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Q: A choice to make
If you have several choices for the job offers.
One is to work as a sales to sell products you have experience.
One is to work as a sales manager to do sales and management for the products you are not familiar with.
Which job you will choose? And why?
The second one is more challenging and will widen your expertise.
the first one is same shit just different day
Do you have a gut feeling? One just feels better than the other? If you do, go with that.
Viki87:
My gut feeling is be a manager.
I can't be a sales all the time. I want to be a coach, not just a player
You've missed both mine and Phil's point Vicky.
We did not suggest the Manager position because it was a higher level than the Sale job.
We suggested it becasue it was products you are not familiar with and would be a challenge! It woudl also look better in future on your resume that you could move sideways between different product types in a management role.
Unfortunately your reply shows you aren't thinking like a Sales Manager in your reply.
Viki87:
True. 
A manager in diffrent industries are more secure than the manager only has been working in one industry.
Thank you
But also I saw many job ads States the candidates musthave xxx years products experience. Or someone has the product experience preferred.Hotwater:
Some jobs for Sales Managers will require experience in the products, especially specialized products. But if they say "preferred" then it means they will also consider people with the right skills and train them in the products.
Shining_brow:
Ask around... would people prefer to be a sales person, or a manager?
Should everyone be given the chance to manage? Hell no! Some seriously aren't cut out for it!!! No matter how much they would "prefer" to be the manager.
Good managers are necessary. Crap managers kill a company - dead!
Viki87:
Yeah, not everyone is given the chance. I got job offered for sales position already, nice paid base salary +commissions though and it's near my house in the city center. But the boss fired a lot of sales, lol. A bit risky for taking this offer so I put it waiting. And did pretty well for a sales manager interview this morning, but this place is far from the city, but I like the company, I'd like to go there still if I got offered at least 10000rmb to start. Still have many interviews waiting to be finished. Doing 2 interviews a day, so tired to fly around like a bird. Luckily the subway system here is so advanced and made it much easier to go around in the city in a fast pace. I got 9 interviews in one week. Shanghai has so many jobs
while the second role is more challenging and therefore more attractive no doubt due to the higher salary, do you have the skills and experience to do what the employer expects, or will you be constantly asking how to deal with a specific problem or issue, or having to ask specific product related questions all the time?
I know a sales manager used to dealing with (for example) cars can not transfer to being a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company or food industry because of the additional specialized knowledge required, and these are heavily regulated industries.
your question is vague and does not contain a lot of detail such as what the 'unfamiliar' products are the sales manager role would be looking after.
do you know absolutely nothing about the product and its specs. or are there any cross-overs from your previous job?
go for it by all means, but be prepared for failure if you can not adapt to the different product demands.
Better forewarned and go knowing that an employer will find out soon enough if you are able to produce they results they want.
Viki87:
I have many interviews to go for and already have job offer at hand.
Those new products in diffrent companies are led light, carpet, medical equipment, trolley case/bag.
Shining_brow:
"I know a sales manager used to dealing with (for example) cars can not transfer to being a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company or food industry because of the additional specialized knowledge required, and these are heavily regulated industries."
Unfortunately...
Happens all the time! Especially by bosses of companies who think that it's all the same thing!
I had this happen - an area manager of a stationery company took over as area manager of a petrol station company... yeah, smart move!
Viki87:
Why is it a smart move to transfer from a stationary company to petrol station company?
I don't think there's any connection.
I transferred from machinery to chemical, then it just took me a short time to master most of the basic chemical infos to start selling.
This one is easy. I will answer your question with a question...
Wouldn't you feel bad if you ended up with a horrible sales manager knowing that you would have done a much better job if you had the position?
Yes, then take the management position already.
Viki87:
I went to a company for the manager interview, the boss talked with me for a long time. And I also like this company. But he made me go back to wait. He told I can call him if I have any question. What does he mean?
I feel he likes my performance in the interview, but I asked a high salary. I am sure he can find a lot of applicants require lower salary. Unless he couldn't find sb he thinks better than me.
