From a female perspective, how would you describe the progress of your career at Advanced, in what used to be perceived as a male-dominated industry?

I’d certainly say that I’ve had a great career journey so far in the world of Sales. After graduating from university, I worked in telesales for just over a year, before eventually moving over to Advanced. That’s when I really started to see some real progression and development in my career.

I applied for a role at Advanced as an Associate Market Researcher (which just wasn’t the right role for me) and fortunately for me, here at Advanced, if the role you’re working in isn’t right for you, then you can apply for other vacancies internally through Internal Mobility.

That’s how my career progressed into Sales; starting off as an Inside Sales Executive (now BD Executive), and then climbing up the career framework to become an SME (Small & Medium-sized Enterprise) Account Manager, and more recently a Senior Account Manager.

The best thing that Advanced have given me is the feeling of being valued; in terms of the value that I bring to the team and then being encouraged to take on new roles and fulfil my potential within the Sales team.

What's the best part about working in the Advanced Sales team?

So, I think the best part about working in the Advanced Sales team, is the team itself. Thinking back to the early days when I became a part of the SME team, I remember us all being so close; we had a great camaraderie, and everyone helped and supported each other when they needed it.

Working in Sales can be quite a demanding job, and sometimes you need some help and support, and that’s something I've always received from my colleagues. I feel like it’s getting to the point now where the team is getting stronger, and the people around you are always willing to help and offer their opinions and suggestions on how things can be improved.

Having this great team ethos and camaraderie is what’s really made my time here at Advanced. Within the Sales team, we're a tight-knit team that works together in unison like a family. I know of people who have left the team who I still keep in touch with now, and have become lifelong friends with. So yeah, I'd say the togetherness and the team spirit is the best part about working in the Advanced Sales team. 

How would you describe the culture within the Advanced Sales team?  

The Sales team here at Advanced is a big team where everybody comes together and helps each other. It has changed over the years but is now at a point where the team itself is becoming more multicultural and diverse. This is really important for me, as I believe that having different people who all come from different backgrounds, presenting different ideas who all come together to work and act as one team can only be a good thing going forward.

Having a positive, and forward-thinking culture within the team means everybody can come together and collaborate, meaning we all stand in better stead to reach our targets and goals going forward. 

What interests you the most about the world of Sales?

The great thing about working in a Sales role is that you’re constantly learning, and I feel like there’s always a new challenge to overcome. Obviously, one of the best parts is when you get a big sale over the dotted line. However, what really makes Working in Sales such a great career are the opportunities that you get to progress and develop at pace. You’re always given the chance to develop and learn about new things, whether that’s looking into prospects pitching ideas, or closing a deal. 

For me, what sets Advanced apart from other companies, is that they give you that help and provide you with everything that you might need to succeed in your role. They’re not the type of company who just leave you to your own devices. With Advanced, there’s always something new you can learn and build upon, and I’d say that’s the best bit, as you never get bored because you’re always given opportunities to learn something new.

What advice would you give to somebody wanting to start a career in Sales?

I think the best advice I could give anyone wanting to start a career in Sales is to just go for it. If you started working in Sales, wanted to continue for 5-6 years, and then wanted to move into something completely different; the skills and experience you attain are so transferable and open so many doors, so you can take your career in any direction you want afterwards.

If I were to give advice to any women out there who are looking to kick-start a career in sales, then I would tell them not to shy away from it. From my personal experience, the women that I’ve worked with in the Sales team here at Advanced have done some absolutely amazing things, so I’d hate to think that people, and especially women, would shy away from it until they’ve gone into it and seen what it’s all about.

Unfortunately, I do still see Sales as a male dominated industry, however; I feel like there has been a shift within the industry in recent years, as women realise they can do it too, and they've got just as much, if not a better chance of having a successful career in sales! 

Do you see yourself staying in Sales for the foreseeable future?

I really do. I still think there’s a lot more that I can learn in Sales - even after working in the department for nearly six years - and there’s certainly more that I can achieve going forward. Even though six years sounds like a long time, I’m still quite early in my Sales career. So yeah, I can definitely still see myself working in sales for the foreseeable future here at Advanced.