Sales Engineers (and other outwardly focused Technical experts) can help their careers and stature in their own company by raising their industry profile. What I mean by this is make sure that people in the industry respect your opinion and will come to you with questions regardless of the products & services you sell. Obviously this puts you into a privileged position with those people as long as you don't abuse this respect.
How to become a Industry Expert?
How do you get to do the above things? Really I don't believe anyone is stopping you. Some of these might be hard as a first step - such as conferences or books or so forth. Use the easier entry points to get known though, and your profile will be improved.
Advantages
Be being the expert - it makes your opinion worth something. You become sought after, and more people will read your material. It helps your current employer, but also may open up your career options later.
Further reading
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| Speaking at Conferences |
- Speak at conferences
- Write articles for independent industry sites
- Go to user group meetings
- Write a blog on the industry
- Publish a book/manual
- Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn/etc
How do you get to do the above things? Really I don't believe anyone is stopping you. Some of these might be hard as a first step - such as conferences or books or so forth. Use the easier entry points to get known though, and your profile will be improved.
Advantages
Be being the expert - it makes your opinion worth something. You become sought after, and more people will read your material. It helps your current employer, but also may open up your career options later.
Further reading
- ITSM Review: I’m not saying my opinion is better than yours, but I do have a klout score over 60
- PR Newswire: Become an Industry Expert