M
M

mittmomney

Sales/ Product

Good Citizen
Contributor
Fire Starter

Has anyone here transitioned from another industry into Sales?

My first job after graduation was a mix of product and sales. I had some great experiences and even led the final meeting that closed a $500k deal that we were semi-expecting to lose but I later deviated into PM at a different company. I'm looking to get back to Sales. It would be great to talk to anyone with advice or a similar story of deviating and coming back to sales 

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Pachacuti
Politicker
10
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
You led a key meeting which the sales guy probably orchestrated over months. I would ask yourself if you have what it takes to put everything together to get that key meeting.

I will spend months, even years sometimes, cultivating relationships and doing other activities in order to get that key meeting. I will then line up the right people from my company and coach them on their roles for that meeting - even down to what slides in the deck they will talk to.

I take a back seat during those meetings but everyone knows who put them all in that room that day and why they are there.

After the key meeting(s), I handle all the follow up, chasing budgets, key decision makers, and a million other items. I may ask you a question or two as part of the follow up.

Sales is not bursting into a room, uttering a few closing lines, and paying for lunch. Its a grind which most can’t handle.

If you’re up for it, I suggest looking at some SDR jobs so you can learn the grind. And in all sincerity, good luck.
HVACexpert
Politicker
6
sales engineer
@Pachacuti putting his big sales 🍆 on the table again
Sunbunny31
Politicker
4
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Yes, this is a great post.
jefe
Arsonist
4
🍁
Damn...
All. Of. This.
mittmomney
Good Citizen
2
Sales/ Product
great advice. sales is definitely more the million nitty gritty details of preparation to close a large deal than it is the small moments of contribution that might tip the scales. <br><br>The ~60% pay cut moving from PM to SDR is a bit steep, is it reasonable to get an AE with 2 years of experience running sales demos and outbound outreach?<br><br>Does 3 years of product management have any added benefit or do most companies see it as completely irrelevant if they’re hiring you for sales?
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
Depends on what you’re applying for, and industry. Product management could be more relevant to some and not as relevant to others
Beans
Big Shot
1
Enterprise Account Executive
BAM.
It is a LONG, team oriented effort that can blow up at any given point.
Having a beauty on a silver platter may build the confidence, but do it from scratch and get back to me.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Yes... Restaurant management to sales.
BTQ
Politicker
3
Account Manager
Restaurant explains a lot.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
lmao, please elaborate. I'm curious to see what you are thinking hahahah
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
BISTRO HUDDY
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
3
Bravado's Resident Asshole
That dude is absolutely on POINT with his skits
sketchysales
Politicker
3
Sales Manager
TBH, one of the only intelligent things i saw turtle brian burns say was hire people from hospitality into entry level sales and build them up, they often have the skills.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
3
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Damn straight. Think about it. Time management, attention to detail, memory, relationship building, all while keeping a smile on your face and a good word for your patrons.
sketchysales
Politicker
2
Sales Manager
Exactly. As well as excellent objection/complaint handling skills and often a strong upsell skillset.
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
Im more transitioning out right now. However the sales experience is so valuable
BTQ
Politicker
0
Account Manager
What industry you heading towards? I'm on my way out as well :(
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
Finance M&A however. It’s dealsourcing so basically sales. Although it’s buyside
BTQ
Politicker
2
Account Manager
That’s fucking sick great money in there
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
Interesting.
How much of a finance background do you have?
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
I had basically none. But did a year long program at a local business school
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
Cool. Fucking GET IT

And let us know
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
Did the transition with my current employer. He grossly underpaid me for the job but paid for the tuition. Now I’m going to another firm and earn almost double. However I need to payback the tuition 😅
jefe
Arsonist
1
🍁
Always a give and take, but seems like it worked out in your favour.
mittmomney
Good Citizen
0
Sales/ Product
where were you working? do you recommend working there for the sales experience?
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
0
Sales Rep
recruiting to sales for me
mittmomney
Good Citizen
1
Sales/ Product
do you have any advice on the approach. I was thinking to just call places and try to sales my way to a sales job
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
1
Sales Rep
Have that deal be the number one point on your resume
I would recommend prospecting your way in, to hiring managers and recruiters
lowhangersalesbanger
Executive
0
Director of Sales
I got into sales from banking. Best transition ever.
mittmomney
Good Citizen
0
Sales/ Product
do tell more. did you love sales much more than banking? were you immediately good in sales

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