I have done it, and it is important to know upfront that the environments are different. It also depends on whether you are doing corporate (high dollar licensing types of sales) or distribution for retail. I was involved in sales and sales support for corporate sales, and if you need a steady, predictable paycheck, this is not for you. The commissions are great and big, but there are also extensive dry spells. It can also be very cutthroat. Surviving in this environment often means living at a level below your potential and having a considerable cushion to fall back on. It certainly wasn't for me. I wouldn't say I like living paycheck to paycheck, but working in this environment meant I had to live like I was. Working as a SWE, I had much less anxiety about whether I could provide for my family adequately. Even though there was a stipend if monthly targets were not hit, those stipends were deducted from the next commission check, so it often felt like I was constantly digging myself out of a hole.
Don't get me wrong, there's good money in this type of sales, but know what you're getting into first.
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