No need to apologize, those are legitimate questions for someone outside of sales to have.

I can't help but feel that everything in sales is contrived and designed to purposefully sell things that maybe the customer doesn't really need.

I've never had to sell something like that, but it definitely exists. The negative feelings you have towards the profession of sales likely stems from this. Just like most professions, there are "levels" of different professionalism.

I've never sold something to someone that I thought they'd regret. That's the truth. That would be a really shitty feeling because I would have had to be a liar in order to have gained the sale. Again, I'm sure people do it, but I've only sold high integrity products in verticals where my product/services were well regarded.

The companies I have worked for would have reprimanded me if I had knowingly sold people the wrong product or something they clearly could not use.

As for your other question about goals etc. each company and each industry does things differently. I'll tell you about my last position. I was given a salary, which was roughly a third of my overall earnings. 2/3rds of my earnings came from bonuses based on performance.

I had a goal to bring in $32million of new business to my company. -that's a big number.

I received a et amount for hitting my goal. I received a quarterly bonus check based in the amount I had sold towards that goal. So if I was 25% towards my goal after the first quarter, I would get 25% of the bonus.

Then, at the end of the year I would get basis points on everything I signed and increased basis points for the amount over goal.

I also received set spiffs for certain products I sold too. Some came with $100 signing bonus and a $500 bonus upon "activation."

If you are lazy or just not good at the job, it will not be terribly lucrative, though the base salary isn't terrible and you also get a company car, Internet, lap top, iPad etc. but if you don't perform, you'll get let go. There's no subjectivity in sales, you are either performing or you are not.

It's a profession that requires a bachelors degree to get to a certain level, but beyond that it just requires ability. The numbers don't lie. You can prove yourself, work your way in to a top industry selling software, med devices or financial products and earn $150 - $500k a year. It's pretty incredible.

My friend Brian once dated a girl who's father was an attorney and he said, I make more than her dad." -He did. He had a degree in graphic design and was selling med devices, earning $180k+ a year.

So, it's very much predicated on hitting a goal, but if you do, you can earn a TON of money and enjoy a lot of autonomy. I've worked from home for the past 10 Years.

Feel free to ask any questions you'd like though. I love asking the scientists etc on Hubski questions about their profession. It's time I gave back.

Edit: please excuse typos. I'm on my phone. Let me know what I didn't answer. I am responding from memory.