From Banking to Automotive: The Power of Changing Industries

The Beginning: Entering the Finance World

In 2013, right after graduating from Uludağ University with a degree in Econometrics, I took my first professional step as a customer representative at Finansbank Enpara.com. During that period when digital banking was just taking shape in Turkey, I learned how critical direct customer communication is.

Then in 2014, I moved to Kuveyt Türk as a commercial banking sales associate. This position was a turning point for me. Working with corporate clients, performing financial analysis, and managing sales processes — all of these became the foundational skills I use in the automotive sector today.

"Everything you learn in banking — risk analysis, customer segmentation, portfolio management — is actually universal sales skills. Only the product changes; the approach remains the same."

The Big Decision: Switching to Automotive

In late 2016, the account manager offer from Hedef Filo completely changed the trajectory of my career. The operational leasing sector was a field where I could directly apply the financial analysis expertise I'd gained in banking.

At Hedef Filo, I worked on customer portfolio management, data analytics in fleet management, and competitive analysis. The TCO calculation habit I brought from banking allowed me to offer fleet customers a very different value proposition. While most fleet sales specialists sell based on vehicle specifications, I could sell based on financial advantages.

Çelik Motor and Digital Transformation

My transition to Çelik Motor under the Anadolu Group in 2018 was the second major leap in my career. Here, I first managed sales and customer relationships for the Bulur, İkinciyeni, and Praticar brands as an e-commerce corporate sales executive.

Then I moved to the online auctions executive position. This role gave me a front-row seat to how digital transformation was fundamentally changing automotive sales.

5 Lessons from Changing Industries

1. Transferable skills are real. The negotiation, financial analysis, and customer management skills I acquired in banking transferred directly to automotive.

2. A different perspective creates competitive advantage. While everyone in automotive thinks with an automotive mindset, I can look through a financier's lens.

3. Speed of adaptation matters. When you switch industries, the first 6 months are critical. My Strategic Marketing master's degree at Bahçeşehir University was enormously helpful during this transition.

4. You need to rebuild your network. Your professional network from banking may not directly transfer to automotive. But over time, connections in both sectors give you a unique bridge role.

5. Leaving your comfort zone creates growth. I had a safe career path in banking. Switching to automotive seemed risky. But looking back, this decision grew me enormously, both professionally and personally.

Conclusion

Switching industries can be one of the most frightening but potentially most rewarding decisions in your career. What matters is knowing how to apply your existing skills in a new context and being open to learning. My transition from finance to automotive taught me this: the right skills are more important than the right industry.