CareerAdviceFilter: I need to find a fulfilling new career path. Help?
September 10, 2009 9:38 AM Subscribe
I'm a 27 y/o sales professional, and I'm completely burnt out on my job. I want to find something new that offers more positive impact. Help?!
I am a 27 y/o sales professional, working in the food business. I have worked for the same company since I graduated college with a marketing degree 5 years ago, and in that time I have managed to get promoted 5 times, including 4 relocations to various parts of the country. I am quite happy with my current location and salary, but in the last year I have encountered a few problems:
1. As is obvious from the paragraph above, I relocate a lot. Another promotion, in the next year or so, would mean another relocation from my current city. I love where I live and don't want to leave. In addition, I am getting married in October and my fiancee loves where we are as well. I am not prepared to end my career path at the ripe old age of 27 simply due to the fact that my fiancee and I don't want to move again.
2. My current position is terribly unfulfilling. I feel like a leech on society, knowing full well that what I am doing with my life at this moment is doing absolutely nothing to "make the world a better place", outside of monetary donations that come from my salary. I spend all of my work time now trying to convince restaurants to buy Product A, instead of Product B. I would really like to do something that has at least a little more positive impact.
3. I have no idea how my skill set is transferable to other careers. I have performed extremely highly in all of my positions as a sales manager/analyst to this point, but when I look at my resume all I see is a very good sales manager. I don't want to be in sales any longer, at least in a capacity in which I am contributing nothing to society.
So, the big question: Are there any jobs/careers out there in which I can do something that has at least some positive impact, that I would be qualified for, and would pay at least $60k or so? I make about $100k now, and while I am obviously willing to take a huge pay cut, I really don't want to go any lower than that. But most importantly: When I retire in 30 years, I want to look back at my career and be proud of what I did. Any suggestions?
I am a 27 y/o sales professional, working in the food business. I have worked for the same company since I graduated college with a marketing degree 5 years ago, and in that time I have managed to get promoted 5 times, including 4 relocations to various parts of the country. I am quite happy with my current location and salary, but in the last year I have encountered a few problems:
1. As is obvious from the paragraph above, I relocate a lot. Another promotion, in the next year or so, would mean another relocation from my current city. I love where I live and don't want to leave. In addition, I am getting married in October and my fiancee loves where we are as well. I am not prepared to end my career path at the ripe old age of 27 simply due to the fact that my fiancee and I don't want to move again.
2. My current position is terribly unfulfilling. I feel like a leech on society, knowing full well that what I am doing with my life at this moment is doing absolutely nothing to "make the world a better place", outside of monetary donations that come from my salary. I spend all of my work time now trying to convince restaurants to buy Product A, instead of Product B. I would really like to do something that has at least a little more positive impact.
3. I have no idea how my skill set is transferable to other careers. I have performed extremely highly in all of my positions as a sales manager/analyst to this point, but when I look at my resume all I see is a very good sales manager. I don't want to be in sales any longer, at least in a capacity in which I am contributing nothing to society.
So, the big question: Are there any jobs/careers out there in which I can do something that has at least some positive impact, that I would be qualified for, and would pay at least $60k or so? I make about $100k now, and while I am obviously willing to take a huge pay cut, I really don't want to go any lower than that. But most importantly: When I retire in 30 years, I want to look back at my career and be proud of what I did. Any suggestions?
Sales and marketing are great backgrounds for non-profit work, so that's something to explore. There are food-related non-profits, from famine relief organizations to organic farmers' associations to food banks, so that might be a relatively easy transition.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:58 AM on September 10, 2009
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:58 AM on September 10, 2009
Agreed on food-related non-profits, though they don't tend to pay very well.
You mention analyst positions but don't say what kind - have you considered category management? That's generally less travel and might be different enough from sales to alleviate burnout but allow you to maintain your level of advancement.
There are also marketing orders, marketing boards, councils, and associations to think about. Those have a bit more of a "positive impact" vibe b/c you're working to promote something grown or produced rather than manufactured.
You might consider fund-raising/development work as well - selling a cause or organization.
Finally, you might know about CPG Job List already, but just in case you don't, they have job listings in a wide range of consumer packaged goods categories: CPG Joblist.
posted by jocelmeow at 10:29 AM on September 10, 2009
You mention analyst positions but don't say what kind - have you considered category management? That's generally less travel and might be different enough from sales to alleviate burnout but allow you to maintain your level of advancement.
There are also marketing orders, marketing boards, councils, and associations to think about. Those have a bit more of a "positive impact" vibe b/c you're working to promote something grown or produced rather than manufactured.
You might consider fund-raising/development work as well - selling a cause or organization.
