Career change as a head of sales
With your experience you can switch to 8 jobs in Germany: 1 right away, 7 with on-the-job training and 0 with training or a course.
In the job search you can sort by what matters to you, save jobs and see where they lead.
Career change paths
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Business developer
Also: Product manager
Start right away
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 -
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which jobs can I do as a head of sales without vocational training or retraining?
Without a new qualification, often with on-the-job training: Managing director, Sales consultant, Sales trainer, Recruitment consultant, Fundraiser, Economic development officer, Lecturer in vocational continuing education and Business developer.
What promotion options do I have as a head of sales?
Promotions include, for example: Managing director.
Which of these jobs pay the most?
According to official statistics, the highest median full-time salaries are: Managing director (€8,555 gross per month), Sales consultant (€5,550 gross per month) and Business developer (€5,385 gross per month). Half of employees earn more, half earn less; when you start it is often lower. Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), April 2025. No guarantee of accuracy.
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