Career change as a sales manager

Career change paths

• Business developer

  Also: Product manager

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  As a business developer or product manager, you work on new markets, products and partnerships without a large span of control.

  What you bring:

  You know customers, competitors and the market well and can develop offers and business ideas from that knowledge.

  How to get there:

  With your experience, you can apply directly, and companies train you on the job in their products and processes. This move means less responsibility for staff, but often also less influence on decisions.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €5,385gross per monthMedian salary

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• Managing director

  Also: Executive director for sales and marketing

  With on-the-job trainingPromotion

  As managing director or member of the executive board, you also take on finance, HR and strategy for a company or a subsidiary.

  What you bring:

  You know markets, customers and revenue planning and have led teams successfully.

  How to get there:

  You usually make this move in your own company, at a subsidiary or at a medium-sized business that wants a sales-focused leader. You can deepen your knowledge of controlling, balance sheets and labor law in management courses.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically lightIn an office

  €8,555gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales consultant

  Also: Management consultant for marketing and sales

  With on-the-job training

  As a consultant, you analyze the sales and marketing of other companies, develop concepts and support their implementation.

  What you bring:

  You know how to build sales organizations, set prices and make marketing measurable.

  How to get there:

  Consultancies train experienced sales directors in their methods and projects, and some go self-employed with their own focus after a few years. For self-employment you need references and a good network, and at first you should expect assignments that are hard to plan.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,550gross per monthMedian salary

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• Sales trainer

  Also: Selling skills trainer

  With on-the-job training

  As a trainer, you train sales staff in conversation techniques, negotiation and customer care, either in-house at a company or for training providers.

  What you bring:

  You have done the selling yourself, built sales teams, and you know why conversations fail and how deals close.

  How to get there:

  Training providers value practical experience, and a trainer course alongside work helps you get started; its length depends on the provider. Permanent trainer positions exist mainly in larger companies; otherwise you usually work freelance.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically light

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Recruitment consultant

  Also: Recruiter for sales positions

  With on-the-job training

  As a recruitment consultant, you search for suitable candidates for companies, approach them, conduct interviews and support the placement.

  What you bring:

  You have hired many salespeople and can quickly tell who will be successful in selling.

  How to get there:

  Recruitment consultancies train career changers with sales experience in candidate research, direct outreach and selection procedures. The work itself is strongly sales-driven, often with performance-based targets.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleHome office possible

  €4,167gross per monthMedian salary

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• Fundraiser

  Also: Major gifts officer

  With on-the-job training

  In fundraising, you win over donors, major donors and sponsors for aid organizations, foundations, universities or clinics.

  What you bring:

  You can win people over for a cause, plan campaigns and maintain long-term relationships with important customers.

  How to get there:

  Nonprofit organizations train career changers from sales and marketing on the job, and fundraising courses alongside work take a few months. For jobs with leadership tasks, experience with databases, campaigns and caring for major supporters counts.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,318gross per monthMedian salary

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• Economic development officer

  Also: Location marketing officer

  With on-the-job training

  In economic development or city and regional marketing, you attract relocations, look after local companies and develop campaigns for the region.

  What you bring:

  You can market a location like a product, address target groups and build contacts with companies.

  How to get there:

  Cities, districts and regional companies train career changers from marketing and sales on the job in funding programs and administrative procedures. A university degree is usually expected. The jobs are often in the public service or at municipal companies.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people
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• Lecturer in vocational continuing education

  Also: Teacher in further and continuing education

  With on-the-job training

  At chambers, academies and training providers, you teach courses such as certified senior specialist for marketing (Fachwirt für Marketing) and prepare participants for the exams.

  What you bring:

  You can explain marketing and sales with practical examples that learners recognize from their working lives.

  How to get there:

  Training providers and chambers look for lecturers with practical experience, usually on a freelance basis. Trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung) or a trainer course of a few weeks helps you get started. As a main job, this usually only pays if you work for several providers.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €5,254gross per monthMedian salary

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• Retail buyer

  Also: Category manager

  With on-the-job training

  In the head office of a retailer, you buy goods, negotiate with suppliers and plan product ranges for many branches.

