The Journey: A Transition to Sales (A Teaser)
How one engineer moved from engineer to salesman
Paul was a good engineer. He had graduated from school and jumped into the world of product development with both feet. Paul enjoyed testing and developing new products, working alongside the technicians in the shop, and having a predictable schedule. Yet he felt that something was missing. There was little interaction with customers. Through a few conversations, he realized he wanted to get out of the product center and better understand customer needs firsthand. Sure, he worked with the product line managers and got a general sense of what customers were asking for, but it was secondhand at best. He made sure to mention his interest to his manager and during every advancement review. He also “knew” that his did not want to do sales. He was not a sales guy, Heck he barely played golf as it was. Paul knew there was more for him beyond just working in the product center. He thought this work would be in operations. One day, he told himself, the right opportunity would come.
This Journey will share the updates and downs of a sales professional as he moves through his career. If you know someone struggling with sales please share this with them.
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The Opportunity
Paul had been working in his current role for more than five years. He was hitting the point in his engineering career when titles started to slow drastically. Meaning the engineers ahead of him in title were 10, 15, or even 20 years with the company and only one or two title steps ahead of him. He knew that advancement would mean management or moving to operations. Operations would mean more 24hr on call type situations, but the operations facility was closer to his house anyways, so that could be nice. As Paul prepared for his next promotion presentation he really started to think hard about what he wanted. In his mind operations was the answers. Something that was still internal facing for the most part, but would interact with the customer a lot more. This promotion presentation would be one of his last. He prepped himself for the prevention knowing that the VP of the company would be in there and that it would be a great opportunity to continue to make his desires known.
He did and the presentation went really well. Promotion achieved! That was the good news. What happened the next week was a little less expected. Paul was on the phone with a vendor. It was getting to the end of the day and he was ready to go home. The Direct of engineering stopped by his office. Since Paul was on the phone he wrote on Paul’s whiteboard.
“Don’t leave good news, stop by Ryan’s Office” (Ryan being the VP).
Well that’s interesting, Paul thought.
Paul finished his call and headed to the VPs office. Where he walked into the VP, Engineering Director and head of HR.
Man, I hope I still have a job. Thought Paul.
The good news was he did and in fact this meeting was to offer him that operations role he had been wanting. At least he thought it was operations. The other kicker is it was not in the center closest to him but one much father away and closer to the end of the earth, at least it felt that way.
There’s no way the family will move out there. Paul thought. He also thought, Why are all the opportunities is terrible places. I knew something was up when they led with “we have a great opportunity for you”.
“I’ll have to talk to the family about this.” Said Paul.
“Not a Problem, take your time and let us know tomorrow.” The VP said. “We could really use some great people out there and it would be a great opportunity for you.”
Paul headed home to think about it and talk it over with his family…
Don’t forget that new posts for the journey will be coming out on Thursdays so subscribe now so you do not miss any of the Journey.