I have managed to do my job so effectively that I have been told I will probably never be promoted. I am a sales rep for a large Fortune 500 company and have been here the last 6 years. I have been a sales rep my entire life since graduating college in 98.

The goal all along was to make as much money as I can until I hit 30, and then get into sales management (which is my true passion). Well, I'm 33 now and as long as I stay with these guys, I know that will never happen. My boss wanted to promote me twice in those 6 years, both times his boss told him no. Which really irks me because his boss (our VP of Sales) is never at our office anyways. So the last 2 managers positions to open, have both been filled by external candidates. That just screams "no chance of moving up" to me and every other rep in my department.

The pluses with my current position:
1. Pay is great
2. Benefits are great
3. Casual work environment (jeans, shorts, t-shirts)
4. Because I am a top performer, all expense paid trips to Cabo, Costa Rica, Barbados, etc...) around once a year

The minuses:
1. I'm stuck, the one thing I always wanted to do was management and I have been more or less told that won't happen.
2. Phone Sales - although it's B2B (business to business), it's still phone sales
3. Low base Salary - 80% of my annual income is commission based, 90% of my sales come from cold calling. So if you miss a month, you could really be hurting.
4. I am often used in a training capacity for new hires. I am asked to sit in on Interviews, have the new hire sit in on my calls and demos, I am always the guy everyone comes to for any questions, and it can be very time consuming.

Other (neither + or -) :
1. I work from home 2 days a week, but have to drive 154 miles round trip the 3 days I go into the office.
2. I was one of 6 reps when I started, we now have 48 people in my position and the still adding a bunch more (good company growth and job security because I am at the top, but also a ton of internal competition)...

So, my question to you guys are, if you know you are in a position that has NO GROWTH POTENTIAL, weighing the pluses and minuses I just listed, would you look for another job? I know I can find another sales job, that's not the issue. I am just wondering if I should start over at a new company and prove myself with the hopes of getting promoted, or just ride this out. Because there is so much unemployed talent right now, no one would hire me as a sales manager when they can get someone else with more management experience. Again our last 2 sales managers have been external hires (which sends a signal to every rep that they will always be a rep). And my manager who I consider a very good friend, has told me this as well, so I can make an informed decission.

Finally, the wife is supportive of me leaving, actually encourages it to some point. She thinks I've been screwed over too many times here. However, she stays at home with the our 5 year old daughter and 2 year old son. So, if I was to leave, failure really isn't an option for us, it's not like I can count on her income to hold us over. We have savings and stuff, I just don't want to deplete it. And no, I would never quit this job before finding a new one.

Thoughts???

 

Tough call. I wouldn't want to be without a job in this economy so don't just up and quit. If your not satisfied then it probably is time you should look elsewhere. However, I would not tip of your current company that you are looking around. Just put your resume out there and see what interviews you can get. You never know what might happen?

 

Interesting dilemna, and getting 'stuck' is actually fairly common for high acheivers who start out in a big company at a young age. You get locked in to fixed raises, etc... and never bumped up to the pay or role you would get if you came in from another company with similar experience.

In my experience, some in management will always just think of you how you were at the time you were hired - in your case as the kid salesman, fresh out of college, lol. And some in managemnet may be worried about you as a threat if you do cross over. The ones in management who want to see you get promoted are probabaly outnumbered by the other two views, and they know it, so they are not pushing for your promotion, either.

Often, the only way to get the opportunities you have earned at your existing company is to leave (on good terms) for a management job at another company, then come back to the original employer a few years later (at a higher level).

Sometimes a change of pace is very invigorating and worth doing, especially if you don't take a pay hit.

IMO, to prevent the 'stuck' situation from happening again, climb as high as you can the first 6 months at any new job. That will target you as a mover, rather than lock you in at the job you got hired for.

OTOH, it's tough times out there right now, and a top salesman is often one of the best paid and most valued members of a company. So unless you are really unhappy, I'd be a little cautious before pulling the trigger on any major career moves.

 

I think I would ride it out a bit longer if I were you. As others have mentioned, times are tough so I wouldn't want to start new in these times, especially since you have seniority at your current position. However, I don't think there is anything wrong with looking around and even going on a few interviews when you have time. I think it's one of those things where you have to go with your gut and talk it over with your wife if you feel right about something else. Good luck man.

 

Thanks, good advice. I was hired in at the top sales tier (3 levels) when I started and finished #1 my first year. Hate to say it, but I actually think that did more harm than good (from a promotion standpoint). Every year after that, I finished 2nd or 3rd, never any lower. I have sent out the resume for a few Mgmt positions at different companies, but again my lack of experience crushed any hopes of that. Both companies offered me a sales rep position. The resume is on Monster but the only hits I get are for new sales rep positions, no openings for managers. So, I guess I can either suck it up and stay here as a top performer, or start as a rep again in a new company and hopefully work my way up. And if those are my only 2 choices, I guess I would probably just stay where I'm at. No sense in building a client base again when I have one already and taking a pay cut for at least my first year (because that is more than likely what would happen).

