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I don't agree with Ahmed Khater. A Manager or a Project Manager must be a Generalist, he/she has to have a wide knowledge and experience because the environment he/she act needs to have it.
1. We all know that Stakeholders management is one of the critical processes of Project Management activities and having sales experience means a project manager has a hands on experience in dealing with people outside organization, who can be Stakeholders in case of project.
2. Projects are mostly executed in a Matrix environment within the organization these days. In this case, project manager often needs to communicate and bargain with Line managers for getting required project team. Thus having sales experience gives a competitive advantage to the project managers as well.
Sales experiences could be useful for any other position from an organisation. Even if we speak about marketing position or project management, any sales experience especially which is not related to project management will help you a lot. Why? Because sales means communication skills, project management knowledge, marketing strategies, human relationship and so on. Sales have some from eveything so yes I definitely think sales experience will help you in project management positions.
Look at the the biggest companies from the world. Their CEOs have sales experience or they started from sales position, because their you have the real feeling of your customers. Up there are only projections from market which could be real or not so real. But on sales field you feel it for real day by day.
When it comes to project manager nothing is irrelevant. As mentioned by Mr Nicolaides a PM shall be a generalist with exposure to as many fields as possible. Hence the more the better including Sales experience that would help him comprehend/manage the commercial/procurement aspects in a better way.
Personally i believe that any experience we go through is a blessing, its a add up to my basket. it will bring to me more connections more clicks and different way of thinking in case of a problems.
Project Management is more focused on the application of processes, methods, knowledge and skills to ensure goal attainment. Direct sales experience is inclined on direct contact honing ones persuasiveness and being in touch with various personalities. If you pair both you will get a perfect combination in achieving competitive advantage--- as you have the right knowledge and skills plus the ability to adapt to anyone that you will dealing with.
I think it is in all cases , even - it may support a simple percentage.
The best answer from mrPanicos Nicolaides
Iam fully agree
Sales experience does not carry any value until the product quality is good and advertisement is secret weapon of sales. So one having some sales experience brings nothing to project management, but to start how to organize & materialized the project with full sewing.
The fact that expertise in a broader and more comprehensive and the most difficult of sales experience in . the project management so their presence is a competitive advantage
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