Sales to Procurement Career Change?

Sales to Procurement Career Change?

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SKP555

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

125 months

Wednesday 27th August 2014
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Sorry to post two threads in as many days, but this one is much more specific than yesterday's self pity fest!

Has anyone made the switch from sales to procurement? Did it work out? How did you go about it? What qualifications did you get in advance?

And just as importantly, anyone done it and it hasn't worked out?

Any and all info gratefully received.

edc

9,231 posts

250 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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An entry level start to CIPS might help you get through the initial CV sift stage and show your ambition to progress within this profession. You will have some of the soft skills needed, just from the other side of the table. My Purchasing Manager was a salesman at the beginning of his career.

Tim330

1,125 posts

211 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
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A wave goodbye to commission! I don't get a % of any savings. Which industry are you looking at entering?

SKP555

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

125 months

Thursday 28th August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks edc, good to know.

Tim, Oil & Gas appeals as it seems like an industry that pays well, and I've sold into before so have some knowledge of. I would consider most things to get a foot in the door though. Or is it better to specialise from day one?

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Crossed the fence about 15years ago in the FMGC sector if that's any relevance..

Did it within the same company, initially as a secondment, not a requirement but studied for my CIPS which these days is a requirment of most procurement teams.

As for the differences;
- greater involvment in the organisations development
- able to make a real difference to the companies profits
- no commission but higher basic more than covered the loss of commission
- the "negotiation" side of the role is only a very small part of it

SKP555

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

125 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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Interesting Marcellus. How easy/hard did you find it to stay motivated when there was no commission?

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
swerni said:
That says a lot for your lack of sales skills wink
On average what's the difference in total package value between a Sales Director and a Procurement Director?



Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
SKP555 said:
Interesting Marcellus. How easy/hard did you find it to stay motivated when there was no commission?
If money is your only motivation then the salary covered that, you may get snipes from "Steve the photocopier salesman" (whistle) but reality is the actual total earnings of top level professionals in FMCG sales, procurement, marketing, finance etc etc etc are pretty similar.

SO there are different was that motivate you, in sales you're told to go and get new business, or go grow this account so off you trot and do that, and if you do it well you get rewarded. In procurement you get told to "go and make us some real money we can add to the bottom line".

Real life examples;

OK so I was in FMCG, In sales if I won a major contract yes I'd earn my commission, the company would earn say £1m and make netto netto £100,000.

In procurement I deliver a saving of £0.001 per unit, company buys 1bn units so company increases profit by £1m. My salary is reflective of the me increasing profit by £1m each year not just for the duration of the supply contract.

Coupled with whilst you don't have commission as such you do have bonus' for good performance but in procurement they tend to be annual bonus for a smaller percentage so there's still targets to aim for.