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OT: Need Career Advice - Engineering to Sales (LONG) Posted by Randy Thatcher [Email]  (#22)  [Profile/Gallery]
(more from Randy Thatcher) on Wed, 18 Aug 2004 02:17:41
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You Saabnet folks have always been really good at giving advice, so here's my situation. I'm looking at a potential career move and there are some pros and cons. Perhaps you can help me with some feedback. I'd stick with the same company, but from the services organization to sales. A few people have approached me because they think I'm perfect for the job. I have to send my resume and go through an interview or 2. I don't know if anyone else is up for the job, but I have a feeling it's mine for the taking.
Current Job: I do pre-sales engineering and project engineering/project management on systems that automate and/or improve quality at car plants. Call me a I.S./systems integration/MES consultant who also does proposals and pre-sales. I'm in the systems integration group at my company, and the main base for this operation is in Cleveland. My primary customer is Toyota, and my territory is California, Mexico, and China. My boss (and most of the team) is in Cleveland, and I work in our San Francisco bay area office. I love what I do, but deserve quite a bit more money.
Possible new gig: Switch from services to sales. Pre-sales support / engagement management role responsible from central CA up to Seattle. Alaska will also be in the territory. I'll be responsible for qualifying systems inquiries, doing proposals, and closing orders. I will do a little automotive, but also life sciences, petro-chem, pulp/paper, food /bev, and material handling accounts. Pretty much any industry on the west coast.
FYI, I'll be putting my wife through optometry school soon. In 5 years she'll start an optometry practice and I'll help her out with it. So in 5 years I plan to be out of the rat race.
Some pros/cons & other considerations
Salary
Current - So-so, straight salary. I'm getting by, but not much spare cash.
New gig - 60% base / 40% based on quota. Don't know new base or target. Need more info.
Boss
Current - Great boss, very good relationship, high mutual respect. He's 2000+ miles away, and all he cares about is the job getting done right, on time, and on budget. How I do it is not his concern, he trusts my style based on experience.
New gig - I don't think he is that good, and I don't have a ton of respect. Nice enough guy, but overall opinions say "clueless". Don't know his management style. No one can figure out what he actually does.
Travel
Current - 35-50%. SF, LA, San Diego, Mexico, Texas, and all over China. Some weekends (when in China)
New gig - 60-75%. Central/Nor Cal, Oregon, Washington, Alaska (no weekends?)
Pressures
Current - Not too bad, just the same as the past few years.
New gig - sales quota, large ramp-up to train the distributor network, close orders (perhaps without help of main sales guys)
Stability
Current - My boss always has my back. I would really have to mess up to even get a lecture
New gig - Position is result of layoffs clearing out other folks. They may re-org again in a year or 2.
Flexibility
Current - I have flex time, work at home a lot, call my own shots, set goals and travel schedule. Boss is 2000 miles away
New gig - I'll have less flexibility, but still more than 95% of most people in America.
Politics
Current - Small group of people to play political games
New gig - 15 distribution companies, 2 branch managers and sales offices, and all the services folks to please.
Growth
Current - I'm up for a double promotion early next year. Same industry, same team, though.
New gig - Experience in sales organization. Learn industries, new geography, new applications, new technology. Many people in my company say you must do sales at some point to rise to the top.
Peers
Current - Team of about 20. About 16 of 'em are A+, with a C and D guy or 2 in there.
New gig - Boss - does nothing. Peer, Fully Buzzword Compliant blowhard. No experience implementing the systems he'll be working to sell.
Tasks
Current - Automotive industry only. Pre & post sales engineering. I enjoy the heck out of it, though.
New gig - All west coast/Alaska heavy industry, Pre Sales / Closing only. Presentations, proposals, etc.
Visibility within the company
Current - Low/moderate
New gig - High
Risk
Current - Low
New gig - Medium/High
Status
Current - I'm regarded as an expert
New gig - mid-level, lot of learning to do
Expenses
Current - No questions asked. I enjoy many nice dinners and drinks with customers.
New gig - unknown, but probably tightly monitored
Customer Relationship
Current - Long term, I've known many for 8 years. I've worked with the same guys from USA, Japan, and Canada in USA, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia.
New gig - Wine/dine and make a sale, then move on to the next customer.
I need to do the following:
1. Get info on the new pay structure, the quota, and detailed historical sales data. Meaning, how realistic is hitting the quota, and what can I expect to earn.
2. Talk to my current boss. Get his advice and "blessing" if I want to move jobs.
Something an old boss of mine said (he's moved to sales and rocketed up in the company) about these decisions... "If you weigh out the pros and cons, and the ONLY reason to move is more money, it's probably not worth it."
He also says working for a boss you don't respect gets old fast.
But, he said a move to sales, and the increase in breadth of my experience can only help my career out.
Any advice on what to consider?
Randy
posted by 208.57.14...
, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 02:17:41 <-- Viewing This Message
, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 19:22:51
, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 16:54:18, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 11:19:25
, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 09:32:52
, Wed, 18 Aug 2004 06:21:22
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