Can you share a little bit about your educational background? What led you to pursue a career in sales?
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from UC Irvine. I never really thought about a career in sales when I was in school, but the first job I got out of college was an entry level sales role with a huge focus on sales training and career development. I found out that I was actually pretty good in sales, which set me on this path for my career so far.
Interesting! Please share a little about your sales career journey…
I have done both new sales and post sales/Account Management work in my career, and have spanned multiple industries. I started as a technical recruiter, moved into software sales as an SDR, did CSM/AM work for a while as well. Recently, I have veered more toward the new sales side of things, and my new role is a pure new sales, Account Executive role.
Which, if any, educational opportunities have made the biggest impact on your career?
I feel my time at previous roles and companies made me the sales person I am today. I don’t feel my educational background has had a huge impact on me in this field. I credit a lot of my success to my first job at Motion Recruitment. They really emphasized sales training, and improving your sales skills. It was like the best “MBA” I could have asked for.
Related: Hired Partner Sales Impact Academy provides education solutions for sales teams.
Has your skillset evolved?
Absolutely. The more you practice anything, the better you get, and sales is no different. I think it is remarkable how much better of a sales professional I am now, than when I started. The key is to understand you are solving a problem for your customer, not selling a product. If you can really show your product as a value add, the sale makes itself.
“The key [to sales] is to understand you are solving a problem for your customer, not selling a product. If you can really show your product as a value add, the sale makes itself.”
Simon Asraf
Is your new role different from previous ones? If so, how?
My new role is a change of industry from IT to Marketing sales, but still SaaS sales as a whole. I will also be dealing with bigger customers in more of an Enterprise role vs. a lot of SMB work I did in the past.
What are some of the things you’re most excited about in your new role/career?
I am really excited to learn more about the product and to sell to household brand names.
What was your job search experience like before you joined Hired?
My job search experience before Hired was pretty narrow in scope and focus. Hired was able to get me in touch with a lot of companies I had not heard of or seen on job boards, which really helped me expand my search.
What’s your best advice for job seekers registered on the Hired platform?
Have an open mind and take exploratory calls with any company that reaches out. It is typically only 30 minutes, and it can really lead to some exciting conversations, or open your eyes to industries/roles you haven’t really considered.
What would you tell someone who’s curious about Hired?
Try it out! I was able to land a great job, with a growing start up, and increase my OTE by over 30%! Not sure how much better of a testimonial you need!
Any general advice you’d like to give other sales professionals?
- Understand what you really like to do, and understand your worth.
- Most companies will split salespeople into two buckets: net new sales (Account Executive), and post sales (Account Manager/Customer Success Manager). Some companies will have you do a hybrid role, but focusing on one of these two buckets in your job search is key to help you see the best results.
- And lastly, know the market for your talent, and don’t settle for less. Every company needs good sales people and they are willing to pay for talent.
Thank you, Simon, and congrats again on your new role as a sales account executive for Simon Data!
About Simon Data
Based in New York, NY, Simon Data is an enterprise software company empowering brands to personalize customer experiences through data. They’re currently one of the fastest-growing NYC companies in marketing technology.
Benefits: competitive equity options, 401k, health, dental, vision, life, & disability insurance, fitness reimbursement, maternity/paternity leave, unlimited PTO, work from home flexibility, personal/professional development activities/programs.
Tech stack: (for engineering candidates) React.js, Python, Redux, Django, TypeScript, AWS, GraphQL, Docker, Kubernetes, Apache Slink, Spark.
About Hired
Hired is the simplest, most efficient way to find a tech or sales role you love. Combining data with unbiased career counseling, Hired matches candidates with companies who respect their specific skills, goals, and values. Backed by the Adecco Group, Hired makes it easier for hiring to be more equitable, efficient, and transparent. Set up your free profile today and see for yourself. Your best career move could be one match away.
Source: Talent Acquisition - hired.com
