Many people make a career change from sales due to better work-life balance, career progression, or pay. Luckily, there are plenty of options for complete career pivots and entrepreneurial ventures, thanks to the highly transferable skills built in sales.
If you want to make the switch but aren’t confident about how to go about it, don’t worry. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything, from the key signs it is time to move on to how to manage your salary expectations and create a transition budget to ease the “in-between” period.
Key Takeaways
If you are constantly stressed out, see no path to growth, unsatisfied with your pay, and drained because of rejection, it might be time to transition out of sales.
In sales, you hone many transferable soft and hard skills, including communication, negotiation, presentation, and time management.
To write a strong career change resume, use the STAR method and focus on quantifying your achievements.
Alternative careers include those in operations, finance, project management, and nursing, as well as entrepreneurial options like sales consulting or coaching.
Manage your salary expectations and create a transition budget to reduce stress while making your career change from sales.
4 Key Signs It’s Time to Move On From Sales
If you notice any of these four key signs, it might be time to make a career switch from sales:
#1. You’re Constantly Stressed Out
Sales is one of the most demanding professions. Even though a bit of pressure can sharpen performance, living in a constant cycle of quotas, targets, and deadlines eventually takes a toll on both health and happiness. If the weight of chasing numbers follows you home each night, it’s time to consider shifting to low-stress jobs.
#2. You See No Path to Growth
Only 1 in 5 sales employees believe they can achieve their career goals within their company, and just as few feel supported by their manager or organization in doing so.
If you find yourself in the same position, it could mean that no matter how hard you work, you will not move beyond the monthly quota grind. In this case, a career change from sales can lead to more fulfilling roles in which your skills would be valued.
#3. Your Pay Doesn’t Match Your Effort
Sales is often positioned as a high-earning career, but the reality does not always live up to the promise. Many sales representatives face low base salaries, inconsistent commissions, and quotas set so high that hitting them feels out of reach. After accounting for other factors, such as long unpaid hours, the actual take-home pay can look even smaller.
According to benchmark data from SiriusDecisions, 89% of sales professionals cite compensation as the reason they make a career change. If you also feel like the financial rewards no longer reflect the effort you invest, a different path could serve you better.
#4. Rejection Drains You
If you are in sales, you know that it is a rollercoaster of wins and losses, and constant rejection is part of the job. But when “no” becomes the default response day after day, it can start to chip away at your confidence.
It can also affect your motivation and, over time, overall well-being. Eventually, your successes may feel hollow, leaving you drained and questioning whether this career path is truly sustainable. When this happens, considering alternative careers for salespeople is a wise move.
13 Transferable Skills You Can Take From Sales to Any Career
Hard Skills
Here are the top hard skills that transfer well when leaving a sales career:
Top Transferable Hard Skills
Market research skills
Software skills (CRM platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho)
Sales forecasting skills
Soft Skills
These soft skills developed in sales can set you apart when competing for the best jobs after sales:
Transferable Soft Skills
Active listening skills
Negotiation skills
Relationship-building skills
Organizational skills
Why Quantifying Your Achievements in Career Change Is Important
Quantifying achievements is important because it demonstrates your value with evidence. When you are switching careers, hiring managers may not see the direct relevance of your past experience, but numbers and measurable results bridge that gap.
They not only make it easier for hiring managers to recognize your potential and fit for the role but also build your credibility, suggest adaptability and flexibility, and improve your chances with applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Use the STAR method to identify concrete achievements and focus on the measurable impact of your actions, even if the sales context isn’t directly relevant.
For example, instead of “Led a team to exceed quarterly targets,” say, “Led a team of five to increase quarterly output by 25%.” Emphasize outcomes that matter in any industry, such as growth, efficiency, and problem-solving. Lastly, highlight high-value skills like strategic thinking and decision-making.
Here are some examples of achievement statements that resonate across industries:
Examples of Achievement Statements
Increased team output by 15% within one quarter by implementing new workflow strategies.
Trained and mentored 15 new employees, boosting team productivity by 30%.
Streamlined onboarding procedures, cutting training time by 20% and improving team readiness.
Identified process inefficiencies and implemented solutions that reduced errors by 35%.
Top Alternative Careers for Sales Professionals
Alternative careers for sales professionals range from roles that use existing skills to complete career pivots and entrepreneurial ventures.
Career Paths with the Easiest Transition
If you are looking for career paths with the easiest transition, here are a few options:
Customer service. If you enjoy working with people but want to step away from the pressure of quotas, moving from sales to customer service is practical. It allows you to leverage strong interpersonal skills while focusing on helping customers and resolving issues.
Operations. A career change from sales to operations lets you oversee processes and coordinate teams, which gives you a broader understanding of how a business runs. Even though your experience doesn't directly translate into the day-to-day tasks, you can still stand out with your existing problem-solving and organizational skills.
Human resources (HR). With a career change from sales to HR, you can focus on the “people” side of work while still making the most of your communication skills. In HR, you handle recruitment, employee relations, and training rather than chasing sales targets. This path helps you build valuable skills that set you up for leadership roles in the future.
