[DeanWormer]

I manage a team of Solution Architects and I've hired many where this is their first "sales" job.

What kind of jobs are you applying to? If this is your first SA role, you should take a look at the technologies you use every day and apply to those vendors (and/or their competitors). You'll be able to speak credibly to their customers about your experiences and it'll make you a very effective SA.

In my experience, to hire a good SA, the sales skills come in a distant second to relevant technical skills. Rewrite your resume to highlight those skills and you'll have success.