good at sales, what else can I do? career change

[ThreeWheelsGood]

I've worked for a few years in a telesales job with no chance of progression (it's a small business). It's the only job I've had since graduating uni. I'm very good at what I do, earning a healthy chunk of commission which is gratifying. But I have a BA and MA (in languages) and I feel I should be doing something more challenging and more stimulating.

I'm a good all rounder, I have considered a career change to IT or marketing or maybe getting a qualification in law or accounting. I'd like to earn more, I definitely associate money with status and satisfaction, which sounds horrible I know...

How do I even begin to decide what I want to do? I don't want to be in sales the rest of my life, but I'm worried I've already pigeon holed myself. What else can I use the same skills for?

Oh the reason I posted in this board is because I'm currently on maternity leave!

Im in the same position! I usually work in field sales, but don't want to go back after mat leave as area I cover is huge.

If it helps, I'm considering recruitment consultant or retraining to be a human resources manager.

Actually, I'm pinning my hopes on a lottery win - the above is plan B :)

Oh yes, I thought about HR or Training too, I like the idea of working with people and doing consultancy.

With HR, you would need to acquire Chartered status (chartered institute of personnel development, aka CIPD). Even with your MA, most managerial HR jobs require the CIPD qualification (which is post grad level).

With a recruitment consultant role, you may get away with not having this qualification.

HR consulting work would take many years in working in HR prior to venturing off and consulting other businesses on their people management plans.

I agree that HR may suit you though. I always worked in sales whilst putting myself through college/uni and was naturally quite good at it without effort. But I was good with people so put the two together and went down the HR route.

What about retail sales, like an Area or Store manager. Customer facing but with KPI's normally on income and quality of service? you may have to go in at middle manager level and work your way up but have a think of the main retailers on your high street and search their websites, they don't tend to advertise with agencies or newpapers unless there is a massive recruitment drive (marks and spencer, next, primark, tk max, Arcadia group)

I moved from sales to retail, to working in a bank! The banking sector definitely has plenty of opportunities for progression particularly if you're good at sales - after 3 years there (no degree or anything) I was offered the chance to train as branch manager, a friend is now on around £60k as a mortgage manager and the bank paid for her professional qualifications. It can be tough with targets but if you want to progress the bank will help you along the way :)

Good people and sales skills will put you in good stead as a lawyer.

However, law also has a strong analytical component and you must be happy to read reams and reams of documents or cases. It is not as easy to blag in law as it is in other specialisms.

I am not turning you off (I love it) or saying you would not be good at it. But just thought you might want to know if you are going to spend time and effort to get a qualification in law.

I was thinking of doing a law conversion course as one option, blueshoes. I really enjoyed academia when I was studying. What specialisms would you recommend?

Retail banking isn't something I'd considered, I'll look it up.

If you have the gift of the gab and the ability to gain people's confidence and trust, I think you will be good at any form of consultancy. It is also lucrative.

HR recruitment is good. Most recruitment agents I work with are pretty hopeless.

IT consultancy will also be good, but you will need the technical background.

Investment banking too, but that has clearly fallen into disfavour and is now facing massive job cuts so not a good area to go into.

If you're good at sales what about marketing or event organising?