When I graduated college I did not know what "technical sales" meant, nor would I have considered the career path even if described. To me any reference to "sales" meant I would be the guy from Fairfield Toyota who told my mom in 1988, "Ma'am, I have to say, you look outstanding in this car!", with a big cheesy smile that followed. To this day I remember how cringy that felt.
However, if you are good with people, look forward to meeting new people, are highly goal-driven, and like to get out of the house - consider looking at positions in technical sales. Consider your personality as you think about this. It's not a fit for everyone.
In my experience, engineering schools don't expose people to technical sales career options. Many technical sales people I know found it by chance while browsing their school's career fair. My neighbor, an Electrical Engineer by degree, met GE plastics at a career fair. He replaced his BMW 7-series with a Range Rover, both looked nice as I drive by in my Honda Odessey.
I feel I ended up in the right spot ultimately, but I wish I had understood this as an option earlier in life.
- Sales is a crucial skill to understand if you think you may want to start a business some day.
- It can be a higher compensation tract within engineering. And if you're really good at it compensation will far outpace a career in engineering design.
- If you are good you will be in high demand for life no matter how technology evolves. The skill set is more rare.
- Technical sales = solving problems. Customers need your expertise, creativity, solutions.
- It can provide a lot of variety in seeing different companies, applications, technology, people, etc.
- You can build close long-term relationships with those you help. Many times these relationships carry through job changes, and sometimes are true friendships.
- If you work at a company that sells products or engineering services, you often fall into supporting sales anyway. But if you're officially in a sales role you may get additional compensation for it.
- You prefer to work on one or two projects, in high detail. You don't deal with sudden schedule changes / disruption well.
- You prefer to work in-office (or in-home) most days.
- To be *good* at it you have to work more, be more flexible on schedule, and regularly attend meetings, shows, events that fall outside of a Mon-Fri, 8 to 5 schedule.
- You likely have to hustle more for several years to learn the solution you sell, build relationships, and credibility before said rewards are reaped.
- Metric based goals are not motivating to you. Technical sales is more than this but there are always numbers to meet.
- If spending time with new people frequently feels exhausting. If you don't like using the phone (for phone calls, haha).
- You don't like driving. Much can be done remote but getting face-to-face is much more effective.
Integrity in Action
10 个月Indeed, but it comes with risks. I just had dinner with another colleague in engineering. He is a mechanical and complained about salary and career stagnation. He's never been laid off in 20 years (worked at only two companies) but also he's not financially where he'd thought he would be. Sales can certainly catapult you into new frontiers but it's feast and famine. Two words, Gilead SD. Nuff'said.
Marketing and Communications Manager at E Tech Group | Expertise in establishing consistent brand identity, graphic design, and B2B digital marketing strategies for websites and social media.
1 年Great post Chris! Thanks for sharing your perspective and insight!
Vice President of Marketing at E Tech Group | B2B Marketing | Corporate Communications | Industrial Automation | Industry 4.0
1 年Laurie Cavanaugh great post from Chris!
Founder at SCADAmatic
1 年Very well said! I agree completely that the salary growth opportunities for engineering mindsets are higher in technical sales than pure engineering design. Ultimately, you’ve got to do what makes you happy. If you’re an engineer that’s good with people, put some serious thought into technical sales.