From B2C to B2B?

[Busterhighmen]

Hi, a bit of background. I'm currently 20, have been in the same company for 2.5 years and have worked my way up as far as I can go. Not just financially, but I don't think I can learn anything more from staying here. We are a company that relies on telesales (sore subject I know), and I started from the bottom calling the general public and offering household services etc.. I now sit 2nd in the company (company size is 20>) and like I said can't see any more progress for myself or the company.

I have no qualifications as such, I left school at 16 as I hated it and have worked ever since. Though I passed all my GCSEs with As and Bs in most.

I like to think I am extremely good at sales, and want to continue on this path. I have always wanted to get into face to face sales, high pressure, where you have to build a rapport with the people you are dealing with. But where do I go next? What's my best route into it?

I have a professionally written CV. I am quite happy to commute, or move anywhere for the right job. I currently work 9-7 and every other Saturday, so I'm not scared to work hard or of long hours. I just need to find somewhere, where I can get my foot in the door.

Any suggestions, or advice would be much appreciated.

[StevieBee]

Most B2B sales roles require in depth product knowledge, normally gained through years of providing the service that you now sell. A good starting off point might be in something generic like stationery sales. It sounds a bit dull but will expose you to other sectors that you might end up being better at such as business machines, photocopies, equipment, phone systems, etc.

If you can sell, you can sell...but B2B is very tough but quite lucrative if you get it right.

Good luck

[P-Jay]

I did it at your age, took a job with one of the big banks as a Assistant Relationship Manager (far more assistant than manager) basically typing up reports, drafting documents and taking messages for the RM, took a few years to learn the skills and get an RM, but I was pretty happy with my lot and didn't really push. The really driven guys did it in 6 months to a year.

It sounds like a goffer job, and it is, but it paid a lot better than B2C did anyway, plus the hours were largely 9-5 M-F, I haven't worked a weekend in 15 years.

Starting money for a level 1 RM was 25k, a Polo Tdi and potentially 10% profit share and 50% performance related pay and that was 10 years ago. ARMs were on 22k with again with 10% PS and 15% PRP, but it was almost unheard of to get 15%. London paid about 20% more across the board.

[Vaud]

StevieBee said:

Most B2B sales roles require in depth product knowledge, normally gained through years of providing the service that you now sell. A good starting off point might be in something generic like stationery sales. It sounds a bit dull but will expose you to other sectors that you might end up being better at such as business machines, photocopies, equipment, phone systems, etc.

If you can sell, you can sell...but B2B is very tough but quite lucrative if you get it right.

Good luck

Selling is selling, "in depth" product knowledge is a myth in most industries, it's about having an effective network and effective selling.

IT resellers would be a good place, many time the client knows the product they want, they are trying to secure the best package, and the competitive analysis can be done on the weekend via google...

...but I'm a cynic.