Considering sales, am I completely mad?
Discussion
Background, I was a mobile engineer for 10 years, new jobs new places and new people everyday and building up a great relationship with my regular customers, who would often ask the account manager assigned to them for me to do the work by name, I had a great reputation.
Around 12 months ago I realised I was “comfortable” but not in the least bit challenged by the role anymore, plus I was getting bored of 25k a year driving.
Took a leap into a big step up as a system designer, and being provided with the qualification for this. I love the actual job bur within my company it’s very segregated, in other companies the designer would visit the client site, carry out a survey and work with the client to bring out a complaint design.
Within my company that survey is done by another team, and we are left to design it from notes and photographs.
There is little sign to say this will change, I discussed with my manager about getting out to site more as they want us to build client relationship, but I just can’t see this happening as they’ve recently removed our company Cars and have a travel ban.
This has got me thinking about how much I miss getting out of the house and meeting with clients, which has made me think of key account regional management sales, most of the sales staff working in the company that I know don’t ever seem to tout for cold leads, and instead have a current client base with our systems installed which need upgrades, editions etc, as well as a large base of leads from engineers carrying out maintenance and reactive works.
The sales staff I know seem completely unstressed and their problems seem to stem from their poor knowledge more than anything.
Am I completely mad to be considering this? It seems a perfect way of still building client relationships and getting out onto site without abandoning my technical knowledge completely.
It’s a basic salary I’m happy with (43k) and any commission I would see as a bonus.
Help!
Around 12 months ago I realised I was “comfortable” but not in the least bit challenged by the role anymore, plus I was getting bored of 25k a year driving.
Took a leap into a big step up as a system designer, and being provided with the qualification for this. I love the actual job bur within my company it’s very segregated, in other companies the designer would visit the client site, carry out a survey and work with the client to bring out a complaint design.
Within my company that survey is done by another team, and we are left to design it from notes and photographs.
There is little sign to say this will change, I discussed with my manager about getting out to site more as they want us to build client relationship, but I just can’t see this happening as they’ve recently removed our company Cars and have a travel ban.
This has got me thinking about how much I miss getting out of the house and meeting with clients, which has made me think of key account regional management sales, most of the sales staff working in the company that I know don’t ever seem to tout for cold leads, and instead have a current client base with our systems installed which need upgrades, editions etc, as well as a large base of leads from engineers carrying out maintenance and reactive works.
The sales staff I know seem completely unstressed and their problems seem to stem from their poor knowledge more than anything.
Am I completely mad to be considering this? It seems a perfect way of still building client relationships and getting out onto site without abandoning my technical knowledge completely.
It’s a basic salary I’m happy with (43k) and any commission I would see as a bonus.
Help!
The worst part of sales is harassing people to buy stuff they don’t want. If you’ve got an existing client base, the job pays you what you need and colleagues seem happy and unstressed then go for it
The role sounds more product specialist than sales which I’d see as a positive.
There’s nothing wrong with doing it for 12-18 months and seeing how it works for you, there’s no shame in admitting you’ve picked a career path that wasn’t right for you and moving to something different if it turns out less well than you hoped.
The role sounds more product specialist than sales which I’d see as a positive.
There’s nothing wrong with doing it for 12-18 months and seeing how it works for you, there’s no shame in admitting you’ve picked a career path that wasn’t right for you and moving to something different if it turns out less well than you hoped.
Going from what you've said I would strongly suggest you go for it. You've clearly got a customer focus and enjoy the aspects of sales that many struggle with.
A key point to note (And it sounds like this is the case)...
There is a big difference from account management (selling to existing customers) than new business sales (Where you will be cold calling to generate leads).
If you are money motivated and have a thick skin go for new business sales, it's hard but you'll be paid much better commission if you're successful (And get fired fairly quickly if you aren't).
It sounds like an account management role would be good for you though. Yes you'll have a target to hit, but you'll have much more latitude and lower pressure working with existing customer. You'll also likely earn less.
A key point to note (And it sounds like this is the case)...
There is a big difference from account management (selling to existing customers) than new business sales (Where you will be cold calling to generate leads).
If you are money motivated and have a thick skin go for new business sales, it's hard but you'll be paid much better commission if you're successful (And get fired fairly quickly if you aren't).
It sounds like an account management role would be good for you though. Yes you'll have a target to hit, but you'll have much more latitude and lower pressure working with existing customer. You'll also likely earn less.
InformationSuperHighway said:
Going from what you've said I would strongly suggest you go for it. You've clearly got a customer focus and enjoy the aspects of sales that many struggle with.
