Transitioning from Sales to Sales Trainer: Is Experience Enough or Do I Need Certification?

Dear Expert,

I am a sales professional who has worked with companies like HUL and RCOM, equipped with rich experience of 8+ years. Now, I would like to become a sales trainer. Is it a good thought? Do I need some certification, or would my past rich work experience and training help me to pursue this career?

Thank you.

There is no problem in exploring your urge to become a Sales Trainer. Your experience will definitely be a huge plus point, especially in sharing relevant examples to supplement your training inputs.

Considerations Before Becoming a Sales Trainer

However, you need to factor in the following before making your decision:

- How strong a communicator are you?
- Have you had a fair amount of experience addressing an audience for over 4 hours at least?
- Have you prepared your content for the training to be conducted?
- Are you sure you will enjoy the process of training, the travel involved, the erratic nature of the business flow, and the compensation?
- Have you attended various training programs on both generic training and particularly sales training? This will give you a better perspective about the business of conducting a training session.
- Have you identified potential clients for your business, and what will be your pitch to them?

I would urge you to write down your responses to each of the above questions and also formulate other relevant questions that will give you a clearer picture of your plans to be a sales training professional.

Best Wishes

Thank you for your response. Besides working with clients, I possess a range of other skills and abilities including creating training materials, developing modules, effective communication, and delivery capabilities. I am interested in pursuing a career in training either at a training institution or within a reputable organization on a full-time basis. Any guidance you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,