Let’s cut to it: you know packaging. You know how to spell “polyethylene” without Googling it. You’ve fought over fluting profiles, negotiated on board weight, and smiled politely as someone asked, “Can you just match this quote?” for the thousandth time.
But here’s the real question: Are you still in the right place… or are you just stuck in the same place?
Because while you’ve been grinding away, hitting targets, keeping clients sweet and pretending to care about this year’s “game-changing ERP migration,” the industry’s evolved and so have the opportunities.
“It’s Just Packaging Sales. How Different Can It Be?”
Oh, sweet summer child. The difference between a good packaging sales role and a great one is the difference between surviving and actually thriving.
You know the drill:
- One employer gives you five SKUs, no flexibility, and tells you to “upsell more somehow.”
- Another gives you a full portfolio, pricing autonomy, marketing backup, and leads that don’t make you cry.
Some roles pay commission when the planets align. Others pay it monthly, fairly, and without you needing to write a thesis to justify it.
Some managers talk about “career progression” like it’s a unicorn. Others actually invest in your development and want you to grow because your success means their success.
The Best Opportunities Aren’t Always Advertised
Here’s the kicker: the best firms are hiring quietly. They’re upgrading teams, launching new sustainable lines, investing in tech, and they’re looking for people like you. Not because you’re available, but because you’re experienced, sharp, and underutilised where you are.
“But I’m Comfortable…”
Of course you are. That’s why you’re reading this and not prospecting right now.
Comfort’s great. Until it isn’t. Until it becomes boredom. Or burnout. Or “how is it December again and I still haven’t moved?”
Here’s a little industry secret: The people making the biggest career jumps in packaging aren’t the ones who waited for redundancy. They’re the ones who explored when they didn’t have to.
They took a few calls. Had a few chats. Looked under the hood of what could be. And when the right role came up, with better clients, bigger budgets, or (shock horror) a supportive culture, they made the move.
So… Is the Grass Greener?
If you’re stuck selling stock boxes at 5% margin with no marketing support and a CRM that last synced in 2016? Then yes. Yes it is.
If you’ve got an amazing boss, great clients, and you bounce out of bed every Monday ready to sell void fill like it’s Glastonbury tickets? Maybe not.
But here’s the thing: you won’t know unless you look.
And sometimes, it’s not about jumping ship, it’s about upgrading vessels. You’ve already got the industry know-how. The contacts. The resilience. Why not put that to work in a role that rewards it properly?
Final Word
You’ve built your reputation in packaging. That’s not easy. You deserve a role that builds on it, not one that coasts off it.
So whether you’re 10 years in or still learning your way around liners and laminates, ask yourself: Are you proud of your role… or just loyal to it?
If it’s time to explore what else is out there – quietly, confidentially, no pressure – have a word. There’s no harm in a conversation. Only in staying stuck out of habit.
And who knows? The next big thing in packaging might just have your name on it.
