How young is too young to be a sales manager?

[crofty1984]

OK, I've been a sales engineer/proposal manager for nearly 4 years now, (Also worked in a shop for 3 years, hey -it's still sales!) I've lived in 3 different countries, led a team of engineers/estimators, represented the company in front of clients on my own and chaired meetings. So I like to think I have squeezed in quite a bit of experience.
I'd like to move up the ladder when I get back to the UK, my target is to earn 30k+, which I think is realistic. My only problem is I'm 25. I don't know if that would be a problem. Would it be? Can you leave your DOB off a CV?

[Engineer1]

you can leave your age and date of birth off but, chances are if they care about age they will calculate it based on graduation date then experience. Graduate on average 21-22, then add experiance to it.

[crofty1984]

Engineer1 said:

you can leave your age and date of birth off but, chances are if they care about age they will calculate it based on graduation date then experience. Graduate on average 21-22, then add experiance to it.

A very valid point! I'll not bother taking it off then. Looks better that way.

About the main Question, any ideas?

[Goochie]

Where in the UK will you be looking for this job?

[Engineer1]

What's the industry how old and established is it? I would have thought the minimum age really is mid 20's assuming a graduate job purely because you need time to practice the skills gained in Uni. But it will be down to who applies and what they think of you, finally what is the structure? salesman, sales manager, senior sales manager, etc after all a job title is easy to make up it's the responsibilities that come with it that count

[AJS-]

Nothing like too young. The only problem you might have is if you are asked to manage a team with much older people who might resent it. In my experience that's not very likely, but it does happen.

Look out for a young company and you'll be finem and probably have more fun anyway.

[crofty1984]

Goochie said:

Where in the UK will you be looking for this job?

Preferably Yorkshire. I'd like to be able to live in Leeds and commute for less than an hour. Though at first I'll be in Retford (That's where the 'rents live).

I'll be trying that area first, but If I have no joy for a couple of months then I don't mind moving somewhere. I'd rather it wasn't London or REALLY out in the sticks though.

EDIT: It would most likely be the engineering industry (Used to sell boilers to power station projects) Though if something automotive came along that would be fantastic.

Edited by crofty1984 on Saturday 24th October 12:54

[crofty1984]

musclecarmad said:

25 isn't that young any more mate - certainly not if you are a sales manager. seems like you are trying to justify it to yourself - the only question is, will you have a problem if the people you manage are in their fifties etc

Thanks for the reminder, I'm getting older and I'm going to die! I have no problem asking older people than me to do things, I do that in my job now. Thanks for the replies everyone. My worry was trying for these jobs and instantly getting dismissed due to my age, wasting my time. Seems that's not the case. Woo!

[Deva Link]

It very weird how you think you're too young but then it suddenly seems to flip and you're too old!

However it's probably pretty difficult to come into a fairly staid industry at a senior level when you're relatively young. A hi-tech job would would have been easier a few years ago but that industry is very much off the boil now.