Does taking a job below you damage your future chances? (employment, applying)
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Let me first say I am not talking down to anyone that has gone this route I just wanted to find out from hiring managers and HR if taking a job completely out of your field and much below your skill level will hurt you future chances for a good job.
I have been out of work since last June and have been working hard to find work in my field high tech sales. I have a lot of exp. and a good track record I have made it to finalist in the hiring process 4 times and no offer, one of them the position was cancelled the others they picked someone else.
I am considering maybe even doing some sort of retail job but after working in high tech sales or investing and finance working at Walmart or Target looks bleak but not for the reason you probably think.
I am concerned if I went to work in retail it would really hurt my future chances to get back into high tech sales. I try and think about it from a hiring manager's point of view and they see 12 years of high tech sales and then 9 months at Target and now he wants to work for us in high tech sales don't think so.
So what do you think does it hurt my image for future employment or not?
You mean like smart phone kiosk sales? If so I would consider that. I have actually applied at some positions I am overqualified for including inside sales.
it doesn't look great on your resume - i wouldn't do it if i had the choice. but a lot of the time people don't have a choice. i think it's surmountable (and *should* be understandable in this economy), but it does raise questions.
Yes that's what I mean. But they are hesitant to hire people who may leave quickly for something better. Many of these retail stores are using outsourcing for salespeople in stores. You have to find the company they hired, not target or best buy directly.
Edit to add. The outsourcing company IS looking for people interested in moving upward, so your experience might be helpful. But you still have to start at the bottom.
What exactly is a "job below you" entail? Is that a job that doesn't utilize all of your available skills? A job that doesn't afford your desired and perceived standard of living?
I don't think any job is below me. The way I see it, unless you're going to create your own job, your only option available is to take the best option/offer available. If none of the options are to your liking, you must then consider creating your own. If the market will bare it, or if there is a use for it, you can then have a job you feel suits your liking.
Does taking a lower job hurt you long term? Not nearly as much as allowing yourself and your skills/experience to stagnate. I would much rather hire someone who at least has proven they can show up on time to a job with regularity than hire someone whose been channel surfing for an extended period of time.
And I would be happy to give a run down of some of the crappy jobs I have done over the years that most people wouldn't think highly of, or would never consider doing themselves! But hey, I gotta eat, and some of those crappy jobs pay pretty good when no one in lining up to do them! But when other opportunities have presented themselves, I have had no problem jumping back into the game. To be honest, I think those lower level jobs made me work harder at perfecting my skills and growing my knowledge once I found something better.
From a hiring manager's perspective, if you had, say, 10 years in a particular career track and then 1 year doing something else, I wouldn't hold that against you.
What exactly is a "job below you" entail? Is that a job that doesn't utilize all of your available skills? A job that doesn't afford your desired and perceived standard of living?
to me, it's a job that doesn't use my skills. hiring managers like to see a career trajectory that puts you in progressively more responsible positions. i've even seen job descriptions that spefically require that. they also don't like to see people ditching jobs after a short stay, which is what you might end up doing if you take a lower-skilled job while looking for one that better suits your career.
reasonable managers will realize that nowadays more and more people have to take whatever job they can get, but it is still more desirable to have a resume that shows that you advanced and were able to choose your roles thoughtfully. that's easier said than done, of course!
Andy et al; the way I would view it if I was a HM is this. We have this guy Colorado that is multi year President's Club award has many other sales awards and now he is working at Walmart or Target. If no one else wanted this guy except retail why should I?
I have done everything in high tech sales B2B from selling to SMB to enterprise hardware, software, network services to all size of companies.
I am actually considering doing commission only sales just to stay in the industry and be in contact with companies so I have access to leads which will make me more attractive as a candidate.
I already went back to doing some part time work, which is ending, with my previous employer mainly to fill an employment gap, but that is not high tech sales per se, it's helping running a small hedge fund, doing int. IT work, jack of all trades and master of some. So if I do retail for 9 months now I am out of true high tech sales for almost 2 years which will make it even tougher.
As I mentioned, I am applying for jobs I am overqualified for like inside sales in high tech. I could probably manage the team quite frankly.
I am considering doing sales at Verizon Wireless I need to find out more info about it pay, benefits, etc. Benefits are something I need.
I am actually considering doing commission only sales just to stay in the industry and be in contact with companies so I have access to leads which will make me more attractive as a candidate.
If sales is your forte, this is what I would do. I keep hearing that a lot of sales jobs are now becoming commission only. One of my friend's dad does this. Does ok. Not great. But doing ok this days is like doing fantastic a decade ago
I think companies are just very unsure of the economy right now, and they can't afford to make commitments now that they can't keep 4-6 months from now. Seriously, a lot of companies have been playing this wait and see game for years now after the recessions was dictated over by our comrad in chief.
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But hey, I gotta eat, and some of those crappy jobs pay pretty good when no one in lining up to do them! But when other opportunities have presented themselves, I have had no problem jumping back into the game. To be honest, I think those lower level jobs made me work harder at perfecting my skills and growing my knowledge once I found something better.
