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

Hello, this is Miyoshi from the recruitment team.
The weather is unfortunately gloomy today as I write this article. My cat is sleeping even more than usual while I work. They
say cats sleep a lot on rainy days, and that's exactly what this afternoon is like.

Today, I'd like to introduce you to our sales department.
While we have many engineers on staff, our sales department and other departments also have a diverse group of reliable and talented individuals who are active every day.
I hope this will give you a glimpse into the work and atmosphere of our sales department!

Sales: What kind of person is Fujii?

Name: Mahiro Fujii
Occupation: Sales
Department: Sales Division
Hobbies: Picnics / Watching basketball / Doing my 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 was the deciding factor in joining the company?
Fujii: I was impressed by how honestly they spoke to me about the company's structure and the challenges of the work during the interview. They told me about the realistic aspects as well as the good things, so there was less of a gap between my expectations and reality after joining the company, and I'm able to work with peace of mind. I feel that this is a company that genuinely cares about each individual 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 stood out to you during the selection process?
Fujii: Being able to interview with all the sales members. I was able to get a good idea of ​​what it would be like to actually work with them, and I was able to accept the job offer with confidence.

--Were there any differences between your expectations before joining the company and your actual experience after joining?
Fujii: Yes, there were! To be honest, before joining, I thought that "IT companies are full of quiet people, and it's the kind of place where you just work on things by yourself." But in reality, it's not like that at all (laughs). Everyone talks a lot, and if there's anything you don't understand, you can immediately communicate with the team and work together to move 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 role mainly involves new business development, sales to existing customers, and handling inquiries. I also actively participate in networking events and other gatherings to expand my connections with people outside the company.
In terms of how I approach my work, there's about a 50/50 balance between working collaboratively as a team and having the freedom to act independently. While I work towards goals in cooperation with team members, there are also many opportunities to act on my own judgment, which I find very rewarding.

Daily Schedule

Fujii: Here's a rough outline of my daily schedule!

10:00: Respond to inquiries, prepare quotes
11:00: One-on-one meeting with supervisor
12:15: Midday meeting
12:30: Break
14:00: Visit client sites
16:00: Return to office and have online meeting with client
17:00: Evening sales meeting
18:00: Prepare for tomorrow's business negotiations
19:00: End of workday

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

Fujii: While sales work is rewarding, it's also often challenging. I've had the experience of failing to secure an order from a customer after spending a lot of time visiting them multiple times. Honestly, I was very frustrated and discouraged at the time. However, instead of letting it end there, I reflected on things like, "How can I communicate with customers in a way that resonates more effectively?" and "Was there anything unclear in my explanation of the product?" By applying those insights to my next sales meeting, I was able to avoid repeating the same mistakes and gradually achieve results. I believe that learning from mistakes is truly important in sales.

Furthermore, what I value most in sales is not just being the face of the company, but also making customers think, "I want to meet Fujii-san." To achieve this, I make it a point to first show interest in the other person. I believe that by trying to understand the background and needs of each customer, trust deepens, which naturally leads to good results.
This sales style, which values ​​human relationships, is both my strength and the source of my motivation.

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

Fujii: After work or on my days off, I make it a habit to go to Pilates once a week. I started it to lose weight, but now it's become an important time for me to loosen up and reset my body. Exercising gives me a sense of accomplishment and also helps stabilize my mental state, so I feel like it's surprisingly good for my mental well-being 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: These are Anker earphones! I really like the color, and they lift my spirits just by looking at them. They have noise-canceling functionality, so I can concentrate without being bothered by surrounding noises during online meetings, and they're incredibly useful for work.

That concludes our interview with Ms. Fujii from the Sales Department!
As Ms. Fujii mentioned, sales is a rewarding job where you deliver value on the front lines with customers.
We are currently recruiting people who are interested in taking on this sales challenge. If you're even slightly interested, why not have a chat with us?

Pre-sales (Osaka Sales Department)

Well then~