Say hello to Saied, a Manager on our Enterprise Sales team. Saied’s #FiveStarCareer began in 2019 when he joined Yelp as a Client Partner. When reflecting on his journey at Yelp, he says, “I have reminded myself to focus on the things that I can control. With everything that has happened around the world in the last few years, this philosophy has helped me to stay positive and remain calm, which are two important qualities when working in sales.”
How did you know you wanted to pursue a job in sales?
My route to sales wasn’t linear or typical. I followed my heart and chased adventure in Asia with my girlfriend (now wife) after NYC burnt us out in our 20s. In Thailand, I swore I’d do anything but teach English and insisted I’d only work in a role that would further my “career.”
On an online forum, I was referred to an opening for a handbag, jewelry, and clothing wholesaler and got the gig. I had very few qualifications, but I trusted my work ethic. In this role, I learned what it meant to sell a product online, and I ran eight online shops on third-party platforms and our own website. It was a crash course in sales, and I’ve continued down that path ever since!
What is your advice to someone interested in sales?
You don’t need formal training or a strict sales background to be successful. Sales is all about the art of communication. If you are innately curious, know how to ask great questions, listen well, and are resilient, you will succeed!
What does a typical day look like in your role?
My typical day is focused on two main things: being the first line of support for my team and ensuring our leaders receive any necessary information efficiently and without error. More specifically, my day includes forecasting, pipeline updates, and rep activity. I start every morning by going through my emails and making a to-do list. I’m a big believer in keeping my inbox at zero. I also have a couple of key documents I use to manage my team’s book of business that I reference throughout the day. Next is meeting prep. I have a lot of meetings that I run with my reps, client calls, and weekly team meetings, so I work on creating content for all of those calls. Other than that, I am focused on helping our team close late-stage opportunities, grow existing clients, and protect the business we’ve already won!
How do you stay motivated to hit your goals on a tough day?
When things get tough, I like to take a break or take a walk to reflect on my current challenges. Tough days happen, but the goal is to ensure things don’t snowball into tough weeks, months, or quarters. We’re all human, so taking a Wellness Day is likely a better choice to regroup on a tough day than trying to hit that daily email goal. It’s important to remember that quality is more important than quantity, so if something is going to affect the quality of your work, taking a step back is usually the better option. Ultimately, I stay motivated by focusing on the things I can control and doing the absolute best I can on those things.
How does Yelp support your work-life balance?
Yelp’s decision to transition to a remote-first environment supports my work-life balance, and I know that I have been successful because of this policy. Working remotely has given me so much more control over my time and has allowed me to be more productive. I’ve used that extra time saved from commuting to be more connected with the people, hobbies, and interests I love outside of work.
How does your manager or Yelp’s leadership let you know that your work is valued?
He tells me! My manager is direct, transparent, honest, and incredibly supportive. He is very clear in his feedback, and it makes me feel like a valued member of his team. Yelp’s leadership has also been responsive to our feedback in ways that have surprised me. The leaders here actively listen and implement our feedback, and it’s refreshing to see how much support they are willing to offer to their employees.
Want to work with Saied?
With the help of our comprehensive training program, ongoing support, coaching, and development opportunities, you can take your career to the next level at Yelp, whether you’re a seasoned sales professional or just starting out in the industry. Check out our open opportunities and apply today!
