[AndyEssex330d]

Hi all, wanted to get some feedback/ideas from you lovely lot...

I am in B2B sales and have been for a number of years, however over the past year, with the little one arriving and houses/mortgages etc, along with understanding more about what I enjoy, I have come to the conclusion I want to move away from a 'front line' sales role, potentially into sales support, pre sales consultancy, or true account/contract management etc.

Has anyone else made this type of move in their careers? how easy/tough was it? what helped?

Cheers

Andy

[AndyEssex330d]

Originally Posted by Lobb

Yes. When I was a nipper I was in front line sales. I moved out to start climbing the greasy management pole. No regrets.

I have just lost patience with customers, the market I am half in (as the company is in a transition between markets ultimately) is declining massively, half our sales force has been made redundant or has left in the past 12 months!

Did you see your earnings generally increase by doing it?

[335dMSport+]

I moved into general management of the business, essentially I'm the one that makes all the calls of how I run my business, however whilst the stress is a lot more I still get out and see customers (similar B2B environment) and they can still contact me directly if they choose which keeps my finger on the pulse and I really enjoy the variety of the role now and have done for the last six years.

I wouldn't want to go back to a pure Sales role as I enjoy the flexibility and being able to educate and influence in a different capacity.

If you have the experience and a lot to offer then maybe that's a good route to choose instead of changing industry altogether?

[AndyEssex330d]

Originally Posted by 335dMSport+

I moved into general management of the business, essentially I'm the one that makes all the calls of how I run my business, however whilst the stress is a lot more I still get out and see customers (similar B2B environment) and they can still contact me directly if they choose which keeps my finger on the pulse and I really enjoy the variety of the role now and have done for the last six years.

I wouldn't want to go back to a pure Sales role as I enjoy the flexibility and being able to educate and influence in a different capacity.

If you have the experience and a lot to offer then maybe that's a good route to choose instead of changing industry altogether?

Sounds good! I don't want to change industry, as its certainly the future (RPA/Robotics/process automation etc), however the role doesn't give me full involvements, and not as much project involvement (often feel like an order taker than an account manager). I don't have the experience of the role I want to go into, only the experience via the roles I have done if that makes sense. I am finding most roles advertised simply want people stepping sideways than stepping up the ladder.

[MickyD'bo]

I've had a sale target each month for 29 years. I'm 46. Yes moved into Sales Management at 26. Was a good move. As Sales Manager your target becomes the collective team target. Instead of Customers frustrating you the Sales Execs will. I'm in a more senior Business wide Management role now.

There will always be targets. There will always be frustrations with the groups of individuals you need to persuade and influence.

You should be making a move either way if you are not loving what you do each day. We spend too much time at work to not enjoy and feel fulfilled by what we do for our mods and beer tokens.

Hope you find a solution that works for you.

[Tengocity]

Definitely look to move up if you can. I've done sales, then marketing, then sales management, and now senior sales and franchise leadership. Much more variety to the job, much more responsibility, but also much more scope to change how things are done. Getting involved in key decision making, higher level strategy, development of people, and capabilities of entire teams, is all very rewarding.
And I still get out to see customers too. I love my job now more than ever before.

[rosstin]

In my industry (software, data, analytics) the financial rewards are limited in sales support or pre sales. Those roles appeal due to the hands on knowledge and skill sets you would gain, but I couldn't stomach the flip side.

I'm a relationship/accounts manager and find it a good variety of responsibilities at the moment. Growth rather than pure new business. Opportunity to manage a broad virtual team and rewarding if you line things up well.

But next move, like others here, will be towards management. Shameless self promotion seems to be the key unfortunately.

[AndyEssex330d]

Thanks for your replies I am starting to be part of decision making processes now which I do enjoy, the sales side is fine, I earn well and am a good performer etc etc, and the issue isn't with monthly targets but with the fact I am not targeted or measured on implementing what I sell, even though I am central to that process, It is almost like I am only marked on half the work I do!

Also, I will happily trade £10k potential earnings with less but on a basic pay, my current split is 40% basic 60% commission, and with the changes in market and sales cycles I am seeing huge fluctuations in pay packets which is difficult to manage!

[bodtwo]

Sales management is generally daddy day care. Gets interesting if you get into the psychology, but can be challenging balancing your teams individuals requirements against the overall team objectives.

I’ve flitted between the two and both have their up and down sides. The fundamental thing is that if you are not enjoying/fulfilled in your current role then you need to do something about that, which it’s clear you are.

Are you part of a big organisation, is there clear progression into those roles, is there a prescedent for that sort of transition?

I’ve known people who moved from technical to sales and back again and they tell me it made them a better technical/pre sales person. It gave them a commercial understanding that they lacked previously.

Sales people will often have wobbles about their future and chosen career especially when they face some significant life changes which you are. In our organisation we provide mentors, is there anything like that you can tap into?

Good sales people are not easy to find and companies don’t often like them to move sideways, you may find you have to look elsewhere to progress.

[A15X]

I’m in sales, have been for the last 8 years and have seen my pay packet continually rise. I did think along your lines of changing roles due to a large mortgage and first child but ended up moving companies where my basic provides a good living and can live very well without commissions.

Could I swap...don’t think so, I’d miss the ‘chase’ too much!

[teaston]

Originally Posted by AndyEssex330d

Hi all, wanted to get some feedback/ideas from you lovely lot...

I am in B2B sales and have been for a number of years, however over the past year, with the little one arriving and houses/mortgages etc, along with understanding more about what I enjoy, I have come to the conclusion I want to move away from a 'front line' sales role, potentially into sales support, pre sales consultancy, or true account/contract management etc.

Has anyone else made this type of move in their careers? how easy/tough was it? what helped?

Cheers

Andy

I have no idea what any of that is, but good luck!

[AndyEssex330d]

Originally Posted by A15X

I’m in sales, have been for the last 8 years and have seen my pay packet continually rise. I did think along your lines of changing roles due to a large mortgage and first child but ended up moving companies where my basic provides a good living and can live very well without commissions.

Could I swap...don’t think so, I’d miss the ‘chase’ too much!

I am in this boat, our roles have changed and pay plans are released 1st Feb, I am waiting for this before I make any decisions, I am being promoted to within the sales role, but our company (along with everyone else I am sure) arent the leaders in basic pay, with very much the old school attitude of 'sell more...there is your pay rise'!

I could never be in a salaried only role, I would need bonuses or comms!

Thanks for your feedback all

[Tengocity]

Most senior management roles have substantial bonus and incentives still. They also tend to come with other long term incentives like shares and share options.

[jnismith]

I worked in consultancy for most of my life. Moving upwards effectively meant moving from “doing” to “selling”. Something I was less comfortable with. Also pay went from 100% salary to about 40:60. I always wondered if I would have been happier to have stayed in delivery rather than management but there’s no going back and you always chase the next promotion. I guess my point is that you have to push yourself and if that means making a change, then go for it.