A key point to note (And it sounds like this is the case)...
There is a big difference from account management (selling to existing customers) than new business sales (Where you will be cold calling to generate leads).
If you are money motivated and have a thick skin go for new business sales, it's hard but you'll be paid much better commission if you're successful (And get fired fairly quickly if you aren't).
It sounds like an account management role would be good for you though. Yes you'll have a target to hit, but you'll have much more latitude and lower pressure working with existing customer. You'll also likely earn less.
Thanks, the basic salary is fine for what I would want to maintain my current life style and everything extra would be a bonus.A key point to note (And it sounds like this is the case)...
There is a big difference from account management (selling to existing customers) than new business sales (Where you will be cold calling to generate leads).
If you are money motivated and have a thick skin go for new business sales, it's hard but you'll be paid much better commission if you're successful (And get fired fairly quickly if you aren't).
It sounds like an account management role would be good for you though. Yes you'll have a target to hit, but you'll have much more latitude and lower pressure working with existing customer. You'll also likely earn less.
My company is in a position where the systems installed are only worked on by us, so if a customer needs stuff done it’s only us that can do it, so there’s a good existing client base. I’m sure they will want new business too but doesn’t seem to be that much, lots of work comes from engineers sales leads for example where they identify work that should be done.
If it did go tits up I can always do something else, I like moving around within my existing company as then you don’t lose your employment rights
I've worked in sales all my life, I'm 45 now and head of business development and have BD's working for me.
Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
jonwm said:
I've worked in sales all my life, I'm 45 now and head of business development and have BD's working for me.
Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
What kind of ball park is decent money/package for a salesperson in your sector, vs what young people are expecting?Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
jonwm said:
I've worked in sales all my life, I'm 45 now and head of business development and have BD's working for me.
Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
It’s definitely an ‘old fashioned’ career. I can see why younger people wouldn’t want to do it. Years ago it was easy to recruit, I'm finding this last year it's difficult to recruit even with decent money. It's seems a job no one wants to do now.
Salary expectations of the young are high, and people just want to be a youtuber now it seems.
My industry has spanned logistics, mainly automotive and work for one of the biggest logistics companys in the world.
Do I like it....yes, would I do something else if I had my time again... Maybe. As I've got older I've lost the love for it, In my 30s driving my nice company cars earning good commission I thought I was wolf of wall street, Now I'm older I look at other jobs that may not pay as well but don't have the constant pressure and often consider a move.
So i have been in tech/saas sales now for the past 10 years and in my industry it is the worst it has ever been.
Firstly you are always judged, be it number of sales, size of the deal, quota attainment, deal reviews, number of meetings etc etc,
If you want a new role you are then judged again ohh so you only sold deal values based on x and only had a quota of x… we want enterprise experience,
However enterprise is just a buzzword thrown around there is no set definition to what an enterprise deal is, one companies enterprise is another's Mid Market.
You embellish your cv a little and land a dream role and guess what? That job poster has also embellished their job spec and that dream £200k OTE is in reality a better base followed by a PIP plan cause no one is selling anything.
Now the biggest gripe is the level of complications surrounding actually doing the job and these all come from internal management. They want you to follow a specific sales methodology and deal structure, use different tools for prospecting, try and build fake leverage and control the deal (impossible). You then close a deal and they want to review it and pick it apart.
You will read job specs in sales and they claim they want motivated hunters but they will then clog your diary with pointless meetings on everything under the sun.
And when none of that works they will then pivot in the next quarter. Around and around we go.
Though you may get lucky and get a snazzy branded Gillet.
Firstly you are always judged, be it number of sales, size of the deal, quota attainment, deal reviews, number of meetings etc etc,
If you want a new role you are then judged again ohh so you only sold deal values based on x and only had a quota of x… we want enterprise experience,
However enterprise is just a buzzword thrown around there is no set definition to what an enterprise deal is, one companies enterprise is another's Mid Market.
You embellish your cv a little and land a dream role and guess what? That job poster has also embellished their job spec and that dream £200k OTE is in reality a better base followed by a PIP plan cause no one is selling anything.
Now the biggest gripe is the level of complications surrounding actually doing the job and these all come from internal management. They want you to follow a specific sales methodology and deal structure, use different tools for prospecting, try and build fake leverage and control the deal (impossible). You then close a deal and they want to review it and pick it apart.
You will read job specs in sales and they claim they want motivated hunters but they will then clog your diary with pointless meetings on everything under the sun.
