Switch from EB IB -> Tech Sales?
Just completed my first year at a tech EB in SF. I know that finance isn’t for me in the long-term and have no goal of going to buyside. I recently got an offer in tech sales at a well-known SaaS company with a competitive comp package.
My ideal exit was corporate strategy at a tech company but I find the work in sales to be exciting (from how it was described) and am thinking about making the switch. My family is discouraging me because they believe that there is a limited skillset to gain in sales vs. staying in banking longer and looking for a corp dev / strategy role. I’m still on the fence about it and would like the people’s advice. I am worried about pidgeonholing myself. Are there any other considerations I should be making?
Switching from an EB IB role to tech sales is a significant career pivot, and there are several factors to weigh before making the leap. Based on the most helpful WSO content, here are some key considerations:
1. Skillset Development and Transferability
2. Pigeonholing Concerns
3. Compensation and Lifestyle
4. Long-Term Career Goals
5. Family and External Opinions
6. Exit Options
Final Thoughts:
If you’re passionate about tech sales and see it as a long-term career, the switch could be worthwhile. However, if you’re uncertain or still leaning toward corporate strategy, staying in IB longer might keep more doors open. To mitigate risks, you could explore whether the SaaS company offers rotational programs or internal mobility to strategy roles.
Sources: Transitioning from tech to a serious finance job (yes, you read that right), Taking the plunge.. from New Zealand, Sales in S&T vs (Tech) Sales, Transitioning from Tech Sales to IB, Why choose Sales and Trading over Investment Banking?
What do you specifically dislike about your current role?
As someone leaving sales for an MBA to get into banking, I would argue that you should try to stick out IB for more than a few years.
It's not exactly easy to get into tech sales and doing it sooner rather than later is always easier since companies are more willing to hire younger people, but the exits from tech sales are hard.
As your family pointed out: you don't really have a hard skill set that can be transferred to another career if you don't like sales. Yes, every career becomes a sales job after a certain level, but you need hard skills in analysis, modeling, etc to get to those points.
The other drawback is that sales, and particularly tech sales, is far more feast or famine than something like law or banking. You could join a fast growing start up and hit it out of the park in year one, but then the company over promises investors, misses targets, and they layoff half the company.
Yes, this obviously happens in banking, but it is extreme in tech and things vary way more company to company than bank to bank. Happy to chat more if you want to DM but hope this helps.
Sent PM, thank you!
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