Sales jobs and moving on up

There is no question that if you want to get on in sales jobs, you'll have to move around a few companies throughout your career. Not only will moving around a increase your experiences and contribute to your ability to produce sales results, but it will also expose you to a greater range of opportunities as you work in different environments.

Deciding when to move, and to where can be a little tricky as there are many factors to consider. Move at the wrong time and it can look bad on your CV. Move to the wrong place for the wrong reasons and you can move into a worse scenario than the one you have just left.

Here's my top tips for moving jobs

• Never leave quickly in desperation. No matter had bad you present scenario is, you can nearly always hang on much longer whilst looking for the right job opportunities than you might think. People seem to reach a point where they feel they have to go, when really waiting will not penalise you in anyway and will give you the time you need to get it right.

• Never leave without a job to go to. Sometimes people do this to avoid having to miss work in order to interview with the ensuing guilt that this brings. However, this is to be avoided at all costs as Employers look someone out of with suspicion, why have they left in a hurry without a jobIt adds great pressure to you, increasing the chances that you'll accept a poor jobWithin a short space of time finding work becomes very tough and your confidence dives

• Never leave because you're doing badly. Future employers can spot this and it will hurt your chances of career progression. Better to stay put and turn around the problems before moving on, giving you something positive to demonstrate for your future.

• Don't move 'just' for money. By all means look for a pay rise, but don't make it the main driver as it's indicative of someone whose loyalty is poor and will move again quickly if a lucrative opportunity appears. Good reasons are 'career development' or 'seeking a new challenge' if you have been in you sales job for some years.

• Don't move Just because you don't get on with your manager. It can be hard if you don't see eye to eye with your boss. But moving just for this is unwise. You may find your new manager is just the same, or indeed you may find your old boss ends up following you (I've seen this happen before :o( ) Far better to try and deal with your conflict or minimise the impact in some way. For example, perhaps your sales manager only visits you one day every 2 months, put this in perspective and try and minimise your concerns.

Company issues

If you can spot company troubles company, restructures, buying other companies or selling, financial troubles, these can all be good times to move on if others factors such as career timing are right. the problem is that such factors are usually concealed to the majority. If you do see these coming, they 'may' present opportunities but even then the experience will never be a very comfortable one to endure. If you have other opportunities at these times it can be a timely and painless way to avoid trouble.

Above all, take your time and research potential job opportunities well. The internet is a cauldron of of knowledge, you should also speak to people in related sales jobs for tips and run things past your family and close friends who know you well but may be able to step back a little and offer an less bias opinion to help your decision. The more people you speak to, the better informed your choice will be.

Good luck