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New careers using your sales skills
Many of you say that you are keen to explore opportunities outside sales, but can't find alternative careers that pay as well. The good news is, if your future bosses are anything like Sir Alan Sugar, they'll be looking for sales ability first and foremost, and it's all about how you present your skills.
"I left college and went into a job straight away working as a banking manager, but it's just about sales. I'm desperate to get out of sales - I have tried for 2 years now applying for jobs and joining agencies, but I've only had 2 interviews. Every time I apply for just administrative work and stuff, nobody wants me because they say all I have is sales experience. Please help!"
What may be letting you down is how you promote your skills and previous employment experience in your CV. If you want to work in administration, promote the communication and organisational skills that you use now, and don't dwell on your sales achievements. Where you can use your sales skills is during an interview. Close your prospective employers and ask them whether or not they're going to offer you the job. If they say no, ask them why, counter their objections and turn their 'no' into a 'yes'.
"I am currently working within a sales environment and looking to move away from this field, but I want something that pays the same amount that I'm earning currently. Ideally I would like to move into something that is within a growing industry sector; ie. Medical or the Environment."
Any career change is costly because most candidates have to start out at a 'lower' level. Broadly speaking you have two options:
1. Look to reduce your cost of living to finance a career change pay drop - you might achieve this through cutting back, ie. spending less on travel, or it may require a major change such as relocating - either way it's worth consulting an independent financial advisor first. See: www.unbiased.co.uk
2. Work in the same business function (sales) but in a growth sector of your choice. You'll need to build up industry knowledge if you choose this route and it's worth establishing contacts within your sector of choice. Contact alumni, friends and friends of family members that work in your sectors of interest, with the aim of building up a network. It's very important to talk to existing sector employees about what their jobs are like - the good and the bad. It's very easy to have 'glamorous' views about what a new career would be like - please take a reality check with 'experienced' hires.
Lastly if you haven't already done so, try our psychometric questionnaire. It will match you based on your skills, qualifications and work preferences to ideal careers - where you would be most happy.
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