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Which type makes the best salesman?

Which type makes the best salesman?

  • ESTP

    Votes: 13 48.1%
  • ENTP

    Votes: 2 7.4%
  • ESFJ

    Votes: 2 7.4%
  • ENFJ

    Votes: 3 11.1%
  • ENTJ

    Votes: 2 7.4%
  • ESTJ

    Votes: 1 3.7%
  • ENFP

    Votes: 2 7.4%
  • ESFP

    Votes: 2 7.4%

  • Total voters
    27

yenom

Alexander the Terrible
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
1,755
Discuss.

What qualities do you need to be pursuasive and influence people?

Also discuss any sales experience you have if you have been or are in that profession.
 

Ghost of the dead horse

filling some space
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
3,553
MBTI Type
ENTJ
I have never been in a strictly sales job, but I've done something that was quite close. I was a software designer in one project, with emphasis on co-operation with the client, and getting them assured that our product can meet their needs. I did my job wonderfully, and the one responsible for the sales (CEO of the small company) could do their job.

From my point of view, it helped to be
-moderate e, not going overboard with E
-intuitive, in that situation .. it demanded to see the customer's situation from a wide perspective and just see what kinds of things they would want
-a thinker who's not unfeeling
-a J, as I had to understand the customer's processes and what they want out of it. They wanted security, reliability and all kinds of J-orientated stuff.

so, I think that particular job had perfect match with my personality. I can think why other personalities might be particularly well suited for other tasks.
-if it's not that much about systems, but rather moods and style, F might do better
-a store that sells to professionals might do well with I salespeople, professionals don't want to listen to extravagant sales speech
-if there's less design involved with the job, and more pure sales, SP might do better.
 

Synapse

New member
Joined
Dec 29, 2007
Messages
3,359
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
4
I wish it was me. :(

I'm a salesperson as of a few months back and my boss tells me, I think he's ESTP, to write a page on how to sell. That if I have a script selling will be easier but I procrastinate. If anyone has good sales tips that can improve my sales skills most welcome to share. :)

Otherwise I'll say ESTP.
 

GirlFromMars

New member
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Messages
325
MBTI Type
INFP
Why only Es?

Good point... at least give I's a chance to be nomminated. :p


My mum's ex-boyfriend was a very good salesman. He was officially one of the top in the UK, or something. He was also an ASShole, a compulsive liar, and used to Salesman in him to charm, and emotionally abuse people. He's like the poster child for an (unhealthy) ESTP. He seemed like a feeler, but I'm almost certain that was just part of his acting. However, I'm not going to say they're the types that definitely make the best one's - I don't really know. That's what ESTP's are known for, and it's what my mum's ex fits into. I'm also pretty sure my dad is ESTP. He's also an asshole, and atlough not a salesman literally, he is in nature. Very, very charming when he needed to be, but actually very abusive. Addicted to gambling, and cheating. Actually he's pretty much the poster child too, thinking back.

I just want to say, I'm not saying all ESTP's are like that, just those two I've experienced.
 

Charmed Justice

Nickle Iron Silicone
Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
2,805
MBTI Type
INFJ
Depends on what type of sales.

An ENTP and I dominated the sales floor in a job we worked together in the travel and leisure industry. We were both excellent at selling the prospect of a good experience. We could paint a mental picture that people could see and get them excited about something they hadn't yet done. We had a great time competing against each other. He's been selling REITs for years now.

I worked in sales through college and was always one the top, if not the top, sales people. I always gravitated towards selling intangibles though: experiences and services. Selling tangibles seemed very intimidating to me. I even hated upselling tables when I was a hostess at a restaurant.

My ESFJ, ESTP, and ESFP friends are best at selling tangibles.
 

NewEra

New member
Joined
Dec 21, 2008
Messages
3,104
MBTI Type
I
ESTP definitely. Gives them a chance to talk to people and try and convince them of the benefits of their product, and their tertiary Fe comes in handy as well to try and convince others.
 

Charmed Justice

Nickle Iron Silicone
Joined
Jul 22, 2009
Messages
2,805
MBTI Type
INFJ
Serious grave digging here, but wanted to post this research document relevant to the OP. Abstract thinkers are better at sales, which certainly confirms my experience.

"Abstract, conceptual thinkers perform better than detail*
specialists on preparation, account planning and selling"

"Amongst Sales Directors and less senior sales professionals, INTP,
ENTP, ENTJ and ESTJ profiles are over represented against the
general population, whilst ISFJ, ISFP and ESFP are under
represented. This will be discussed further in the conclusions
section of this report."

"Sales professionals appear to be considerably over
represented against the UK population for INTJ, ENTJ, ESTP and
ESTJ.

Equally, they are underrepresented ISFJ, ESFJ, ISTJ."

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&...Ah0y4s&sig=AHIEtbQNFPvEUgSjchBPkrzyUDKF0EIxlQ

Te doms likely make the best closers and are the most strategically aggressive sellers.
 

Ene

Active member
Joined
Aug 16, 2012
Messages
3,574
MBTI Type
iNfj
Enneagram
5w4
Question:
Which type makes the best salesman?

Answer: Some type other than me. That is one job I do not want...salesperson. Yuck. I mean I know they're needed
in businesses, but I'd much rather be the one inventing the product. I say let inventors invent and sellers sell.
 

Standuble

New member
Joined
Aug 23, 2011
Messages
1,149
Depends on the mode and purpose of selling. I dealt with incoming calls (who had need of our services in the first instance) and made the sale simply by creating pathos and building rapport with the customer. It didn't always work (I don't deal with that Fe crap and its dependent on whether my Fi wants to be kind to them) but worked enough to make me one of the highest selling people in my company. Now I write content for our advertising and I like to think that my (supposed) writing skills assists in bringing customers to contact our company in the first instance.

As for on-the door salesman who try to sell a poor sap something they don't need then I would say ESTP. Sociopathy and smoke blowing? Instant winner.
 

RaptorWizard

Permabanned
Joined
Mar 19, 2012
Messages
5,895
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
5w6
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
I voted ESFJ because that way you get service with a smile on! :happy2:
 

Winds of Thor

New member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Messages
1,842
MBTI Type
ENTP
Enneagram
3w4
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
An ESTP is on my business team and he's outstanding. He coordinates effectively with other salespeople to get the desired result with clients. Very smart with sensitivities or nuances in negotiations and that is very effective.
 

Such Irony

Honor Thy Inferior
Joined
Jul 23, 2010
Messages
5,059
MBTI Type
INtp
Enneagram
5w6
Instinctual Variant
sp/so
S's would probably have the advantage in selling tangibles, N's in selling more abstract ideas.

Why aren't introverts in the poll? I think introversion can be an advantage in some ways. You think more about how you're going to give your sales pitch rather than just blurt it out. That can be a plus as it appears more well-thought out. Also, I's may be more considerate about not giving the prospective buyer some space and time to think about it as they tend to want those things themselves. Someone might not like an E salesperson for appearing too pushy.

I'm not saying I's are better salespeople than E's. It's advantageous to be an E when you're approaching a bunch of random strangers and trying to talk to them.

As far as interest in sales goes, I think E's easily win this.
 
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