YACCT: Sys Admin > Sales Engineer?

[Beer4Me]

<Yet Another Career Change Thread>
Currently, I've been the sole IT sys admin at my company for the past 8 mos. I don't like the direction my department (just me) is going in right now, the money is so-so, and honestly, I'm getting tired of being everybody's "go getter". So we're clear, my manager is in another department that my department falls under, so I have almost no control of what goes here. I'm thinking of leaving IT all together as a career. As a hobby or side jobs, it's okay, but just not sure, if I can do it all day anymore.

So we have a Sales Engineer position that has opened up here. Along with the potential for more $, I believe this path can take me to bigger, better things within the company ie growth.

Can anyone that has transitioned away from IT into say Sales/Marketing speak to their experience? Much appreciated.

 

[manlymatt83]

Funny. I know a ton of people who switched from Sales/Marketing TO IT/Tech, but not the other way around.

 

[Tweak155]

Sales Engineer is a lot of work (mainly due to all the traveling). I know a guy that does it and he is gone 30&#37; of the year probably.

 

[Zargon]

or you could miss a sales quota and get shitcanned

 

[BTA]

Sales Engineer just means you are good at lying.

 

[Saint Nick]

Sales Engineer? Really?

So you're the guy who goes around touting how good your product is, then, when it comes time to deliver, you have said nothing remotely similar to how the actual product works.

This is the issue with vendors these days...the market/sales do not talk to the IT folks...and so when the product is in it's early implementation/analysis stages, it isn't anything what the salesperson talked it up to be...

 

[spidey07]

Sales Engineer is one of the best jobs out there. Tons of money. Just work on your soft skills and you'll be fine. And learn to lie.

The traveling isn't bad at all depending on the company, you'll have a territory that you'll cover. My next job will likely be in sales because of all the money.

 

[Beer4Me]

Sales Engineer? Really?

So you're the guy who goes around touting how good your product is, then, when it comes time to deliver, you have said nothing remotely similar to how the actual product works.

This is the issue with vendors these days...the market/sales do not talk to the IT folks...and so when the product is in it's early implementation/analysis stages, it isn't anything what the salesperson talked it up to be...

I work for a small tech company. I support the employees, I do not support the products we sell - we have developers and a call center for that.

 

[Beer4Me]

Sales Engineer is one of the best jobs out there. Tons of money. Just work on your soft skills and you'll be fine. And learn to lie.

The traveling isn't bad at all depending on the company, you'll have a territory that you'll cover. My next job will likely be in sales because of all the money.

Not sure if serious. :hmm:

 

[spidey07]

Not sure if serious. :hmm:

Very serious.

 

[Beer4Me]

Sales Engineer is a lot of work (mainly due to all the traveling). I know a guy that does it and he is gone 30% of the year probably.

I love to travel, and I have family spread out across the US. :awe:

 

[Beer4Me]

Very serious.

Kidding aside, there is serious $$$ to be had here. Even the base sal, I think, is going to be more than what I make now in IT.

 

[Rage187]

Sales Engineer is a lot of work (mainly due to all the traveling). I know a guy that does it and he is gone 30&#37; of the year probably.

Same here. Their outlook schedules are packed with prep work for demos and are always getting shat on by unexpected demos.


Edit: they do make good money though. You have to know multiple products and have good on your soft skills as mentioned above.

 

[Matthiasa]

Yeah there's defiantly a lot of money in it if you are good at it.
Of things with the word engineer in it, it's often the highest paid by a lot.

 

[BTA]

highest paid with the least right to be called an engineer

The only reason they put Engineer on the title is to make potential customers think they actually have a clue besides rattling off bullet points and buzz words.

 

[Matthiasa]

Well sometimes they do actually have real engineering doing that, or at least they were before going into sales. I mean ideally that how it is suppose to work but yeah its just another buzz thing now.

 

[spidey07]

Well sometimes they do actually have real engineering doing that, or at least they were before going into sales. I mean ideally that how it is suppose to work but yeah its just another buzz thing now.

The SEs that I deal with are very knowledgeable.

 

[MetalMat]

I'm a Sales Engineer. I don't really do any engineering lol, but I do talk with and sell to engineers all the time.

 

[pwnagesarus]

I haven't dealt with many Sales Engineers, but it's been a mixed bag.

There was one that only knew how to sell stuff.

The other two however, could push their product and train us how to use it. XD

Both were either past or present CCNPs and were fantastic instructors. I was expecting them to only cover their product (wireless) but they went over wireless basics and other topics as well.

 

[Rage187]

Our se's are now called Solution Consultants.

 

[lokiju]

You said you're a sys admin but only support employees. What exactly do you do as a sys admin currently?

I'm a sys admin but don't deal with users much. Desktop support does that. Maybe being a sys admin without dealing with users as much would also be a better fit for you? Can you give any ballpark on current salary range and possible range as SE? What tech do you mainly work with in your current role (ms, nix, virtualization, san, etc)? What would the product be if you became a SE? Is the product something you'd currently consider yourself a subject matter expert on?

 

[the DRIZZLE]

SE can be a great career if it's with the right company. You will make significantly more than a technical person with the same experience level. Travel may or may not be significant depending a lot of things. Job security is generally worse than a technical person but you will build a great network which can make it easier to find a job if you get canned.

 

[XZeroII]

No one has raised the big question. Are you good with people? You have to be really good with people to be a SE. I mean really good. You have to look good, dress good, talk good and sell good. If you don't exceed all of those criteria, you will fail as a SE.

 

[Beer4Me]

You said you're a sys admin but only support employees. What exactly do you do as a sys admin currently?

I'm a sys admin but don't deal with users much. Desktop support does that. Maybe being a sys admin without dealing with users as much would also be a better fit for you? Can you give any ballpark on current salary range and possible range as SE? What tech do you mainly work with in your current role (ms, nix, virtualization, san, etc)? What would the product be if you became a SE? Is the product something you'd currently consider yourself a subject matter expert on?

They had outsourced all of their desktop/network/Windows server stuff to a local consulting company, and they were very unhappy with it. That's where I came in. I handle all desktop, Windows server (domain), very little Linux, VMWare ESXi, Cisco Phone (Asterisk), and Network maintenance for local employees (Cisco switches and Cisco Wireless in the office). VPN/firewall, network planning is handled by a more Sr. network analyst in another department. He's actually a friend of mine.

I deal with users a lot, and as you can see, I've become a jack of all type person here which I think in the long term is going to hurt my career. I did not think it would be such a mess when at first. Lo and behold, 8 months later it still is because management doesn't want to change anything yet.

My ideal ballpark salary is 75k which I dont know is unreasonable. I make quite a bit less than this currently. I have no pricing information on SE's here, but from what I gather, all if not most make over 100k here plus stock options.

I know of the product, but I don't KNOW it as my current job does not require it. That would change of course. Most SE's that come here have no knowledge of our product, and on the job training is provided.

 

[Beer4Me]

No one has raised the big question. Are you good with people? You have to be really good with people to be a SE. I mean really good. You have to look good, dress good, talk good and sell good. If you don't exceed all of those criteria, you will fail as a SE.

You're absolutely right. It's been awhile since I've done any sales, so there would def be a bit of a learning curve for me. I'd also have to dress more appropriately as currently I dress in just a polo and jeans to work.