from Carl McMullen, account manager, by e-mail

Sir; Further to the recent correspondence published in The Grocer about ageism within the sales industry:

There is no person in this country who has endured what I have in recent years. I am a blue chip trained national account manager who took voluntary redundancy three years ago and entered a twilight zone of unbelievable proportions.

So I put pen to paper and have had a book deal agreed which gives a warts and all account of the sales recruitment industry.

I believe the problem with the current UK sales recruitment market is two-fold - recruitment consultants and poor human resources involvement.

My tip is don’t trust agencies. They will tell you lies in order to get you in front of a client and will hold grudges against you if you are choosy about the interviews you attend.

On the subject of HR, it is frightening that there are good companies out there who drive away talented sales people.

If your company has a high staff turnover, then you should be brave and strong enough to start asking the question, ‘why’?

The Grocer’s correspondents who are unable to find work should remember that the two essential ingredients for success in sales are perseverance and determination. The more rejections I had then the more determined I became and that’s why, now, I have just gained a very well paid position in the medical sector after six months of unemployment.

My advice is go it alone, trust nobody, stay determined and never, ever underestimate your skills and ability, and good luck to all you job hunters in the sales industry.