Careers / Manhattan

Sales Jobs in Manhattan: How to Break Into Finance Sales With No Experience

By NexGen LendingLast updated October 20269 min read

Short answer: Most finance sales jobs in Manhattan ask for experience, licenses or a network you don’t have yet. A faster way in is business funding sales, where you learn finance by helping business owners get capital. NexGen Lending trains new Sales Representatives at its Hoboken office, one PATH ride from 33rd Street or World Trade Center.

At a glance

Role
Sales Representative (business funding)
Office
2 Hudson Place, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Experience
Not required. We train.
Commute
PATH from 33rd, 23rd, 14th, 9th, Christopher St or WTC; NY Waterway ferry
What you sell
Business financing from $10K to $20M
Apply
About two minutes, no cover letter

Manhattan is the financial capital of the world, and it can feel like every finance job is locked behind a degree from the right school, a summer internship and a referral. If you’re searching “finance sales jobs NYC” or “entry-level sales jobs Manhattan” and finding listings that want three to five years of experience, you’re not alone.

Here’s the part most job boards don’t tell you: you don’t have to start on Wall Street to build a career in finance. Some of the most practical finance education happens on a sales floor, talking to business owners about cash flow, growth and capital. That’s the work we do at NexGen Lending, and it’s a short ride from wherever you live in Manhattan.

Can I get a finance sales job in Manhattan without experience?

Short answer: It’s hard at banks and brokerages, which often require degrees, licenses and prior experience. It’s much more realistic in business funding, where companies train reps on products and process. You’ll learn how businesses borrow, how lenders evaluate risk and how to talk money with owners, and those skills carry into almost any finance career later.

Traditional finance hiring in Manhattan leans heavily on credentials. Business funding hires on drive. At NexGen, we’re upfront about it: you don’t need 10 years of finance experience, and you don’t need to know everything on day one. We’ll teach you the business, the process and how to sell. You bring the work ethic.

What is business funding sales? Business funding sales means helping small and mid-sized businesses find the right financing, such as lines of credit, equipment financing, SBA loans, term loans and revenue-based financing. NexGen works with a network of 150+ private lenders and offers programs from $10,000 to $20,000,000, with many approvals in 1 to 24 hours. Learn more in what a business funding advisor does.

How does business funding sales compare to other Manhattan sales jobs?

Short answer: Manhattan has plenty of sales roles in luxury retail, tech SDR teams, advertising and real estate. Business funding stands out because every call is with a decision-maker running a real company, and the skills you build are financial ones: reading a business, understanding cash flow and structuring a solution.
Luxury retailTech SDRBusiness funding (NexGen)
Who you sell toShoppersCompanies, booking meetings for account executivesBusiness owners, directly
Finance knowledge builtLittleSomeCore to the job
Do you close?Yes, small ticketsUsually not at firstYes, you guide deals from first call to funding
PathStore leadershipAccount executiveSenior Producer, Team Lead, Sales Manager, leadership

Why would a Manhattan resident work in Hoboken?

Short answer: Because the commute is often easier than crossing Manhattan. PATH trains run from 6th Avenue stations at 33rd, 23rd, 14th and 9th Streets, from Christopher Street in the West Village and from World Trade Center straight to Hoboken Terminal, steps from our office. You also reverse the busiest commuter flow.

If you live on the West Side, in Chelsea, the Village, Midtown or the Financial District, Hoboken is practically a neighborhood away. Uptown residents on the 1, 2, 3, A, C, B, D, F or M lines can ride down to a PATH connection at 34th Street–Herald Square or World Trade Center. NY Waterway ferries also run between Manhattan terminals and Hoboken. Check PATH and NY Waterway for current schedules and fares.

And the view on the walk in doesn’t hurt: Hudson Place looks straight back across the river at the Manhattan skyline you just left.

What will I actually do every day?

Short answer: You’ll prospect business owners, have real conversations about what their companies need, qualify them, present financing options and follow through to funding. You’ll work your pipeline in a CRM, follow a defined sales process and get coached on calls. Days are active, phone-heavy and measured by results.

Our standard is simple: Customer first. Commission second. We work with real entrepreneurs, real employees and real money. The best reps listen, tell the truth and do what’s right.

What skills will this build for a future finance career?

Short answer: You’ll build six skills that compound: sales, finance, negotiation, relationships, business and leadership. You’ll learn how companies make money, manage cash flow, acquire other businesses and grow. Those are the same fundamentals that matter in lending, banking, private credit and entrepreneurship.

Plenty of people in Manhattan want to “get into finance” without knowing what that looks like day to day. Business funding answers that question fast. Within months, you’ll be reading bank statements, understanding why one business qualifies for an SBA loan and another is better suited to revenue-based financing, and explaining capital to people who are betting their livelihoods on it.

What does the first year look like?

Short answer: Your first three months are about learning the business and building confidence on the phone. Months four to six are about independence and consistency. By months seven to twelve, the goal is to be a serious producer with your own book of business. From year two, leadership and new roles open up.
  1. Months 1–3: Learn the products and sales process, make the calls, learn to handle rejection and start your pipeline.
  2. Months 4–6: Develop your own style, improve conversion and create consistency.
  3. Months 7–12: Build a book of business, increase your earning potential and take on more responsibility.
  4. Year 2+: Leadership, management, business development, lending and strategic opportunities.

The long-term path runs from Sales Representative to Senior Producer, Team Lead, Sales Manager and leadership. See the full path on our careers page.

Who does well in this role?

Short answer: People who are hungry, coachable, competitive, accountable, disciplined, relentless and entrepreneurial. In Manhattan, that’s often bartenders and servers who can read a room, retail associates who can sell, career changers who are done being comfortable and experienced reps who want a bigger platform.

If you’re looking for somewhere to hide, this isn’t it. If you’re tired of being comfortable, want to learn how to sell, want real financial skills and want income upside, we want to meet you.

How do I apply?

Short answer: Use the quick application on our careers page. It takes about two minutes, needs no cover letter and asks about your experience, start date and why you want it. If it’s a fit, our team will reach out by phone or email to set up a conversation. Compensation details are discussed in the interview.
  1. Open the application.
  2. Add your contact details and sales experience (none is fine).
  3. Pick your start date and add a LinkedIn or resume link if you have one.
  4. Tell us how badly you want it.

Frequently asked questions

Is the job in Manhattan?

The office is at 2 Hudson Place in Hoboken, NJ, next to Hoboken Terminal and a short PATH ride from Manhattan. The role is in person.

Do I need a Series 7 or other license?

No finance degree or background is required to apply, and we train you on the business. Any role requirements are covered during the hiring process.

How is the role paid?

Compensation details are discussed in the interview so you get accurate, current information.

I have sales experience in another industry. Should I apply?

Yes. Experienced reps from tech, real estate, insurance, retail and other industries are welcome. The skills transfer, and we’ll teach you the product.

What does NexGen do?

We help small and mid-sized businesses get financing from $10,000 to $20,000,000 through lines of credit, equipment financing, SBA loans, term loans and more, working with 150+ private lenders.

Start your finance career one PATH stop away. No experience needed. Questions? Call (908) 639-4361.
Apply in two minutes →

NexGen Lending is an equal opportunity employer. Role details, schedules and compensation are discussed during the hiring process. Transit routes are general; check PATH, MTA and NY Waterway for current service.

Keep reading

Entry-level sales jobs in NYC → How to get into finance sales → What a funding advisor does → Brooklyn → New Jersey → Careers at NexGen →