Burnt Out in Sales what can I pivot to and HOW?

Question

I've spent 35 years selling technology and I've hit a wall.  I'd like to pivot to Marketing or Training or even recruiting but can't seem to get a foot in the door, or I'm convinced to apply for another soul-sucking sales role.  If I have to cold call on another client - i just can't do it.  I'm 4-5 years away from retirement and I need to either take 1 more job that I hate, retire much more simply that I'd prefer early or take a role somewhere, where someone is willing to take a chance on me.

Kristin Greene · Answer

Don't give up yet!  I'm doing some research into corporate learning and it is absolutely booming!  I'm wondering if you could get a role teaching sales to others since you have such a background in it.  You could either join a corporate and create training and mentoring or you could look at training firms and see if you could create sales training to sell.   Might be worth it!

Jackie Ruka · Answer

I agree with Emily, if you have sales then why not sell YOU, Create your personal brand and teach sales or something you enjoy doing with a group who wants to learn from you. Get back your passions and thrive vs. looking at your current situation as a bridge to another tired, burned out version. I helped a friend who is great at sales put a marketing plan together and sell it to a biz that he worked for before, they loved it so much that they hired him to teach their sales people and he landed a contract with them. Think bigger and out of the box. The world is more abundant than you realize and you have content that provides a purpose for your next chapter.

Emily Otto · Answer

I super duper dislike these options! How do we get you doing something you love, and, not hoping for the 4-5 years to go by quickly? Gah! What if you had a side hustle or gig, would that be enough to make you feel fulfilled and happy while working sales? Can you do sales for a company that's more aligned with your values and the work you care about in the world? Tell me more!

Suzanne Taylor · Answer

I recently worked with a client in a similar situation as you, and they were looking to pivot into in-house analyst/consulting roles. Job titles included Sales Analyst, Market Analyst, and Business Consultant.

Breanna Fountain · Answer

can you pivot within your company?

Lynne Cogan · Answer

Question 1: What is your job-search strategy; how have you been pursuing your new career? For instance: Are you exclusively applying on line? What does your resume look like? Are you networking? How are you choosing the companies you are applying to? How much research are you doing into those companies?

Question 2: Are you open to self-employment? If you have been selling successfully for 35 years, you could teach others how to do it. Figure that like with the last recession, almost all sales jobs will be commission only. These were among the first  jobs available back then and probably will be again, since businesses will be wanting sales--mega sales. If people want to make money at it, they will need training. You could create a blog, write a book, develop a course, coach one-on-one or in groups--whatever format you prefer. (FYI: Some of these possibilities would continue providing you with an income even after you get a job.)

Question 3: In addition to sales, what are you qualified to teach/train others to do?

Michelle Cranston · Answer

Network! I didn't realise that my neighbour was in the same field as me! I'm moving more towards data from Marketing - a chance conversation with the Dean at the University has led me to mentoring his students with my marketing experience and in return I've joined the Master's programme. Good luck!

Angelica Tara · Answer

Seems we are in different countries. But from what I can make out a linkedin profile will surely help. All those years in B2B my dear - so write an article, make a presentation, post it all and then apply for marketing job. I want to see you in a kickass mode now!

Burnt Out in Sales what can I pivot to and HOW?

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