CANDIDATES, FINDING A JOB, CAREER ADVANCEMENT
The best time to plan for your future is now. It is the small actions that you take today that have a significant impact on your future. Landing an executive-level position takes years of experience, career progression, and diversification. This article will reveal a road map showing the path to an executive position.
Step 1: Sales Rep
To become a Chief Commercial Officer or a Vice President of Sales & Marketing, you must have sales experience. So, your first step is to secure a sales job and become a top performer. Becoming a top performer demonstrates your desire to do whatever it takes to be successful. It also gets you noticed within your organization.
Step 2: Marketing
To become an executive in a company, you need to be well-rounded. You can't just be a sales rep your entire career and expect to become a Chief Commercial Officer. Making a move into marketing is a critical step. Marketing exposes you to all functions of a company, providing valuable experience. You'll be able to work with finance, manufacturing, R&D, sales and marketing, and post-sales support.
The biggest challenge in moving from sales into marketing is the loss of personal income. Sales reps make more than their marketing counterparts because of the significant commission component. Marketing candidates have a higher base salary and a smaller bonus plan. So, if you want to make a move to become an executive, you have to be willing to make less money early in your career. Stepping backward financially is one of the most challenging things for most candidates.
Step 3: Management Position
At some point in your career, you must become a manager and lead people. I realize that some people don't like managing others. Becoming a Chief Commercial Officer is not the best career path if that is you.
It makes no difference in which functional area (sales, marketing, operations, finance) you can manage. The most important thing is that you are managing other people. Remember, whatever position you have, you must excel to get noticed. Average performance will not allow you to accomplish your goals.
Step 5: Managing Managers
After you've had direct reports, the next step is to move into second-line management or managing managers. Managing managers is a different management level where you will most likely focus more on the company's strategic objectives than day-to-day sales or marketing activities.
Second-line management is where you start building relationships with executives in your company versus working with front-line sales or marketing employees. Senior-level management is an opportunity to be creative and offer ideas to your company that haven't been introduced in the past or will significantly impact the business.
Step 6: Be Willing to Relocate to Corporate Headquarters
Relocation is another tough decision and one that most people do not like. Relocation becomes critical if you're serious about your career and want to become an executive. It shows the executives that you are willing to do whatever it takes to help the company succeed. If you're not ready to relocate, consider working for companies in your current city.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember is that no matter your position, you must stand out. You have to be a top performer to be noticed by senior executives in your company. You must be willing to spend time improving yourself by reading books, attending webinars, and seeking out mentors. You must constantly grow, learn, demonstrate self-discipline, and take the small actions that lead you to success. The steps that you take today will define your future.
No Comments