When transitioning out of your sales career, there are a few things that you need to remember. Your skills in sales are likely transferable to other fields. It is a good idea to consider the salary and commission structure of your new role when looking for a new role. Also, quantify your accomplishments.
Transferable skills are great from IT jobs to sales.
A job in IT can be a great way to change your career. The skills you need for success in sales transfer well to IT jobs. These skills will make you an asset in an IT role.
Sales positions require a lot of relationship-building, and skills in this area are particularly important. These people need to listen to others and evaluate information before making decisions. This valuable skill can be used in any career. Likewise, skills such as problem-solving are highly transferable.
Finding a job that pays a salary and a commission
Many companies offer jobs that pay a salary and a commission to salespeople. These jobs are often lucrative. Software companies pay high commissions to sell software to businesses. The company can afford to pay their salespeople a commission because they incur very high upfront costs for developing the software. It is important to choose a company with high margins.
Your personal preferences, experience and learning style will all play a role in the job you choose. A commission-based sales job may be more appealing to you if you are naturally a salesperson. However, if you're uncertain about your sales abilities, it may be better to begin in a job that provides financial safety and a steady base salary.
Interviewing for sales jobs
It can be difficult to conduct a job interview while you are transitioning from sales. Interviews can feel more like auditions. The hiring agency wants to find out if you are a good fit for the job. Before going into the interview, research the company. Take note of its marketing strategy and its primary customers.
Your interview questions can be used as a way to demonstrate your knowledge and experience. One example is asking a candidate about a specific role in sales. These questions will allow you to get to know your candidate's work history, experience, and personality.
Quantifying your sales results
The first step to quantifying your sales achievements as you exit a sales career, is to identify them. List them in percentages or ratios if you can. What was your sales goal? What actions were taken and what results were achieved? Employers can see the difference between what you set for sales and what actually happened.
It is important to quantify your sales achievements as you move from a sales career. Although it is acceptable to submit press releases for the responsibilities section of your resume, it is better to submit ten press releases per week. Your resume must include metrics. Although finance and sales professionals can easily access many of the obvious metrics, they should not overlook people-oriented metrics.
To help you make the transition from a sales career, take an online career aptitude test
A career aptitude test helps narrow down your options. It assesses your professional talents, strengths, and personality traits to determine which career is right for you. It helps you to focus on your strengths, and it can also help you avoid applying for jobs you don't like.
While most career tests can be taken for free, some may require you to pay a fee in order to receive your results. There are many websites that can help determine if you should take a career aptitude testing.