  What you bring:

  You know the product range, sell-through and customer wishes from daily work on the sales floor.

  How to get there:

  Retail chains also fill buying positions with experienced branch or store managers and train them on the job in product groups and systems. You usually have to move to the head office for this.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contactIn an office

  €4,200gross per monthMedian salary

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• Head of a logistics center

  Also: Warehouse manager

  With on-the-job training

  In a central warehouse or at a logistics provider, you lead the warehouse and dispatch and make sure deliveries arrive on time.

  What you bring:

  You lead large teams, plan staff in shifts and know the flow of goods from goods receipt to the checkout.

  How to get there:

  Retailers and logistics companies train managers from sales on the job in warehouse processes and software. Shift work is usual. Further training as a certified senior specialist for logistics systems (Fachwirt für Logistiksysteme) is possible but not necessary.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Shift workLittle customer contact

  €4,707gross per monthMedian salary

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• Field sales representative for branded goods

  Also: Key account manager in food retail

  With on-the-job training

  For brand manufacturers, you look after stores and retail head offices, negotiate product placements and promotions and plan sales.

  What you bring:

  You know how goods are placed, advertised and sold and what store managers expect from manufacturers.

  How to get there:

  Manufacturers also hire people from retail and train them on the job in products and terms. A driving license class B and willingness to travel are expected. Part of the pay is often performance-based.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with people

  €4,456gross per monthMedian salary

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• Shopping center manager

  Also: Head of a retail park (Fachmarktzentrum)

  With on-the-job training

  As a center manager, you look after the tenants of a shopping center, plan marketing and promotions, and steer service providers for security, cleaning and technology.

  What you bring:

  You know retail, customer flows and what stores want from your own experience.

  How to get there:

  Operators of shopping centers train managers from retail on the job, often first as an assistant to the center management. You learn the basics of lease contracts and real estate on the job or in courses lasting a few weeks.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Fixed daytime hoursPhysically light
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• Recruitment consultant for retail

  Also: Recruiter

  With on-the-job training

  At a recruitment consultancy or staffing service provider, you find specialists and managers for retail companies.

  What you bring:

  You have filled many positions, held job interviews and know who can succeed in retail.

  How to get there:

  Staffing service providers quickly train career changers who have industry knowledge. Expect targets and a performance-based share of the pay.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLots of contact with peopleIn an office

  €4,167gross per monthMedian salary

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• Trainer in retail

  Also: Lecturer for retail specialist (Handelsfachwirt) courses

  With further training

  As a full-time trainer or lecturer, you prepare apprentices and further training participants for their exams.

  What you bring:

  You have instructed apprentices and know product knowledge, selling and calculation from practice.

  How to get there:

  To train apprentices, you need trainer aptitude (Ausbildereignung). As a store manager, you may already have it; otherwise you prove it in an exam at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK). Preparation courses are optional, and their length depends on the provider. Full-time trainer positions exist at large retailers and training providers, while lecturing is often done alongside another job.*Regulated by law (Vocational Training Act (BBiG) § 30, Trainer Aptitude Ordinance (AEVO)).

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Mostly no weekendsFixed daytime hoursPhysically lightLittle customer contact

  €5,075gross per monthMedian salary

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• Independent grocery store owner (selbstständiger Lebensmittelkaufmann)

  Also: Retail franchisee

  With training or an exam

  As an independent merchant or franchisee, you run your own store with the support of a retail group or a franchisor.

  What you bring:

  You already know how to run a store with staff, goods and figures.

  How to get there:

  Cooperative retail groups and franchise systems prepare future independent business owners in their own programs; how long they take depends on the retail group. You need equity capital and carry the entrepreneurial risk, so have contracts checked before you sign.*

  * No guarantee of accuracy.

  Often at weekendsPhysically demandingLots of contact with people

  €4,604gross per monthMedian salary

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Salary: median of all full-time employees in the job, gross per month excluding special payments, as of April 2025. Half earn more, half earn less. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), table 62361-0030, license dl-de/by-2-0. Assigned to the jobs by quereinsteiger.de. No guarantee of accuracy.