Complete Career Pivots from Sales
You can make complete career pivots into the following fields:
Finance. A career change from sales to finance offers the chance to shift from revenue-driving to analytical and strategic work. Finance roles let you leverage attention to detail, problem-solving, and numeracy skills while managing budgets, forecasting, and financial planning.
Project management. Making a career change from sales to project management puts your people and organizational skills to work in a new way. Instead of chasing quotas, you plan, coordinate, and oversee projects, seeing them through from start to finish, which can be far more fulfilling.
Nursing. Unlike sales, which often revolves around targets and rejections, nursing focuses on providing care to those who need it most. If you are seeking purpose, connection, and a career where success is measured by helping others, nursing can be a rewarding job change from sales.
Entrepreneurial Paths for Former Salespeople
Below are three entrepreneurial paths where former salespeople are finding success:
Sales consulting or coaching. In this case, you can use your experience to help businesses fix weak spots in their sales processes and train teams to close more deals. It is a chance to work independently and see others succeed under your guidance.
Real estate or property services. Real estate or property services are among the top jobs for ex-sales professionals, as much of the work relies on building relationships, negotiating deals, and guiding clients through important decisions. Your sales experience gives you an edge in understanding client needs and closing transactions.
Event planning and networking services. Your ability to connect with people, manage expectations, and coordinate logistics can help businesses or individuals host successful events, conferences, or networking opportunities. It offers flexibility, creative challenges, and the satisfaction of bringing people together.
Upskilling and Further Education: What You Need to Know
Upskilling and further education can play a key role in a successful career change from sales. Depending on your chosen path, you may need additional degrees, certifications, or new skills to stay competitive and confident.
Do You Need Additional Degrees or Certifications?
When changing careers from sales, the qualifications you need depend on the role you are aiming for. Some careers, like nursing, require formal degrees and passing a licensure exam.
Other careers, such as project management or human resources, may not require full degrees but can benefit from targeted certifications.
For example, a PMP certification can strengthen a project management application, while an HR certification like SHRM-CP can help in human resources roles.
Self-Directed Learning Approaches
In many cases, you can build the skills you need through self-directed learning. This can include online courses, workshops, or industry-specific training programs. Coursera, LinkedIn Learning, and Udemy are among the many platforms that offer targeted courses.
Also, reading industry blogs, joining professional communities, and following thought leaders can help you stay up to date with trends and best practices.
Hands-on practice is equally valuable, as it not only reinforces your learning but also provides tangible examples to show future employers. You can consider freelancing or volunteering. Taking an internship or apprenticeship is an option as well.
How to Financially Plan for a Career Change From Sales
To financially plan for a career change from sales, manage your salary expectations and create a transition fund. Let’s take a closer look at what this entails.
Salary Expectations During and After Transition
When changing careers from sales, it is important to set realistic salary expectations. In the early stages, you may need to accept a lower salary than you earned in sales, especially if you are entering a field that requires additional training.
With experience and proven results in your new role, you can eventually bounce back and even earn more than you did in sales. Research typical salaries for entry-level and mid-level positions in your target field to create a clear picture of what to expect.
Creating a Transition Fund
A transition fund is money you set aside to support yourself while switching careers. It acts as a safety net, so you will not have to take the first job that comes your way.
Follow these steps to create your transition fund:
Steps to Create Your Transition Fund
Estimate your living expenses. Include rent or mortgage, utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, healthcare, debt payments, and any other recurring bills. Don’t forget small but necessary costs like phone bills or subscriptions you can’t cancel. Total these amounts to get your minimum monthly spending.
Add career change costs. This can include courses, certificates, training fees, resume writing or career coaching, and networking. If you are planning to find a job in another state, include relocation costs as well.
Decide how many months your transition fund should cover. The average job search takes 3 to 6 months, so this is a good starting point. If your new role is in a competitive field or requires specialized skills, plan for the longer end. It is also smart to add a buffer of 1-2 months to cover unexpected delays or extra costs. Multiply your expenses by the number of months you want to cover to set a target for your fund.
Also, keep these three additional tips in mind:
Additional Tips to Keep in Mind
Open a separate savings account so you won’t accidentally dip into it.
Set up automatic transfers from your main income into this account each month.
Look for areas in your current budget where you can temporarily cut back, like dining out or non-essential shopping.
Simplify Your Career Change From Sales With Resume.co
Resume.co offers an easy-to-use resume builder and professionally crafted templates that you can customize to showcase your strengths.
Whether you are moving into operations, project management, or real estate, our resume builder will help you present your experience clearly and confidently.
Final Thoughts
A career change from sales can certainly feel daunting, but it is entirely achievable with careful planning and a clear strategy. Alternative careers like nursing, project management, human resources, finance, real estate, or event planning can offer more fulfilling opportunities.
Focus on identifying your transferable skills and filling knowledge gaps through formal education or self-directed learning. The first step is to create a resume that showcases your experience and skills.
