Getting into the firearms industry is like jumping feet first into an ocean with no bottom.
Think to get a job in the firearms industry you need to be ex law enforcement or prior military? I didn’t have any of those and I made it in and you can too!
No Prior Experience
Having just graduated college, and had unsuccessfully tried my hand in the automotive dealership business, I was eager for another job. My local “Big Box” sporting goods store was hiring for a firearms salesman. Given that I had no other ideas coming in, I decided to send in my application. Long story short, I ended up getting the job after having two interviews and started at the end of November in 2020.
Did I mention my second day was Black Friday? No? Well, it was one scary and frightening event for someone who had only held a gun about 5 times in their life before then! Skipping ahead I spent 1.5 years there learning as much as I could, which led me to another job within the industry where I currently work. But enough about me.
So how do I get into the industry you might ask? Here are some of the things I learned along the way which
Get Out to the Range
First and foremost, you should get out to your local gun range. Learn to shoot and feel comfortable with a bevy of different firearms. When first starting out, keep to the most popular calibers like 9mm and 22LR. Once you feel comfortable with the basics, move on to larger calibers like 5.56 .308 or .300 Win Mag. The gun range will help you get accustomed to how guns operate, being around gunfire, and around people in the firearms community. If you’re going to work in the industry, whether it be selling or marketing, you really need to know how the tools feel and operate in your hands.
Research and Learn
When I first got my first job selling guns, I didn’t really understand the ballistics of any of it. That’s why you should spend quality time researching the different calibers, what they’re intended for (hunting or self-defense), the FPS, and which brands and companies offer them. (When I started, I actually bought a box of ammo in each of the calibers I was selling to familiarize myself.)
Get on YouTube. It is packed full of influencers that teach you what you need to know. Here are a few that are good for beginners in the industry:
These guys will get you started. Colion Noir is good for the politics in the industry and current events, whereas Iraq Veteran is more general knowledge. The best influencer for beginners would be Honest Outlaw. He, like you, is not former military or law enforcement. Just an average guy who got into the industry and makes good content for the everyman.
Get Outdoors
Get outdoors and explore the natural world. It’s more than likely that your first job in the industry will be a sales position at a sporting goods store. Having other knowledge and experience doing outdoor activities will not only help you in the job interview, but with relating to customers. It will make you more marketable and well-rounded. Go on a hike, camp in various places, get into hunting and fishing, or just get outside to be with nature. It all helps.
Get Certified
Obtain any extracurricular certifications you can. Whether it’s your local CPR class or first aid to your more technical courses, continue your education. It’ll make you stand out more. If you’re going to be working in the firearms industry, a handy course to take is Stop the Bleed.
Another course that really helps you understand common questions on a gun counter would be the hunter’s education course, a prerequisite for those yearning to obtain a hunting license. It teaches one the different types of firearms, the mechanics of them, basic comprehension of ballistics, ammunition, gun safety, etc.
Highlight Other Skills
All and all, you will be applying for a job. And more than likely, you will have to sit through an interview. Therefore, if you don’t have all the required skills, highlight the ones you do have. Do you have leadership skills from a group you led in high school or college? Do you speak a foreign language? How about technical skills like coding and web design? Make them known. Recruiters and managers will want to know your background to see what type of person you are and if you would be potentially a good fit for the role.
So, there you go! There’s my two cents!
Good luck out there!