Getting a mid-level job way outside of field?: Off-topic discussion forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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June 14, 2011 4:15 p.m. PHeller Dork

I love the idea of working close to home.

Right across the street there is a company hiring an International Sale Regional Manager.

I have no experience in sales, or in the Clamp and Vice industry, but I do have a business background and understand international finance to some degree. More over, I've worked with a multitude of different cultures in a few long-term volunteer positions.

Basically...I'm unqualified.

But what interests me is the idea of getting a job I have virtually no experience in. Can it be done?
June 14, 2011 4:24 p.m. Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork

Well... a good salesman never let a few facts (or a whole heaping pile of them...) stand in the way. Go sell yourself to them. If you can make that first sale the rest should be easy.
June 14, 2011 5:08 p.m. PseudoSport Reader

I have an associate’s degree in high performance automotive technology and alternative fuels. Currently I’m working for State Street Bank and have been promoted a few times. I guess anything is possible. Give it a shot!
June 14, 2011 5:18 p.m. HiTempguy Dork

PseudoSport wrote:

I have an associate’s degree in high performance automotive technology and alternative fuels.

Do tell? I don't believe any thing of the sort is offered in Canada at any post secondary insitution...
June 14, 2011 5:32 p.m. Stealthtercel Reader

I second the idea of going after the job if you want it, qualifications or not, but... if they want an INTERNATIONAL Sales Regional Manager, wouldn't you have to travel a lot to wherever your international region was? That could kind of take the joy out of working across the street from home.
June 14, 2011 5:42 p.m. paul Reader

It can absolutely be done. A friend of mine went from his college schooling field of engineering, to chemical bulk storage, to pharmaceutical sales, to waste oil recycling managing/logistics, etc...

I asked him what frame of mine he'd use in interviews, he told me "just be convincing enough that you will absolutely excel at the position; great confidence without looking pompous, a natural achiever, 'although he doesn't have a extensive background in the field, this guy REALLY has his shet together!' etc"
June 14, 2011 6:05 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

why not? What do you have to lose by trying? Just give it your absolute best shot
June 14, 2011 6:27 p.m. akamcfly Reader

PHeller wrote: I have no experience in sales, or in the Clamp and Vice industry,

No you don't.

It's vise, by the way.
June 14, 2011 6:35 p.m. keethrax HalfDork

akamcfly wrote:

PHeller wrote: I have no experience in sales, or in the Clamp and Vice industry,

No you don't.

It's vise, by the way.

Not if the company is more interesting than we're figuring.
June 14, 2011 7:21 p.m. 93gsxturbo HalfDork

I work as a customer service manager and cost estimating manager and I never had any training in either position other than what I learned on the job and what I was able to figure out on my own. It helps that its at a foundry and I went to school for Metals Processing, Plastics Processing, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing, but never had a business class and was too busy hitting on girls in my Econ classes to pay attention. Of course if you saw my post in the savings thread, you would know that buy low/sell high and hustling (marketing?) come naturally to me.

Getting the job was the easy part. The hard part is doing it, but I get better every day.
June 14, 2011 8:41 p.m. John Brown SuperDork

keethrax wrote:

akamcfly wrote:

PHeller wrote: I have no experience in sales, or in the Clamp and Vice industry,

No you don't.

It's vise, by the way.

Not if the company is more interesting than we're figuring.

Nipple Clamp and Vice?
June 14, 2011 8:46 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

PHeller wrote:

I love the idea of working close to home.

Right across the street there is a company hiring an International Sale Regional Manager.

I have no experience in sales, or in the Clamp and Vice industry, but I do have a business background and understand international finance to some degree. More over, I've worked with a multitude of different cultures in a few long-term volunteer positions.

Basically...I'm unqualified.

But what interests me is the idea of getting a job I have virtually no experience in. Can it be done?

I'm not buying it.

Basically and as said, sell yourself, a BS artist is what they need, now just do a little research and go into the interview as if they owe it to themselves.