What’s It Like Working in Sales? A UPS Inside Sales Representative Is Giving You a Glimpse

We’ve got a question for you: What do people who work in sales do?

Sure, it’s easy to say, “They sell stuff!” But what does that actually entail? And if you don’t know what it means to work on a sales team, chances are you could be missing out on an incredible career opportunity, right?

It’s your lucky day: We were introduced to UPS Inside Sales Representative and recent college grad Kristal Mendoza, and we got to learn about her work on the sales team. If you think her job sounds like #goals, you really can get her life: UPS is hiring Inside Sales Reps in Phoenix and San Antonio on WayUp, and you’re not going to want to miss out!

For people who don’t know, what’s an Inside Sales Representative, and what does an Inside Sales Representative at UPS in particular do?

Kristal Mendoza: An Inside Sales Representative is a person that’s responsible for managing different clients and acquiring new business for the company they work for. An Inside Sales Representative at UPS is responsible for many things. First and foremost, we manage accounts [that] ship up to $300,000 a year and ensure everything is running smoothly, we help uncover additional opportunities for our clients and help them grow their businesses through our solutions, and finally, we bring in new business to UPS.

To give people a sense of what a typical day looks like, can you take us through what you did at your job yesterday from the second you walked in the office until the moment you left? What key responsibilities do you tackle on a daily basis?

KM: I arrive at the office and check through my e-mails to see if anything urgent has [arisen] and if something does arise I work quickly to get it resolved. Afterwards, I go through my agenda for the day and carefully plan out how I am going to manage my day.

I’m typically in the office from 8am until 9:30/10:00am, and I spend this time working on contracts to win new business or speaking to my Inside Sales Rep to discuss our plans on targeting new customers. Once I head out of the office, I typically make a visit or two [to clients] prior to my lunch. Depending on the type of visit, I am either trying to win new business or following up with accounts regarding different topics that we may have touched on previously. My key responsibilities on a daily basis are retaining customers and ensuring that everything is running smoothly with our services and making every effort to bring in new business for UPS.

What drew you to working at UPS in particular? What makes UPS an amazing place to work?

KM: What drew me to UPS in particular was not only the people I met who have guided me, but the incredible work culture. It was one of the few places that I interviewed with that made me feel at ease, and I felt like I would fit in with the company.

The idea that UPS promotes from within was particularly exciting, because I wanted to work for a company that would allow for me to move up.I was promoted from the position of Inside Sales to an Inside Sales Representative within six months, which speaks volumes of the company I work for. UPS is an amazing place because we are surrounded by hardworking individuals and people who genuinely care for your success and are there to help you with every step of the way.  

What’s your favorite part of the job? On the flip side, what’s the biggest challenge you face on a daily basis?

KM: My favorite part of the job is being able to interact with so many people from different types of companies and learning the ins and outs of their businesses. The biggest challenge I face on a daily basis is the amount of competition there is in the industry. You have to work very hard on retaining existing customers while bringing in new business, which is a balancing act, but it makes the job exciting.

What’s something surprising about your role that most people wouldn’t know?

KM: Something surprising about my role at UPS is that I help identify opportunities for my customers, not just for UPS. Many times, my customers are afraid of change, and through simple conversations with them, I am able to uncover specific areas of opportunities. Whether it’s suggesting our customers go global or helping them move forward with launching their website, I am an active part of the process they go through.

What advice do you have for people who are applying to a similar position at UPS?

KM: The biggest piece of advice for people applying to similar positions is to be open-minded. I never thought I would consider applying for a job outside of the state of New Jersey, but when I met some people at UPS, I knew it was something I was willing to do. With UPS’s “promote from within” mentality, I knew that I had the opportunity to move forward, and so I did. Work hard for what you want, and with this company, it’s very possible.

Think Krystal’s job sounds like the right fit for you too? Head over to WayUp to get on a similar career track and apply for an Inside Sales role in Phoenix or San Antonio now!