Engineering Sales

College Majors Engineering Majors
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am currently a Chemical Engineering undergrad student. I am very interested in going into engineering sales after I graduate and get some work experience.</p>

<p>My concern is that chemical engineering is not the right engineering major for engineering sales, and that it might be more applicable to go electrical or mechanical. </p>

<p>Can you offer any insight as to whether or not I could go into engineering sales as a Chem E? If so, what type of sales exactly?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I had a ChemE friend that went into Sales (later he became a headhunter). Really, the type of degree will not matter, as what’s important is your ability to SALE. If you have the right sales skills, you’re going to be successful. </p>

<p>Of course, one of those sales skills, is the ability to understand your product, but that can be learned on the job.</p>

3

<p>Are you aware of the potential downsides to a career in sales? I don’t have any personal experience with sales, but I can imagine there will be a LOT of travel involved, and plenty of face-to-face interaction… political skills, powerpoints, etc. </p>

<p>Is that something you see yourself enjoying? Think long and hard about this because many engineers, including myself, would absolutely hate that type of work.</p>

4

<p>Yes, that’s exactly why I love the idea of working in sales. I enjoying engineering, but I love interacting with people (via conversations, presentations, etc.). I see engineering sales as a good opportunity to balance the two.</p>

5

<p>As a general rule, your marketability in technical/engineering sales is tied to your ability to understand and relate the details of your product. So as a ChemE you would be well suited to selling chemical products and tools, but would have a hard time getting a job selling jet engines, for example. I am not sure of the relative sales opportunities by discipline but I would not think that ChemE would preclude a good career.</p>

6

<p>Look into pharmaceutical / biotech sales. You obviously understand chemistry and those jobs pay very well.</p>