Next Career Move- Sales or Design? 1

[ERSMechE]

So I'm 27 and am coming up on 3 years at my current job, which is my 2nd career job. I've been working for almost 5 years total for two recognizable companies. Right now I have a slew of responsibilities including, CAD design, Manufacturing support, but all too much of the time I feel I spend what I like to call "garbage work" in my cubicle. I've been considering where I would like to go with my career and am kind of split between trying to do more design work, or possibly get into technical sales. Seems like it could be something I'd be into, I like to be up and active, travel, and people have told me I've got the personality for it. Can anyone offer any insight into how sales has affected their career? Or perhaps have a better reason for honing in my design skills?

 

[EngineerErrant]

If you've got the chops to do sales, I'd go that route. Engineers are notoriously introverted by nature, and sales guys are frequently yes-men who just ferry information back and forth between engineering and the customer, with varying degrees of accuracy/omission. Having a sales guy who knows his stuff on a technical level is gold, and I wish there were more of them. Also, it's definitely the type of job for someone who likes to be out & about.

And, of course, there's a lot of money to be made in sales. If that's your thing.

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems." -Scott Adams

 

[TheTick]

I have never seen anyone move from sales back to design. Looks like a one-way door.

 

[ERSMechE]

I'm mostly interested in being satisfied with my work and work environment but of course I want to get paid a fair salary as well. I would say I am more extroverted than most engineers, but may need to work on my skills a bit. I think it could come easier with a bit of experience and practice. One thing I worry about is compromising my morals. I'm an honost man and cannot tell an outright lie to someone. Salesmen seem to have a reputation for being sleazy, but I figure engineering sales isn't exactly used car sales. My idea is that I would basically be there to communicate to the customer what solutions/products we have to best fit their needs and see if we could offer a deal. Does that sound right or am I being naive. I really don't want to be on a slippery slope.

As far as sales being a one way door, would you say people don't ever come back because the like it? Or more like they don't ever come back because they can't?

 

[TheTick]

Dunno. Just never seen it.

I would postulate that most hiring managers don't consider sales-types to be design caliber.

 

[ERSMechE]

Hmm, I see, well I kinda see myself at a point where I could go either way if I worked on it. I wasn't exactly the best academic in college but I do have an BSME from a top 10 Engineering school. Where do you see sales guys going as they move up the chain? I've heard its a good ticket to management.

 

[EngineerErrant]

Sales guys aren't all sleaze. For honest salesmen, it's not about lying, it's about discovering what their customers need, supplying it, and helping them make it work. A good sale doesn't require you to lie, lean on your customer, or tell them what they want to hear, it requires familiarizing yourself with their application & using your extensive knowledge of specific products/services to get them what they need. As an engineer, you're uniquely positioned to provide that service; you understand vocabulary & concepts that many sales guys will just gloss over to push their product.

You can also think of companies who have products you like to work with, so you can sell stuff you know is good.

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems." -Scott Adams

 

[ERSMechE]

EngineerErrant- I like your response. A solid, honost approach to selling a product you believe in.

 

[TheTick]

Top 10 school, eh? Yyyyyeaah. Sales for you.

 

[lacajun]

Eric90, I moved from engineering to marketing, after 18 years of plant work. It was a nice change of pace. They wanted someone with different experience to go in a different direction. I've seen sales people move long before engineers because they have the visibility.

ErrantEngineer is spot on, too. Engineers love working with sales/marketing types that are engineers and engineers with experience is even better for them.

However, there are some companies that are not the most honest so you'll need to do your homework and not get caught in one of them.

Being out and about is nice and you'll learn the world is a very dynamic place. Yet, the technical work is nice, too. Many sales peoples cannot return to engineering because you lose your skills or get really rusty.

Some days, if I had envisioned getting laid off by Micro Motion, I would have stayed with Marathon Petroleum and remained on projects. Most days, I enjoy where I am. ;-)

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[ERSMechE]

TheTick- Not sure what is meant by that, can you explain?

Lacajun- That is my one fear that I will lose my technical edge. But the allure of getting out and seeing the world really appeals to me. Do you spend much time out with clients? Are deals really made of the golf course? My golf game sucks but I'm working on it, I love to fish, ski/snowboard, bike, offroad, dine, whatever, I'm into a bunch of stuff. Something for everyone..

