Nice discussion.

Our company recently polled a number of sales industry discussion forums and posted the question: “Do people with military backgrounds make good sales people?”

The question received tremendous response and as such, became the subject of a blog article written by one of my colleagues. It was posted on various groups in LinkedIn and stirred up lots of interesting dialog.

I thought you and or your readers might find it interesting, so I took the liberty of forwarding it along. I hope it finds you well.

Best regards,
Charles Quimby

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If They Serve, Can They Sell?

Few would argue that military experience teaches leadership skills valuable in the corporate world. But is military experience an asset for someone who chooses a sales career?

I posted the question on several sales-focused Linkedin groups. Not surprisingly, a large majority of responders (80%) believe the ex-military make good sales people. Citing attributes such as tenacity, discipline, work ethic, and ability to work under pressure, most would not hesitate to hire these folks – assuming they possessed the right personality type.
What I found most interesting was the anecdotal comments made by those cautious of hiring ex-military:

“Are trained by the numbers. May struggle if the job requires out-of-the-box thinking.”
“Reluctant to call on senior executives. Might be a result of the rank system”
“Struggle in sales manager roles. Expect sales people to follow orders and do what they are told. People don’t behave that way in the civilian world.”

In my opinion, military experience can be a real asset for sales, especially in challenging times. Like any other candidate, they must be fully vetted during the hiring process to make sure they possess the appropriate skills / mindset for the mission at hand.

With that said, I made one of my worst mistakes as a sales leader by hiring an ex-officer from a very elite group. Needing someone to “pioneer” a new territory, I felt he was perfect for this difficult assignment. I was so enamored with his background that I ignored red flags raised during the hiring process. As it turned out, he was severely deficient in mental toughness. How he made it through his unit’s notoriously rigorous training still remains a mystery to me……

Also, whether he attempts to do one on his own, through ACAP, or through a professional resume writer, it is a great way to collect his thoughts and start thinking of how to message himself. With a professional resume writer who actually interviews the candidate, they can really help pull out accomplishments, help translate the militay skills to Corporate America, and help the Captain market himself and be able to articulate how he can help a company improve the bottom line.

As a Logistics officer, you have a variety of valuable skills. You just need to figure out what you like doing best. You’ll do better in the long run following Nick’s advice; trust me on that. Remember the power of networking and plan and execute your transition as would any important COA. However, this time it has to be for you! Best of luck!

I wish someone had tis up and going in “76 when I left the Corps. Would have made life a lot simpler for me and my family.

Had an egineerign and business degre plus was on the way to an MBA program when the higher ups decided they did not need warriors anymore. Went to B school anyway.

JT

Please remind military veterans to look to the federal government for civilian employment. Veterans have rights which give them priority placement in many federal hiring efforts. They should go to these websites for more information: http://www.opm.gov/veterans/ (for details about veteran’s preference); and http://www.usajobs.gov/ (to search for federal postings). Good luck & stay safe.

Good luck and thank you for your service.