Psuedo job offer...am I ready? 5

[aspearin1]

I've been "invited" to share my openness to internal sales positions, (if said position were to arise.) The whole conversation was kept hypothetical, but there was undertones of action within the year. I never found myself in a sales role before, but management sees personality traits in me they apparently would like to put in the field, in the faces of the customers. My company is big into the DiSC profiling and Predictive Index. I'm wondering if anyone out there is familiar with these profiles, and what profiles are suited for technical sales. Like I said, I hadn't considered sales much before, but looking forward, I can't ignore the dollar signs associated with the move... as well as upward mobility.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[ivymike]

I dunno, if "likes to hear self talk" >> "dislikes being wrong" that would seem to fit the bill.

(joke)

 

[aspearin1]

Perfect! I'm there!

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[MikeHalloran]

If you want to demonstrate an interest in the job, and make a formal request in the way that's most appropriate for a sales person, you need to publicly respond:

"SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!"

... I am not kidding.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[cvg]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predictive_Index

 

[aspearin1]

Mike,
That's pretty much exactly how they put it to me... with words: "people get into sales, well... because we're greedy."

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[HgTX]

Your company called you greedy?

Hg

Eng-Tips policies: faq731-376

 

[aspearin1]

The sales director included himself in the greedy category... with all sales.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[MikeHalloran]

Within the sales community, the word 'greed' is not a pejorative.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[IRstuff]

Aaron,

Speaking of greedy, did you notice that your byline has "Six-S'$"

I assume that means that you're looking for a 6-ish figure compensation? ;-)

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[aspearin1]

Good call... Perhaps my inner $alesman is coming out.


Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[MedicineEng]

What you have to say is to an "hypothetical" job offer, you are "hypothethically" interested...
For me, I am always "hypothetically" interested in all"hypothetical" offers that can arise.
Be careful thouygh, if this is an internal transfer, how it would be viewed by your actual colleagues. The danger of being interested ina an hypothetical offer is that it might not turn out reality, and then your actual manager already knows that you are willing to move. Depends a lot on how the manager will take it, but it might backlash to you. So, be very political with these hypothetical"job offers.

 

[aspearin1]

MedicineEng,
That's pretty much what happened. It was a "casual" discussion in an empty boardroom while my boss was away. Hypothetically, I expressed an interest. As of an hour later, no one knows what may or may not have transpired. However, the interest comes from above my own boss, almost directly, so some rearrangement of resources may already be going on in the background. As of today, it's business as usual.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee

 

[rcooper]

Back in my days of managing people (now happily gone) one of the engineers working for me announced she had an offer to work overseas with the company. A bit cheesed off I had not been informed about this until it was all settled, I set about sorting out a replacement, stopped giving her new projects to start, tried to get her to focus on handing over and completing stuff. A couple of weeks later I asked her how it was all going, and she is suddenly not going after all. She is now redundant as I have another engineer available and she has no new projects to work on.

It turned out it was all idle talk by someone overseas. I had involved all the necessary people in the UK to ensure she had a smooth transition, and now felt completely stitched up. If she had come to me and said there was a postion overseas she wanted to apply for, I would have done everything in my power for her to get that position, but because she went behind my back I was left with egg on my face (possibly resenting it).

So my approach would be, bring it up with my own boss that there has been interest in you moving to another part of the company. Keep him fully involved. With any luck he will support you. Possibly mention that you couldn't have got where you are without his mentoring and guidance (flattery never hurt anyone).

 

[aspearin1]

rcooper,
Thank you for this perspective. I will be sure to keep my boss fully in the loop if there is any reality to this talk.

Aaron A. Spearin
ASQ CSSBB
Engineering Six-S'$

http://www.Engineering6ss.com

"The only constant in life is change." -Bruce Lee