Now you have a degree..so what?

So, I haven't written for awhile (4 days to be exact). After the holiday intervals from December through January, things are now really moving at work. The current festive period is also a time of a lot of after hours Lou Sang celebrations. Hence, late nights. Whilst the waistline is suffering, these occasions are a good time to meet old acquaintances and meet new people. In my line of duty, this is important.

I'm in sales and marketing. Have been for at least two thirds of my career. And how did I end up here? What choices (or missteps..) I made along the way and how can you make your choices too?

Let's rewind a few (ok ok...many) years back..

Apparently, when I was asked the classic high school year book question of what is your ambition, I said Engineer. I don't recall why or if I had too much 'air rakyat' (classic boarding school drink of sugared water and colouring) to drink that day but yeah, it says 'Engineer' in my yearbook (don't mind the hair if you ever see that picture...the perm WAS in I tell ya..)

I was also one of the lucky few who was offered many options of college education. My shortlist was a medical degree in UM or an Engineering degree and the opportunity to study overseas. Guess which I chose.. Of course not Engineering, but the opportunity to live overseas. Haha. (blame the teenage hormones)

And that was how it was. I must say very few things about Engineering interest me (except the very good looking professor in Dynamics class). So fast forward, I finished it because I just didn't want to fail all the people who were always praying for the best for me (ok ok and also to avoid my scholarship giver from breathing down my neck..)

When it was time to start facing the real world and earning my own moolah, I was also then fortunate to be given the opportunity to choose which department I wanted to start with. Simple answer.."anywhere but the exchange" (yes those old telecom buildings that don't seem to have windows). It was not really about the place or people but I realised by then, Engineering and me was never meant to be..

So I started my career in sales although the technical part of sales. That gave me the opportunity to use what I have formally been educated in as well as a completely new area of sales and marketing.This is what I conclude. Starting your career in sales department has a lot of advantage. It is the fastest place to learn about the market, the business, the process and people in the company. Being in the frontline forces you to understand the customer and most times, turn back and look inside every nook and corner of the company, especially when you're trying to solve a problem. I believe no one in any other department would get that chance to do so.

Don't get me wrong, sales is tough. But when you're young and starting out *read eager and naive*, you're forgiven for many things so best face your challenges early on. What doesn't kill you does make you stronger!