Know-How Exchange : Career/Training

Are you sure you want that Brand Director job? The skill set required to be a good/successful Brand Director is quite different than that usually associated with a good Sales Manager. If you're successful now at the Sales thing, why do you want to risk a move that may not be as well suited to your skills and abilities?

Assuming there is a good reason and/or you don't want to deal with that issue, your best bet is to find a company that is really sales oriented and sales driven, and see if you can get them to let you try your hand at Brand Management. If you've proven yourself at sales and want a career shift, the best shot you have is with a company that really wants your sales know-how and where marketing is mostly a sales support function.

Now if all of that doesn't apply, and you already know which company you want to work for and you're committed to making the career shift, your best bet is to do some in-depth research about what the Brand Director's job entails, what he/she does every day, what strengths are valued, what skills are essential, and what thinking style is best suited to the job. Then build your case for why you're the best qualified for the job. Cite specific things you've done that demonstrate your ability to handle the Brand Director job better than anyone else.

I've seen a few Sales people make the switch into Brand Management successfully, but I've seen a lot more who tried and failed miserably. Be very sure this is what you want before you make your play for the switch.

You'll need to especially focus on your analytical skills, business sense, and the ability to think strategically. Those are usually the toughest for a Sales person who wants to switch into Marketing. It's not likely anyone will question your communication skills or people skills, so mention them but don't over-emphasize them.

An idea: Why not develop a recommendation for some marketing activity or program and support it with a solid rationale. Present it to the decision maker and let your ability to think like a marketer and present a marketing proposal serve as a kind of "proof" that you're the right person for the job? If you can't do that now, how are you going to do it if/when you get the job?