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What is an inside sales executive and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Laura Sansoni,
John Cicala Ph.D.

An inside sales executive is an individual who sells products or services over the phone or through email. They are responsible for generating leads, qualifying prospects, and closing deals. Inside sales executives also work closely with their team and other departments to develop sales strategies and achieve revenue goals. They track their progress and report on their results regularly. Overall, an inside sales executive is a key player in driving revenue growth for their company.

What general advice would you give to an inside sales executive?

Laura SansoniLaura Sansoni LinkedIn profile

Director, Career Development, CBA Career Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Whenever I work with a new graduate, I see them experiencing many emotions ranging from excitement from completing their education to anxiety about starting their careers.

For the graduates that have a job, I highly encourage them to take advantage of any opportunity presented to them. Participate in workplace events, take advantage of professional development opportunities like attending conferences or trainings, and volunteer to work on projects when asked to. Taking advantage of these opportunities in your workplace will increase your skills and experiences while deepening your connections to your colleagues and growing your personal network.

For graduates that are still looking for jobs, I remind them that the worst things that can happen in the job search are an employer saying "no", "we went with another candidate", or not responding to your application at all. While that can be scary and defeating at times, think about the positives of the situation. You didn't get the interview or the job, but you didn't lose anything either. Instead, you gained more experience in the job search process that you can improve upon for the next time. I also remind new grads to let the employers decide if they are the right fit for the job instead of counting yourself out too early. If you meet 75 percent of the qualifications in the job description, apply for the job and let the recruiter decide whether to set up an interview. Don't be so afraid of the next "no" that it prevents you from finding the next possible "yes".
ScoreInside Sales ExecutiveUS Average
Salary
6.1

Avg. Salary $77,590

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.23%

Asian 5.10%

Black or African American 3.79%

Hispanic or Latino 13.95%

Unknown 3.71%

White 73.22%

Gender

female 38.76%

male 61.24%

Age - 48
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 48
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being an inside sales executive?

Pros

  • Opportunity for high earning potential through commission and bonuses

  • Potential for career growth

  • Chance to develop and refine sales skills

  • Opportunity to work with a diverse range of clients and industries

  • Potential for flexible scheduling and work-life balance

Cons

  • High-pressure sales quotas can be stressful and demanding

  • Rejection and disappointment can take a toll on morale

  • Need to be constantly available and responsive to clients’ needs and inquiries

  • Need to be self-motivated and disciplined to meet performance goals

  • High level of competition within the industry

Inside sales executive career paths

Key steps to become an inside sales executive

  1. Explore inside sales executive education requirements

    Most common inside sales executive degrees

    Bachelor's

    75.7 %

    Associate

    14.8 %

    Master's

    4.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific inside sales executive skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service11.93%
    Outbound Sales7.80%
    Healthcare6.25%
    Outbound Calls6.23%
    Digital Marketing5.44%
  3. Complete relevant inside sales executive training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New inside sales executives learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an inside sales executive based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real inside sales executive resumes.
  4. Research inside sales executive duties and responsibilities

    • Manage individual sales activities by developing highly effective, communications focuse relationship with multiple sales channels.
    • Operate as inside sales consultant, primarily in areas of customer relations, sales/service support, coordinating production and transportation scheduling
    • Train new hire on SFDC and help him with messaging and solution description.
    • Master and utilize all sales relate tools including SFDC, SalesLoft, ZoomInfo, InsideView, and Engagio.
  5. Get inside sales executive experience

    Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become an inside sales executive. The most common roles before becoming an inside sales executive include account executive, inside sales representative team lead and sales representative.
  6. Prepare your inside sales executive resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your inside sales executive resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an inside sales executive resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable inside sales executive resume templates

    Build a professional inside sales executive resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your inside sales executive resume.
    Inside Sales Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Executive Resume
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    Inside Sales Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Executive Resume
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    Inside Sales Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Executive Resume
    Inside Sales Executive Resume
  7. Apply for inside sales executive jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an inside sales executive job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first inside sales executive job

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Average inside sales executive salary

The average inside sales executive salary in the United States is $77,590 per year or $37 per hour. Inside sales executive salaries range between $51,000 and $117,000 per year.

Average inside sales executive salary
$77,590 Yearly
$37.30 hourly

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How do inside sales executives rate their job?

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Inside sales executive reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Communicating and helping my clients.

Cons

The travel was extensive. Sometimes. It took more than month to close a deaĺ.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

I love to engage the public and meet new faces. I enjoy explaining all of the benefits of the product I am selling, and making the customer feel important and well informed.

Cons

I don't like feeling like I haven't did a great at job at making customers feel comfortable and confident about where and who they are purchasing from.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on May 2020
Pros

i enjoy the interaction with people, listen the customer in order to convert him/her into your friend, detect and help customer with his/her needs.

Cons

People without vision, dreams and selfishness.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.