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Ive had 3 sales jobs over the years now. Im coming to the point where I am getting fed up with the constant driving, lack of stimulation and the added pressure which comes with a sales job. So, I would like to do something different! However, I have no idea what! Am i too old to learn a trade at 34? How did you get out of your sales job and into a differet career?
My wife did it by marrying me. I'm about to do it by retiring. I couldn't have got out of it any other way, except perhaps by moving abroad and using the fact that I speak English to get a job teaching.
I don't think you're ever to old to learn a trade, so to speak.
The more pertinent question is can you afford to? If the answer is yes, then i'd have a good think about what you want to do & go for it.
I've worked in a sales environment for most of my career, so it's kind of all I know now. it was a few years ago now, but I was in a similar position to you, bored of the bullsh*t of day to day sales life (thankfully my role was split between office and external, otherwise I would have topped myself long ago doing a pure 'on the road' sales role).
I got a bit lucky in that I fell into my boss's job who left, became the interim sales manager & haven't looked back really.
These days I now contract in a similar role, generally a bit of a troubleshooting (or pointing out the bloody obvious in most cases), which is nice, as I don't have the target responsibility & find you tend to get a lot more done without playing the red tape game. They are fairly long term contracts usually, as change takes time, but most places have been receptive & do want things to improve.
Sometimes it's an acquired taste managing people, but it can be very rewarding (and frustrating!). Worth exploring further?
Not from sales, but I did a full career change at 36 - full time MSc.
So it can be done
Am i too old to learn a trade at 34?
Nope, that's pretty young given we'll all be working till our 70s soon.
Train to be a plumber? Friend of mine did that recently, loves it and pays well.
i changed career at 34. Not too late at all.
I'm a total believer in making big changes in life. Good luck! 🙂
What sort of sales? Can you use your knowledge gained whilst selling stuff to move to another segment of the industry?
started as technical sales, was better at the technical than the sales. now work in R&D.
I didn't, I just moved to something I liked selling. moved from wholesale meat to insurance to fruit, veg and flowers. a brief 14 years with the NHS and now sell bicycles.
I am getting fed up with the constant driving,
You're wrong on that count; it's constant sitting in traffic. A sales job might have been OK back in the 70s when the roads were free of traffic and there were plenty of hitch hikers to pick up for conversation.