 

[lacajun]

Eric90, traveling is good and broadens horizons. However, work travel is much different than leisure travel. Many times, you'll see nothing but the airports, cars, plants, hotels and conference centers. You'll meet people from all over but no one that you'll be particularly close to or "do life with" on an ongoing basis. You'll be working primarily alone with remote support.

I've spent quite a bit of time out with clients, colleagues, and sales people. Customers are the reason you make money, i.e., they have problems you can help solve. Relationships take time to develop. You have to "sell" them on you and that you're stable, know what you're doing, and you're genuinely interested in helping them succeed. It's about them, not you.

I've never made a deal on a golf course because I don't golf. I've heard of that many times though. More often than not, internal deals are made en masse during status reviews of the project list. You'll do a lot of different things to entertain others because people have different hobbies. From my experience, the cushier gigs go to the more senior people.

You'll be pushed to meet quotas as never before whether the customer has the money to spend or not. It can be a real tough spot. It's not easy and sometimes can be exhausting in ways engineering is not. When it's exhausting, you cannot stop because you're in front of the customer.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[TheTick]

There's people who brag about how they did in school, then there's people who brag about how good there school is. Not much use for either.

 

[ERSMechE]

TheTick- I'm sorry if I came off as braggatory, I was simply trying to state that I have a degree from a reputable university. I do have to disagree with you to some extent, in that when looking for employment right out of school or early in one's career, many employers do consider where candidates when to school and have GPA requirements.

 

[TheTick]

"Brag" is a strong word. Probably just me, but people who talk about school rankings set off alarms for me. Didn't mean to sound too negative.

 

[ERSMechE]

Haha no problem, I will choose my words more carefully next time. Regardless, you must have made that statement for some reason. Have you found many salespeople to be highly egotistical? That's not a personality characteristic I am typically a fan of.

 

[EngineerErrant]

I've got the same stigma as TheTick, and it has nothing to do with salespeople. "I graduated from a top 10 school" is to engineering ability as "I own my own Stratocaster" is to musical prowess - the statement shows a fundamental lack of understanding as to what makes someone successful in that discipline.

I graduated from a top 10 school with some people I wouldn't trust to calculate the tip.

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems." -Scott Adams

 

[fast4door]

Eric,

I haven't done sales myself, but a few thoughts.

1. Integrity is your number one asset regardless of your field. Dishonest, pressure salesmen don't get repeat customers.
2. It seems you have a stereotypical image of a salesperson in your head. Sales is just about helping people with a problem. The days of used-car salesmen are gone. As far as making sales on a golf course, that will depend on your product and your style. As far as travel, that will depend on the product also, but the vendors I've dealt with who sell seals, fasteners, bearings (I live in Minnesota) have territories that cover the upper midwest, so you're travelling from Montana to Chicago. Not particularly glamorous.

Maybe, instead of a wholesale career change, you could try it part-time at first? Take a part-time job selling appliances or cars on nights and weekends and see if you like it. You may find your income skyrockets and you don't need the day job.

 

[lacajun]

I attended a conference this week and was reminded many times that a good reputation is key.

Eric, you didn't appear to be gloating or bragging about graduating from a Top 10 school. School does matter but there are plenty of all kinds of people at all schools. One of my Top 10 friends freely admits that his peers at university were much brighter than he was. He's a great guy, too, and will do anything he can for you. He isn't arrogant at all about his alma mater. A friend from my undergrad alma mater is bright enough to have gone to a Top 10 school but he would never admit it. Never be ashamed of your valid accomplishments or privileges in life but utilize them to advance mankind. In that way, you'll advance yourself and in ways you didn't anticipate.

Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC

 

[Forensic74]

Eric,
I've seen a few mechanical engineers go the sales route and they haven't looked back. The pay is too good. They're all down to earth guys who know what they're selling and that's what makes them good. Not the ability to play golf or drink beer with the client. Just realize that travel at this point in you life may not be as big of a deal as, say when you're 40 and have a family.

and don't worry about the ridiculous comments regarding schools. I know what you were getting at and it had nothing to do with bragging. I think the post counts of some of the people on here can give you an indication of the type of people they are.