It's been a year since I changed jobs. What is it really like working in IT sales?

Hello, this is Miyoshi, the recruiting manager.
As I write this article, the weather is unfortunately bad today. My cat is sleeping more than usual next to me as I work.
They say that cats sleep better on rainy days, and this was one such afternoon.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to our sales department.
We have many engineers on staff, but our sales department and other departments also have many unique and reliable members who work hard every day.
I hope this article gives you a glimpse into the work and atmosphere of our sales department!

Sales: What kind of person is Fujii?

Name: Mahiro Fujii
Job: Sales
Department: Sales Department
Hobbies: Picnics, watching basketball, doing your own nails

Fujii-san is a gentle person who places great importance on communication with those around him. He has a calm demeanor, yet he has his own strong opinions and is impressive for actively cooperating with his team and projects. He naturally lends a hand when someone is in trouble, so even though we are in different departments, he has helped me many times.

Fujii's way of speaking is reassuring, and I think that's one of his greatest charms as a salesperson, as he builds relationships of trust. Even within the company, Fujii seems to be trusted to act politely and quickly when needed. Many people seem to feel that his proactive attitude makes him a reliable member of the team.

Why did you join Beyond?

--What made you decide to join the company?
Fujii : During the interview, I was impressed by how honestly they spoke to me about the company's structure and the difficulties of the work. They told me not only the good things but also the real side of things, so I was able to work with peace of mind and there were few gaps after joining the company. I feel like this is a company that really cares about each and every employee.

Also, the IT industry is a field that is set to continue to grow, so I wanted to take on a new challenge. I'm the type of person who finds fulfillment in behind-the-scenes support work, so I thought being involved in the server business, which is the "behind-the-scenes presence of IT," would suit me. The style of working on a project-by-project basis also suited my aspirations, and Beyond, which handles 100% contract development, felt like the ideal company for me.

--What was the most memorable thing during the selection process?
Fujii: I was able to interview all of the sales members. I was able to imagine what it would be like to actually work with them, so I accepted the job offer with peace of mind.

--Was there a difference between before and after joining the company?
Fujii : Yes! To be honest, before I joined, I thought that IT companies have a lot of quiet people and that it's like you have to work hard on your own. But in reality, that's not the case at all (laughs). Everyone talks a lot, and if there's something you don't understand, you immediately communicate with the team, and there's an atmosphere of working together to move things forward.

In the evenings, we have some fun chatting and have a moment to refresh ourselves by talking about things unrelated to work. I'm not from the Kansai region, but the atmosphere at work, with its boke (funny jokes) and tsukkomi (comedian responses to jokes) flying around, is very bright and fun.

What does the sales department do?

Roles held

Fujii : My main role is to develop new business, sell to existing customers, and respond to inquiries. I also actively participate in networking events and meet with people outside the company, which I find important.
In terms of how I work, the balance is about half collaborative teamwork and half free to act at my own discretion. While I work towards our goals in cooperation with my team members, there are also many occasions when I can act at my own discretion, which I find extremely rewarding.

Daily schedule

Fujii : This is a rough outline of my daily schedule!

・10:00: Responding to inquiries and creating estimates
・11:00: 1-on-1 with my boss
・12:15: Lunch meeting
・12:30: Break
・14:00: Visiting a client
・16:00: Return to the office and hold an online meeting with a client
・17:00: Evening sales meeting
・18:00: Preparation for tomorrow's business negotiations
・19:00: Regular work hours

Is sales hard? We asked about what it's really like

Fujii : Sales work is rewarding, but it can also be quite difficult. I've had the experience of not being able to secure an order from a customer after spending a lot of time visiting them multiple times. To be honest, I was very frustrated and depressed at the time. However, I didn't just leave it there, but reflected on the situation, asking myself, "How can I communicate more effectively with customers?" and "Was there anything in my explanation of the products that was difficult to understand?" Then, by making good use of that realization in the next sales meeting, I was able to gradually achieve results without repeating the same mistakes. I believe that the attitude of learning from failure is truly important in sales.

What I particularly value in sales is not just being the face of the company, but also making customers think, "I want to meet you, Mr. Fujii." To achieve this, I try to first take an interest in the other person. I feel that by trying to understand the background and needs of each customer, relationships of trust deepen, which naturally leads to good results.
This sales style that values ​​human relationships is both my strength and the source of my motivation.

What do you do after work/on your days off?

Fujii : I've made it a habit to go to Pilates once a week after work or on my days off. I started with the goal of losing weight, but now it's become an important time for me to loosen up and reset my body. Exercise gives me a sense of accomplishment and helps me feel more stable mentally, so I feel like it's actually good for taking care of my mind as well.

In my daily life, I try to concentrate and work efficiently during work so that I can have enough time for myself after work. If I work past the regular working hours, my boss might ask me, "Aren't you going home yet?" (laughs), so I gear up about an hour before the regular working hours and finish my work in one go.

I sometimes participate in social gatherings or events in the evening, but on those days I use the flextime system to shift my arrival time to give myself more time in the morning. Thanks to being able to switch between work and personal time properly, I can enjoy my days off to the fullest and I think I'm able to work at a good rhythm.

My favorite business items

Fujii : Anker earphones! I really like the color, and they look great. They have a noise-canceling function, so I can concentrate without being bothered by surrounding noise during online meetings, and they're great for work too.

This concludes our interview with Fujii-san from the Sales Department!
As Fujii-san mentioned, sales is a rewarding job that involves delivering value to customers on the front lines.
Our company is looking for people who are willing to take on the challenge of a sales position like this. If you're interested, why not give us a call and talk to us?

Pre-sales (Osaka, Technical Sales Department)

Well then