I have been working as a purely technical networks and security consultant since a while now. As new financial year starts, my boss has given me the option of moving into pre-sales/technical. This means I will have to achieve certain financial targets and in other words I will be responsible for numbers. It doesnt mean I will leave technicalties altogether. But not the nitty gritties of a solution. I will be responsible for driving an oppurtunity, convincing a customer and then over-seeing the implementation of the solution.
How do you people feel about pre-sales thing? Has anyone had any experience regarding this? It has its pros and cons. I have some of them in mind but if you people have some, do share.
While meetimng different clients can be fun, It is very pressurizing. Constantly having to meet targets, trying to push the limits, after some time it just gets too much.
If you are a top performer in sales then it then its more rewarding than engineering (technical) but then its more challenging also. You miss out sales targets for one quarter and they kick you out. Engineering, on the other hand, is probably a bit more tolerant of relatively low performances. Obviously, this criterion of comparison between the two domains is certainly not a good gauge for any self-respecting professional :--) but its a fact. Plus some people have natural styles that are more suited to either one of the two.
As a general rule, we should always try to do/learn new things, you never know what you will like. Besides its great to diversify your resume, especially if you won't be leaving the tech field for good, as you can always come back.
I was once offered a position of pre-sales/systems engineer. The salary was very handsome, almost twice as much as what I was making at that point with comissions on top. I refused. I just can't see myself as a sales person. At the end of the day, you have to decide what is best for you.
Mywish: Thats one of the major disadvantages this field has and it got me really confused.
Scratch: I agree with the rewarding/kicking out bit but thats the risk one has to take consdering the competition in the market. Dont you think?
ahmadjee: Yes one can always make a come back to technical arena and you never leave technical field compleltely. I like your comment regarding diversifying one's resume. hmmmmm...
asif: I can imagine it must have taken a lot of thinking on your part to refuse such a tempting offer. And as pointed out by someone I know, there are major differences between pre-sales and sales persons.
I guess this is the the risk I am gonna take. My career is at a stage where I can afford this risk, specially in Pakistan market as competition is tough and you are known by numbers you generate.