I just hope things pick up again and I can find something closer to home with some personal growth potential, because this position is neither. And being in Michigan and faced with a 15% unemployment rate, that doesn't look likely anytime soon.

 

I guess I'm different b/c I would be looking. I hate to be in a position where I feel like someone's stopping me from moving forward/up.

 

One way I look at it is pay is commensurate with responsibilty.



If they are giving you responsibility to assist in training, maybe that could be worked into a small salary bump and a title change or addition to your current title. Basically, for taking on this responsibility, you can be paid with $ or prestige (title).

You have a good argument for additional compensation, especially if training others is slowing you down on your own sales. A title change/upgrade without a pay increase is cheap for your company, but might give you the entry to the management jobs at other companies. And it separates you from the herd when it does come time to pull someone from the sales force into management.

It can be hard to get a little $ bump or well deserved title/promotion when a company or the economy is down, but smart managers know they need to to keep their top people motivated. Hopefully, they can find a way.

BTW. they might want to keep any bump/raise/title change on the downlow if the company is struggling or laying people off (as you getting special treatment might be discouraging to other folks). So if your boss/his boss want to keep any extra motivation to you all hush hush, let them know it will be your little secret.

 

You will have to switch companies to move up any further. A lot of companies are taking advantage of the current economy with their employees. They expect you to stay and keep doing what your doing. I would keep your eyes open for a better opportunity and take it when it comes along. If you can't walk into a management gig at another company make sure they know that is what your after down the road. It may cost you a few interviews but there is no point in switching companies to end up in the same position you are in now. If you are as good a salesman as you say you are there is still a few jobs out there. Really good ones are hard to find.

 

 

Exactly what I feel like. Thanks for the laugh.

 

Anytime.

Ive never worked in an office oilfield and the marine corps is all i know. so I cant really tell you what to do but if you get to stay at home two days a week and free trips to those places that sounds like a kick **** place to be. so what if your not going up right now, people look up to you as the goto guy i would just kick it there

unless you have to do TPS reports then id tear apart your cubical lol

 

Just some input that might be a little different. At a past job, I was a high-achieving sales person who made the move into sales management. For me it was a terrible move, as I truly believe the personality that makes someone a great salesperson can often make them a lousy sales manager.

While it was easy for me to get myself motivated when I was in sales, I absolutely hated trying to get others to work as hard as I was willing to work. I was always frustrated by the fact that others could seemingly accept mediocre performance and results when I knew they could do better if they merely applied themselves more diligently. And don't fool yourself about the "carrot" of a big paycheck -- I have found money to be a relatively poor motivator for most folks.

The job I have now is as close to being self-employed as you can get without actually being so. I work for a large company, have a very hands off boss who knows I deliver and he merely gets out of my way on most days and lets me do what I need to within my assigned territory. Having been both places, all I can say is that you would have to offer me one "helluva" lot of money to move back into a managerial role.

It sounds as if you have a pretty sweet gig -- make sure you're not suffering from a case of the "grass looking greener on the other side of the fence"......

 

I'd suggest talking with a head hunter about the POSSIBILITY of changing companies. I wouldn't take a resume with me as you want to TALK about it first. They can tell you if there is opportunity out there waiting for you. The fact that you've posted this here means yer toast at the company you work at. You need to to find the right place for you to be happy with your work and pay. I've been there, done that. Sometimes you have to trade down to move up. Are you in the situation where that's an option? If so, quit being unhappy 8-10 hours a day and find where you will be happy. But like you said, don't bail until you have a place to go. FWIW, if you are not happy at work, it will soon start to come home with you....I guarantee it.

 

Thanks guys. I think I just have to man up and take it, especially with the way things are in Michigan right now anyway. I could just see myself taking another position at a different company and regretting it. I don't mind the job now, it's just played out. 10 years of phone sales is finally getting under my skin a little.

I'm gald you responded, I was hoping someone with Sale Management experience would. I wouldn't expect to make nearly what I made the last 6 years as a rep if I did make a move into management. As a matter of fact, I have consistently made more money than both my current managers and my director. I would hope with most sales comp structures that the top reps make more than their managers.

For me, it's not about the money anymore, it's about the challenge. My position just isn't challenging enough for me. All things considered it is a good gig, borderline great gig when compared to everyone else's situation in this state right now, but I am just feeling burnt out a little. Anyone who has set life goals wants to achieve them. The first one was to make 6 figures by the time I was 27. I hit that one. The next was to get into Management by the time I was 30, obviously that one was a miss. Oh well, I hope to retire by the time my 2 year old leaves for college (I should be about 50 then). I guess we'll see what happens with that. But I hear you, it is just frustrating because I pretty much do what a manager does now and I still have a full quota. Meanwhile, I report to 2 guys who don't have a clue about our systems or products, yet they were managers before so they must be better than me for those positions.

Sorry for the rant everyone, this has just been on my mind for a while.

 

Honestly, Sounds crazy, from my POV, if you're willing to give up the trips, maybe opening you're own business (And taking a few of those customers) might be an idea.


FYI, Men's Health has an article this month on doing this and who it is right for. check it out.