Getting ahead...

What is the best training for becoming a hirable inside sales representative? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective inside sales representative?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

I'm having trouble tracking my outbound calls per day as I get in "zone" and forget to tally these calls. While it seems like an easy problem to remedy I cannot find a simple device to count outbound calls. I've had everyone tell me to just remember to make the mark each time but i want an exact calls per close ratio.
Any input would be appreciated

Sheldon in San Francisco, California said: I'm having trouble tracking my outbound calls per day as I get in "zone" and forget to tally these calls. While it seems like an easy problem to remedy I cannot find a simple device to count outbound calls. I've had everyone tell me to just remember to make the mark each time but i want an exact calls per close ratio.
Any input would be appreciated

Sheldon,
With such little info about your company, I can only offer a few thoughts:
*) If you signed an employment agreement specifying how many calls per day, someone is tracking them for you. Possibly your HR, IT, or phone services person.
*) In a call center, your supervisor can analyze your tele-metrics in detail. This would be the best person to speak with.
*) If you have no external measuring source, don't worry about each call. Rather, plot your estimates over the course of a month and divide by number of days for daily average. If you have done this, you will care enough to graph in terms of hours of the day to see when you are most productive.

Good luck!

Do you use a CRM like salesforce?

Thank you all for your input.....
I have quickly discovered the quantity of calls is important but the quality of your prospects are key. I hate to be cliche but "Thinking outside the box" has helped me prospect in different and effective manners.

While I am no longer with the start-up due to mass layoffs I learned invaluable skills and left on great terms. Yes, a good CRM is key and using it to full potential is a must, don't just dump in leads. I found I could track calls and number of closes for a specific prospecting source easily after I began to work closely with the software. Then one can easily take a look for comparisons of all kinds ie. region, source, company size etc.
In the process of interviewing now, feel free to let me know about any opportunities available.

I am a going to soon be a college graduate and am interested in inside sales. Is it more difficult to get into as opposed to client relations? Any recommendations on career paths or companies in the financial services industry?

Sean in Edison, New Jersey said: I am a going to soon be a college graduate and am interested in inside sales. Is it more difficult to get into as opposed to client relations? Any recommendations on career paths or companies in the financial services industry?

Well my friend, try to go on informational interviews with all the people in your personal network. Sales can be rough but worth your time and you will learn valuable skills to be used for the rest of your career regardless of your chosen path.
I found commercial insurance to be very interesting and lord knows the industry needs more producers with integrity. My advice to you is do as much research as possible and look at many industries. There are plenty of good jobs out there regardless of what some may say about the economy. GOOOD LUCK!!!!!
P.S. Get something with a base salary, fresh out of college you'll need it untill you establish a client base

Sheldon in San Francisco, California said: I'm having trouble tracking my outbound calls per day as I get in "zone" and forget to tally these calls. While it seems like an easy problem to remedy I cannot find a simple device to count outbound calls. I've had everyone tell me to just remember to make the mark each time but i want an exact calls per close ratio.
Any input would be appreciated

record your call attempts, contacts made and sales you want for the day. Make 12 dails per hour then take 5. focus on the goal of how many potential leads that you will make from the day. Most important take those leads and call them in the primetime early morining. The early bird gets the work. I suggest you google Mathew munafano online and get his cold calling secerts. He is a great trainer and it is only 10 bucks.

Jim