In our interview series, we present exciting cloud jobs and the people behind them. Daniel has been employed as IT Sales Manager since July 2020 and answered 9 questions for us about himself and his daily work:
1. What do you do in your job or what is your daily work routine like?
"As IT Sales Manager, one of my main tasks is of course to acquire new customers. That means I show potential new customers the many advantages and added value of the Google Cloud
compared to their previous IT landscapes. As a rule, I first have to take the customer by the hand and explain what cloud and cloud technologies actually mean. This also means removing inhibitions and at the same time building trust, and then looking together for the best and individual customer solution in each case.
Another major area of responsibility is to continue to make our existing customers happy - in a wide variety of areas. Whether it's the digital workplace with Google Workspace, cloud infrastructure with the Google Cloud Platform, our services or other topics - the goal is always the well-being of the customer."
2. What does cloud mean to you?
"Cloud means flexibility for me. Because the cloud gives me 24/7 access to current data and the ability to work when and where I want.
In addition, cloud usage gives me the opportunity to benefit from innovations. The big advantage at Google is that there is already a large pool of ideas and tools that you can pull out for yourself and use or develop further."
3. What was your most exciting project?
"That is very difficult to determine. In general, I find it exciting when I support a customer throughout the entire cloud cycle. Then it's great to see when the customer really feels the benefits of the cloud during the collaboration. For example, when he saves costs or has been able to speed up his processes after the changeover."
4. What do you find most rewarding about your job?
"I particularly like the relationship with the customer. Whether face to face or in the context of video conferences with Google Meet. I have the opportunity to work independently of location and still meet new people every day. I simply enjoy communicating. I like listening to people and identifying their needs. Everybody has some kind of problem and in the best case you have the solution for it. So the goal is to show the customer the solution that is right for them or to find a solution together. At the end of the day, it is therefore simply nice to have helped one more person with an individual problem.
In sales, however, it is ultimately the most fun when you have convinced the customer of the product or service and the customer decides in favor of it. This sense of achievement is something special and probably the greatest motivation. "
5. What are your biggest challenges?
"As a sales employee, you not only have to win over customers, but also promote and defend their interests within your own company and vis-à-vis our partners such as Google. So it's a matter of both internal and external account management, which is sometimes a balancing act.
Another challenge is our own organization. It's important to work in a structured way and always stay up to date, i.e. to have innovations on the screen.
6. What motivated you to join the Public Cloud Group?
"I actually joined PCG thanks to a colleague. What I really appreciate here is the team. It doesn't matter where someone is based – whether it's Stuttgart, Magstadt, Berlin, or working from home – you feel a strong connection with everyone. And if you ever encounter a problem, there's always someone willing to listen, and you can talk about your concerns openly. We don't even have closed doors here.
Another great aspect of working for Public Cloud Group is the company's manageable size. Compared to large corporations, you can truly feel the flat hierarchy, the quick decision-making processes, and the close-knit relationships among colleagues.
Moreover, our location in Magstadt comes with the added bonus of regular barbecues. Whether it's homemade burgers or delicious pulled pork from our own smoker – if you're a barbecue enthusiast, you're in food heaven here."
7. How did you become an IT Sales Manager?
"After graduating from high school, I trained as a bank clerk. Even then, I realized that I liked the contact with customers and that I enjoyed it. After that, I studied business administration and got into IT. I noticed more and more how the innovation and dynamism associated with digitization appealed to me. The new technologies open up so many new opportunities and markets that I wanted to help drive forward myself. That's why I went to Luxembourg to work for a social data intelligence company during my master's studies. There, for the first time, I really got an idea of how much digitization and social data in particular can shape our society. Following the master's degree, I went into IT consulting, but after 4 years I realized that I wanted to go back into sales."
8. What should someone bring to the table who wants to become an IT Sales Manager?
"The most important things in sales are empathy and good listening skills. You have to be able to pick up on and understand the individual needs of a customer. In addition, sales is certainly a question of character. A confident demeanor and persuasiveness are very important, in my opinion. A healthy self-confidence is also an advantage. You simply have to be able to inspire and ultimately convince the customer. It's also important to have a certain amount of frustration tolerance if you don't sell anything. You have to be able to deal with that. You should see it more as an incentive and think about what you can do better next time.
You also have to be aware that sales is not a 9-to-5 job and requires a lot of flexibility. This means that sometimes you have a day with a low workload and the next day everything comes at once.
Especially with this company, a certain understanding of IT is of course necessary. You should already be familiar with the products you are selling. That's not always easy in the cloud environment because the universe is so huge. Therefore, you have to specialize a bit or set a certain focus. However, you don't have to understand every technical detail and it's a close interaction with your IT colleagues."
9. What do you like to do in your free time?
"I am definitely very social and love being among people. Therefore, I always enjoy meeting new people, live life openly, and like to explore new cultures. Basically, I find it hard to just sit on the couch and do nothing; I prefer to be active. For instance, I really enjoy playing squash. Apart from that, I also like cooking and enjoy trying out new restaurants."
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Are you also interested in a job as an IT Sales Manager and/or are you generally passionate about the world of cloud technologies? Then apply now or find out about many exciting prospects in a world/community worthy of the cloud.