Press Release

Ensure You Have a Smooth Career Change Transition – Utilize the Skills You Already Have

Friday, June 06, 2008

I have been an engineer for twelve years.  Recently I have found that I am pretty good at attaining jobs and working the client side of our business.  I have decided that I am tired of the engineering world and want to get into sales full time.  How would I go about securing a senior sales role outside of engineering?

Changing careers can be a daunting task for several reasons.  First moving from one profession to another without the expertise necessary for success will often require a step backwards in compensation.  Often individuals will be asked to start from the “bottom” to acquire those skills.  Sometimes extra education will be required or an investment in securing training from other sources will be necessary.

If you are looking to transition from one career to another, give yourself a time line and create steps.  Since you are currently an engineer attaining work for your company, approach your boss and ask if there is a role for someone to do business development and sales full time.  Transitioning into a new role within your current company allows you to maintain your current compensation and you’ll find your current employer more forgiving in your learning curve.  You may also find all of your needs can be met with your current employer

However, if you still want to move out of the engineering world begin looking at vendors that service engineers, construction, etc.  Once you have realized the basic skills necessary for business development and sales, you become more marketable.  Parlaying those skills with your engineering background will make you an attractive candidate to companies that sell to the engineering field.  You will be considered an insider and will know how to navigate that area which is generally closed to sales folks that do not have that type of background.  In other words you will be able to talk the talk and understand customer needs better than a competitor that does not have the same background.