or company that you’re interested in. Then, look for existing relationships to build upon. It’s a bit tough to build new relationships, so try looking for 1st or 2nd degree connections. Once you’ve found some contacts, look for ways to shadow them on the job and learn about their world. You can also look for mentors or people to bounce ideas
  3. Get exposure and experience. While you’re a student or early-in-career, try a lot of things even if you’re unsure. Take on different internships to gain exposure to different areas of the business, different industries, and different work cultures. These experiences will also diversify who you are as a candidate.

Helpful Resources

Here are some resources that Mae recommends you check out if you’re interested in sales:

Books

Podcasts

Thank you Mae for sharing your perspective for the students and early-in-careers who are looking to pursue a sales career in the tech industry!