It’s always a dream for every graduate to finish school and get employed immediately. We all don’t want to experience the hardships of finding a job, especially when we are still fresh with skills we have learnt in college. I was among the lucky few who landed a job after my first ever interview. This was just a month after I had graduated from a local University in Kenya (Kisii University) with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Statistics. My dream for a perfect career path was just starting to take shape. At least at that moment, that’s what I thought. I was the new Sales Representative in town, working with one of the renowned microfinance institutions in the country.
Platinum Credit Limited, that’s the name. This is the company that saw my potential in my first interview. Straight from the village, it was my second visit to the city. But this time, I was coming to work. My role as a sales rep was to market logbook loans for the company and get paid through commissions. I didn’t have a strategy, but at least it was common sense that there’s no way I won’t fail to earn through this job. There are cars everywhere, and everyone is busy chasing money in the city. So my market was there. I saw the full car parking zones, the heavy traffics in the city, car yards, malls, gas stations, and uncountable car wash zones. I saw this role as an opportunity to make quick money. So after training, we went out to the field to prospect.
Facing Challenges
The first two weeks didn’t go as planned. Although I had already made some friends and formed a team to work with, we struggled to land our first client. We had received some training, but the main challenge wasn’t about our ineffectiveness; it was the market share. Most of the car owners we tried to sell our services said they already had their go-to person if they needed a logbook loan.
Another big challenge was working in a new environment. Nairobi was very new to me, and as a sales rep, we didn’t have an office. We spent most of our days in the high traffic areas. And just as if our day wasn’t tiresome already, we faced resistance and rejection from some of the people we met. Some of those who were willing to listen to us had poor credit reports or were just drivers for their bosses. I was frustrated, but it was just the beginning of the struggles.
A month in the industry, and I had not landed my first client. It was majorly because I was working fewer days a week. I lacked the motivation, and I have never received a paycheck despite the hard work I had put in. It was commission-based. You reap what you sow. Without receiving a salary, I still had to live in the city and pay all the expenses. It won’t take long before I call it quits.
Things getting worse
They say bad luck comes in three. COVID-19 hit. On March 14, the first case was reported in Kenya. It quickly spread in the city. Everyone was afraid of the strange disease that was killing thousands every day in the world. The pandemic affected our movement and communication with the prospects. No one wanted to talk to us. No one wanted to be given flyers for fear of being infected with the virus. With the challenging situation, I knew I was going to wait longer for my first client. I had to develop a strategy. So I went to the car yards and not people. I talked to several owners and left them my contact information to share with anyone who may want to buy a car from them but needed a loan. Although I received some calls, we disagreed in the end due to the high interest rates we were offering.
I also tried to market our services online, but it never just clicked. So I quit after less than two months. By this time, COVID-19 was rampant. So I decided to sit at home, keep safe while trying to look for other opportunities, at least a job that pays a basic salary.
A ray of hope shattered again.
A few days later, my Team Leader from the company called me and shared another lucrative offer. He had just moved to another microfinance institution and wanted to carry on with me. The good thing about the new opportunity is that our market was not limited to logbooks. It was wide, dealing with all the civil servants and business owners. I knew this was going to be easier. However, we were in the middle of the pandemic. People were even afraid of taking loans for fear of defaulting them due to the hard times ahead. Just like in the other company, I left after failing to make a sale. I shifted to freelancing, and now I’m a top-rated Copywriter on Upwork and Level 2 seller on Fiverr.
My advice to other reps
Being a Sales Representative is not an easy fit. One thing I learnt is that being resilient is key when you want to succeed in this role. You may stay for months before making your first sale. You get paid based on luck and effort. At least that’s what I can say. But the kings of the industry may say otherwise; it’s easy, and you have the freedom to earn what you want. What I know is that you will need to learn their tactics. Keep them closer to you and understand their approach. Ask them how they made it. I don’t have an answer to that, but I know you will need unwavering commitment and determination to achieve your financial goals.
For me, it wasn’t just my thing. Even when the pandemic is over, I’m not going back. I can only appreciate the person I have become right now and what I’m doing. Sales Rep was just an experience that taught me many lessons, which made me the person I am today.