Finally, you might know about CPG Job List already, but just in case you don't, they have job listings in a wide range of consumer packaged goods categories: CPG Joblist.
posted by jocelmeow at 10:29 AM on September 10, 2009
Best answer: I spend all of my work time now trying to convince restaurants to buy Product A, instead of Product B.
Find a Product A that you really believe in.
Most sales geeks will tell you that skill in sales is hyper-transferable -- if you can sell X, you can sell Y without too much trouble, because it's the people that count, and people don't change much.
If anything, this will make you a better salesperson, because your natural passion will shine through.
Let's say you're the environmental type...
Hate selling commercial dishwashers? Sell equipment that recycles wastewater.
Hate selling restaurant cleaning supplies? Sell biodegradable soap.
Hate selling fish? Specialize in selling fish from sustainable, fair trade resources.
etc, etc,
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:57 AM on September 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
Find a Product A that you really believe in.
Most sales geeks will tell you that skill in sales is hyper-transferable -- if you can sell X, you can sell Y without too much trouble, because it's the people that count, and people don't change much.
If anything, this will make you a better salesperson, because your natural passion will shine through.
Let's say you're the environmental type...
Hate selling commercial dishwashers? Sell equipment that recycles wastewater.
Hate selling restaurant cleaning supplies? Sell biodegradable soap.
Hate selling fish? Specialize in selling fish from sustainable, fair trade resources.
etc, etc,
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 10:57 AM on September 10, 2009 [2 favorites]
Best answer: 3. I have no idea how my skill set is transferable to other careers. I have performed extremely highly in all of my positions as a sales manager/analyst to this point, but when I look at my resume all I see is a very good sales manager. I don't want to be in sales any longer, at least in a capacity in which I am contributing nothing to society.
First of all, congratulations - you must be very good at what you do, and you obviously have an aptitude for communicating and solving problems.
Your skills are absolutely transferable. You just have to decide how you are going to make a meaningful contribution to society. I am positive that you will be high in demand.
Take the non-profit sector, for example. Non-profits rely on grants and relationships, period. Securing operating and project funding means understanding what the funder needs, and addressing those needs, as well as negotiating flexibility.
Your management experience would also groom you for an executive role at such an org.
But figure out how you want to save the world, first. People will be lining up to hire you.... although you won't be making nearly 100k.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:52 AM on September 10, 2009
First of all, congratulations - you must be very good at what you do, and you obviously have an aptitude for communicating and solving problems.
Your skills are absolutely transferable. You just have to decide how you are going to make a meaningful contribution to society. I am positive that you will be high in demand.
Take the non-profit sector, for example. Non-profits rely on grants and relationships, period. Securing operating and project funding means understanding what the funder needs, and addressing those needs, as well as negotiating flexibility.
Your management experience would also groom you for an executive role at such an org.
But figure out how you want to save the world, first. People will be lining up to hire you.... although you won't be making nearly 100k.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:52 AM on September 10, 2009
Response by poster: Thank you for all of the non-profit recommendations. Is there a website out there that is devoted to listing jobs in the non-profit sector? I'm curious to see what is out there.
posted by suburbanrobot at 2:32 PM on September 10, 2009
posted by suburbanrobot at 2:32 PM on September 10, 2009
I quit a 6 figure job a couple years back to work for World Vision International (granted, for a role in which I'm traveling now more than ever before). They're a great organization and there's certainly plenty of work to be done on the sponsorship side in the US, if you'd be interested in that kind of thing. Feel free to drop me a line.
As far as listings of non-profits, that's an awfully broad question - what type of non-profits are you interested in? Environmental? Humanitarian NGOs? Political causes? Etc..
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:26 AM on September 11, 2009
As far as listings of non-profits, that's an awfully broad question - what type of non-profits are you interested in? Environmental? Humanitarian NGOs? Political causes? Etc..
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:26 AM on September 11, 2009
Best answer: Finding nonprofits: Ten years ago or so, a friend of mine lent me a copy of the Directory of Associations she had at work when I was looking for a job. They have electronic versions now. Obviously they're expensive - you might see if you can find out if a library in your region has access.
posted by jocelmeow at 7:28 AM on September 11, 2009
posted by jocelmeow at 7:28 AM on September 11, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
1) If you make 100K and are willing to make only 60K, couldn't you do the world more good by keeping your current gig and donating 40K/year to something worthy? Hell, you could fund your own foundation and maybe eventually leave your gig and take up the helm of it. There doesn't seem to me to be anything inherently evil in convincing restaurant owners to buy one product over another.
2) Since your degree is in marketing, perhaps you could find a college or other non-profit that needs someone to work in (or head up) a marketing department? Seems like your experience in the non-academic world would only be seen as a benefit.
posted by wheat at 9:48 AM on September 10, 2009