I've worked retail selling cellphones and plans for a summer and a semester. I stopped this semester, but I started feeling that it wasn't for me. I enjoyed speaking to customers and I completely loved the people I worked with. Without any doubt, I would describe it as a great first job experience. But I just don't like the idea of selling something in return for money.
I'm a university student right now, and I'm beginning to think that my entire life will be dedicated to science - which worries me, because retail is such a huge sector and so many people, people I know and people in general, get work there and I don't want to reject something that a majority of people find works for them. I feel that I am kind of conscientiously opposed to the sales ethos, to put it one way. I'm a very cautious shopper myself, and I always want to highlight not only all the pros but all the cons of the product, then explore the product competition and then even a product that may not be a direct competition but might be a solution in another way. I'm also sickeningly frugal to the point of letting my girlfriend pay for our outings sometimes (I don't carry much but $20's and pocket change) >.<. I feel that I'm just unable to embrace selling something in a way that the company, or any company, would want you to sell it - that is, portraying it in the best possible way, plus up-selling.
I find that I'm always tempted to portray the product at its worst just to explore the entire experience of owning that product. I'm a scientist and I wanna get the clearest picture of things. And while I /can/ sell and it doesn't bother me as I'm doing it, I just feel that it goes against the grain of my personality. I do enjoy the "starting conversations with the customer" bit and that works really well, but I would much rather sell ideas than sell products.
I don't mind interviews, I don't mind learning the ropes, and I certainly don't mind getting along with customers. I am just super suspicious about anything that involves the transfer of money. And while I got paid and won't complain about that, I was irked by the idea of commission.
I feel abnormal and inadequate that selling just does not sit right with me. And I also feel that I am closing off a huge reservoir of opportunity and a safety net if my career goals do not work out. Is this a part of me worth embracing, or is the trade-off too impractical and worth getting over?
tl;dr - I don't think I have the personality to sell something for money, at least not to do it for the long run. How should I embrace/work my way around this?
I'm a university student right now, and I'm beginning to think that my entire life will be dedicated to science - which worries me, because retail is such a huge sector and so many people, people I know and people in general, get work there and I don't want to reject something that a majority of people find works for them. I feel that I am kind of conscientiously opposed to the sales ethos, to put it one way. I'm a very cautious shopper myself, and I always want to highlight not only all the pros but all the cons of the product, then explore the product competition and then even a product that may not be a direct competition but might be a solution in another way. I'm also sickeningly frugal to the point of letting my girlfriend pay for our outings sometimes (I don't carry much but $20's and pocket change) >.<. I feel that I'm just unable to embrace selling something in a way that the company, or any company, would want you to sell it - that is, portraying it in the best possible way, plus up-selling.
I find that I'm always tempted to portray the product at its worst just to explore the entire experience of owning that product. I'm a scientist and I wanna get the clearest picture of things. And while I /can/ sell and it doesn't bother me as I'm doing it, I just feel that it goes against the grain of my personality. I do enjoy the "starting conversations with the customer" bit and that works really well, but I would much rather sell ideas than sell products.
I don't mind interviews, I don't mind learning the ropes, and I certainly don't mind getting along with customers. I am just super suspicious about anything that involves the transfer of money. And while I got paid and won't complain about that, I was irked by the idea of commission.
I feel abnormal and inadequate that selling just does not sit right with me. And I also feel that I am closing off a huge reservoir of opportunity and a safety net if my career goals do not work out. Is this a part of me worth embracing, or is the trade-off too impractical and worth getting over?
tl;dr - I don't think I have the personality to sell something for money, at least not to do it for the long run. How should I embrace/work my way around this?