And when none of that works they will then pivot in the next quarter. Around and around we go.
Though you may get lucky and get a snazzy branded Gillet.
Quattr04. said:
That sounds depressing
I might just go back to my old engineer job with my company car, zero stress, 2pm finishes and despite it being a lower grade, more money?!
Its a grind but you can make good money, like any other walks of life it has good times and bad times. I might just go back to my old engineer job with my company car, zero stress, 2pm finishes and despite it being a lower grade, more money?!
What is depressing is you can have a killer month, quarter, year and think you are top of the world but the next day means absolute nothing. Whats the saying… yesterdays news is todays chip paper.
Certainly try and get into account management rather than pure sales.
I work in FMCG sales and it's very much about the business you work for and what you manage like anh other industries and roles.
Salaries can range from £40k basic to over £100k basic and bonuses from nothing to 25% if not more.
I work in FMCG sales and it's very much about the business you work for and what you manage like anh other industries and roles.
Salaries can range from £40k basic to over £100k basic and bonuses from nothing to 25% if not more.
RayDonovan said:
Certainly try and get into account management rather than pure sales.
I work in FMCG sales and it's very much about the business you work for and what you manage like anh other industries and roles.
Salaries can range from £40k basic to over £100k basic and bonuses from nothing to 25% if not more.
The title is regional account managerI work in FMCG sales and it's very much about the business you work for and what you manage like anh other industries and roles.
Salaries can range from £40k basic to over £100k basic and bonuses from nothing to 25% if not more.
Ive spoken to 2 people who do it for my company in another area (it’s a internal move so same company) and they say they tend to just stick to current customers as they have plenty of work to deal with, the company does want you to tout for new business but they are very expensive and rarely ever get a look in.
Basic is 42k
Important thing with account management is to make sure you are actually going to get some decent accounts. Finding out who you are replacing, why they left or, if it's a new role, what's the corporate strategy for those accounts/region. Like cars, any account/region that has multiple owners in a short period of time is a big no no for me.
I've seen lots of good sales people (including myself) fail when leadership think they can achieve big growth by just changing a salesperson. They get given accounts that have major issues or a region with no support and fall flat on their face. Sales is a team game and you need the support of the whole company to achieve the best results.
The other thing to be aware of is the "Sales Rollercoaster". It's a great job when things are going well - the market is buoyant and you have a great product/service. But when things aren't great it can get very lonely and stressful. In those times you just need to get your head down and do as much as you can.
I've seen lots of good sales people (including myself) fail when leadership think they can achieve big growth by just changing a salesperson. They get given accounts that have major issues or a region with no support and fall flat on their face. Sales is a team game and you need the support of the whole company to achieve the best results.
The other thing to be aware of is the "Sales Rollercoaster". It's a great job when things are going well - the market is buoyant and you have a great product/service. But when things aren't great it can get very lonely and stressful. In those times you just need to get your head down and do as much as you can.
FamousPheasant said:
Important thing with account management is to make sure you are actually going to get some decent accounts. Finding out who you are replacing, why they left or, if it's a new role, what's the corporate strategy for those accounts/region. Like cars, any account/region that has multiple owners in a short period of time is a big no no for me.
I've seen lots of good sales people (including myself) fail when leadership think they can achieve big growth by just changing a salesperson. They get given accounts that have major issues or a region with no support and fall flat on their face. Sales is a team game and you need the support of the whole company to achieve the best results.
The other thing to be aware of is the "Sales Rollercoaster". It's a great job when things are going well - the market is buoyant and you have a great product/service. But when things aren't great it can get very lonely and stressful. In those times you just need to get your head down and do as much as you can.
Thanks for the adviceI've seen lots of good sales people (including myself) fail when leadership think they can achieve big growth by just changing a salesperson. They get given accounts that have major issues or a region with no support and fall flat on their face. Sales is a team game and you need the support of the whole company to achieve the best results.
The other thing to be aware of is the "Sales Rollercoaster". It's a great job when things are going well - the market is buoyant and you have a great product/service. But when things aren't great it can get very lonely and stressful. In those times you just need to get your head down and do as much as you can.
The person who left the role went from being a regional account manager looking after commercial businesses and is now a national account manager which looks after national clients and I suppose is a step up as it’s looking after big name customers and not having to tout for business in the same from smaller regional customers with I suppose smaller budgets.
As a engineer I visited lots of the clients who I would be looking after in a sales role, so i do know the people to some degree and not starting totally fresh
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