Joe Finnan


Joined in: Feb 2022

Job title: SME Account Manager 

Five years ago, Joe Finnan went to a sales recruitment day and unknowingly stepped into an unceasing passion and a prosperous career in the sales industry. After pursuing various alternative avenues, namely dabbling in Journalism, Marketing, and Videography, he came to realise that being a salesman was his true calling.

Last month we sat down with Joe to find out exactly what he loves about sales, as well as uncovering his initial thoughts of our business and its culture during his first few weeks of being an Advanced employee. 

What is it about sales that you enjoy?

Ever since the day I took part in a sales recruitment day in Wilmslow five years ago I feel like I’ve found the direction in which I want to take my career. I was especially interested in working for a software company as I know how many great companies there are within the industry; therefore, when the opportunity came to join Advanced, it was an offer I just couldn’t turn down.

Since working in sales I’ve found that no two days are the same; every day brings a new challenge or avenue to explore and that’s something that I love about the job. In comparison to my previous roles, I've found that a career in sales has been much more vibrant and very dynamic, keeping me energised and engaged throughout my workday. 

It’s also very rewarding to be able to solve issues for people, help customers, and by doing so, even though it sounds quite cliché; be able to nurture and build those longstanding relationships with them.

What attracted you to Advanced?

Working in software sales, with an established brand within the technology industry, has always been a strong ambition of mine, and after finding out about the progression opportunities that Advanced has to offer, there seemed only one obvious choice when it came down to it.

"I love having that feeling of coming into the Mailbox (our Birmingham office) as the place is buzzing, full of friendly and welcoming people"

I’d heard from people who I know personally that work in the same industry, and they had nothing but praise for the company, its culture, and the people who work there which really stood out to me. One of the things that I picked up on pretty quickly was that a lot of people who work here seemed to have stuck around for a long time, so it’s clearly somewhere that I can build some longevity within my sales career.

When I was looking for jobs, I did have a few offers on the table which was an amazing position to be in. Therefore, I had a long discussion with my partner, and we decided that if I wanted to fulfil my ambitions by progressing into senior sales roles and potential managerial positions in the future, there was only ever going to be one destination for me. 

That’s not to say that I didn’t have doubts going into it - with my lack of knowledge and experience in software sales – however, they saw my potential to succeed in the role and made me an offer regardless of my inexperience.

How would you describe your first few weeks with Advanced?

It’s genuinely been great. I’m currently three days into my third week and I feel like I've settled into the role and bonded with my new team from the word go. I’ve worked in some great places before with some great people, but I don’t know what it is about this place that just feels different.

"Since working in sales I’ve found that no two days are the same; every day brings a new challenge or avenue to explore and that’s something that I love about the job".

I love having that feeling of coming into the Mailbox (our Birmingham office) as the place is buzzing, full of friendly and welcoming people. For that reason alone, I’ve been commuting to the office on most days so that I’m able to connect and collaborate with my new colleagues straight away.

The team made sure to give me a warm welcome into the business; making me feel right at home by going out for food and drinks in the nearby restaurants and bars after work. Everyone has taken the time to come over and introduce themselves and have offered to help in any way they can if I’m struggling with anything. They all appreciate how daunting and nerve-wracking it can be to join a new company, so it’s something that I’ve really appreciated.

What do you do outside of work?

I do play rugby, that is a big part of my life; I’m currently the captain of my team and it takes up quite a lot of my time but in a good way. Apart from that, I’m just your average 28-year-old: I like going out and drinking too much with my friends, going out for food and watching box sets on the sofa with my girlfriend.

"A lot of people who work here seemed to have stuck around for a long time, so it’s clearly somewhere that I can build some longevity within my sales career".

That being said I am into my cooking, and I have a funny story about nearly getting onto MasterChef last year after a drunken conversation with my dad; during which he convinced me to apply to be a contestant on the prime time TV show. But anyway, long story short: I got down to the final stages which were around 50/60 people, but at the very last hurdle they had to let me go due to my lack of cooking experience.  

I was a bit disappointed but then it was nice to have gotten some recognition for my culinary skills, and you never know, I might apply again someday!

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a career in sales?

Be very sociable, and don’t hide behind others. When you join a new company; make sure to introduce yourself to everyone and build those important relationships early on. If you want to start working in sales, go into it with an open mind – I never would have thought four years ago that I’d end up working in software sales, so make sure to keep all of your options open.

Another important thing is to not be focused on what your selling, instead shift your focus onto the company that you’re working for. It’s more about the company that you’re in and the support that you receive than the product that you’re selling.

What are your future aspirations?

Going forward, I want to be in some sort of sales management role; I have the goal of being a sales manager by 35. I set that goal when I first started in sales so that’s something I hope to achieve during my time here.

"I’ve worked in some great places before with some great people, but I don’t know what it is about this place that just feels different".

The best-case scenario for me is finding a good base at a company, filled with great people and fantastic teams like the ones I’ve found here; where I can progress and develop naturally over time. I can already see myself happily staying here for years to come if I can help the business and they can support me back in return.

Overall, my main goal is just to have a happy and successful sales career.